One will always be the original copy, not the transported “clone” in this case. So whichever one didn’t pop out of the transporter after their matter was combined on the pad, and therefore isn’t 10 seconds old, is the “real” you.
Although I would still argue that the cloned copy is ALSO you, it’s still not the original.
Of course all you have to do is ask Miles Obrien and he will tell you dark secrets starfleet doesn’t want anyone in the federation to know. Transporters kill the original to prevent this scenario from happening, and only on rare occasions does it fail to delete someone, like RIKER.OG.
In the case of Riker v William, neither are the original at that point, but the one stranded was the “more” original, especially given he hadn’t used a transporter in 7 (I think) years, while Riker continued as normal, dozens per month for years.
Again, they both still are William Riker. Just one is “more” original.
One will always be the original copy, not the transported “clone” in this case. So whichever one didn’t pop out of the transporter after their matter was combined on the pad, and therefore isn’t 10 seconds old, is the “real” you.
Although I would still argue that the cloned copy is ALSO you, it’s still not the original.
Of course all you have to do is ask Miles Obrien and he will tell you dark secrets starfleet doesn’t want anyone in the federation to know. Transporters kill the original to prevent this scenario from happening, and only on rare occasions does it fail to delete someone, like RIKER.OG.
Would that even be the OG Riker in your scenario? He’d have almost certainly have used the transporter many times before then.
In the case of Riker v William, neither are the original at that point, but the one stranded was the “more” original, especially given he hadn’t used a transporter in 7 (I think) years, while Riker continued as normal, dozens per month for years.
Again, they both still are William Riker. Just one is “more” original.
It’s a real ship of theseus situation.