Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!
Prime directive was meant as principle of non interference in internal politics, as critique of the Cold War era proxy wars. It was never meant the way it is used in Pen Pals and Homeward.
The PD was meant as a "We won't mess with societies that have no clue other intelligent life exists or that interstellar space travel is possible..."; BUT, once they were spacefaring, PD no longer applies (TOS).
The TNG version of: "If they ain't already UFP members...hands off..." <--- It got ridiculous.
The first intent of the prime directive was to protect primitive aliens from bad practices, like getting their ore for a pittance or being exploited by unscrupulous people from the federation but now it's been perverted into just let them die!
I guess it protects them from... existing.
Okay, but what if they do know, or strongly suspect, there is life "out there"?
I have a story in mind where a planet is inhabited by people whose ancestors were transplanted from Earth some 1700 years ago (very much like those in "This Side OF Paradise"). They have stories from life on Earth, although some of their people believe it's nothing more than fantasy legends and myths. Their government's official position is to try to contact Earth. They are sending signals out, but it's only been a short few years and so the signal hasn't reached anyone yet. They have begun their first steps to reach for the stars, just now making their first landing on one of their moons, but it turns into an Apollo Thirteen moment.
Put yourself into our Star Fleet hero's shoes: do you sit back and watch them die, or do you expose yourself and advanced technology to save them?
Okay, but what if they do know, or strongly suspect, there is life "out there"?
I have a story in mind where a planet is inhabited by people whose ancestors were transplanted from Earth some 1700 years ago (very much like those in "This Side OF Paradise"). They have stories from life on Earth, although some of their people believe it's nothing more than fantasy legends and myths. Their government's official position is to try to contact Earth. They are sending signals out, but it's only been a short few years and so the signal hasn't reached anyone yet. They have begun their first steps to reach for the stars, just now making their first landing on one of their moons, but it turns into an Apollo Thirteen moment.
Put yourself into our Star Fleet hero's shoes: do you sit back and watch them die, or do you expose yourself and advanced technology to save them?
And I'd agree with that spoiler... I'd save them. Fuck exposing yourself. They already want to contact Earth so why not help them with that too? They were transplanted to that planet and not a native species on that world so the PD shouldn't apply.
Okay, but what if they do know, or strongly suspect, there is life "out there"?
I have a story in mind where a planet is inhabited by people whose ancestors were transplanted from Earth some 1700 years ago (very much like those in "This Side OF Paradise"). They have stories from life on Earth, although some of their people believe it's nothing more than fantasy legends and myths. Their government's official position is to try to contact Earth. They are sending signals out, but it's only been a short few years and so the signal hasn't reached anyone yet. They have begun their first steps to reach for the stars, just now making their first landing on one of their moons, but it turns into an Apollo Thirteen moment.
Put yourself into our Star Fleet hero's shoes: do you sit back and watch them die, or do you expose yourself and advanced technology to save them?
In this case the Prime Directive does not apply. They are a lost Earth colony. Their civilization or culture already developed past those initial steps.
But I'm sure some other bureaucrat will disagree with me.
In this case the Prime Directive does not apply. They are a lost Earth colony. Their civilization or culture already developed past those initial steps.
But I'm sure some other bureaucrat will disagree with me.
Well, there did seem to be a stipulation that a culture's development of FTL travel was the point at which it was considered okay to risk "contamination". Which, I mean, if you're going to choose some abstract point in tech development, that one makes sense, since then the aliens are suddenly in a position to run into you.
OK I found two episodes that make me wonder how they act and don't act in regards to the Prime Directive.
"The Devil's Due" Ardra was a hot con woman who pretended to be a god and lord it over a planet so really they were in no danger by any visitation of a Federation ship trying to help out, in fact they did help out and knobbled her ship if I recall right because she was using her ships technology to pretend to be a god.
And "Justice" this time some kind of cloaked ship I think that was their planets god but they let that one by because reasons and they couldn't technobabble their way past the ship that was ruling over that planet. Surely Geordi and Data were not running on all cylinders that day and couldn't work their nerdy magic around that one. Oh well guess they get a free pass.
Wasn't that ship halting that planets development, much like Vaal was in TOS?
I don't think so. They worshipped it, but otherwise the Edo were free to develop on their own and the aliens weren't stopping them from developing. In fact, the aliens were upset at what they perceived as the Enterprise interfering with their children--but I didn't get the impression interfering with the aliens control over the Edo, but simply with the Edo.
In fact, the aliens seemed content to sit back and observe and didn't take action until the Enterprise crew did something to interfere with the Edo's custom. I think if the whole Wesley incident never occurred the aliens would have allowed the Enterprise to come and go unscathed.
Well we all know how butt-hurt the Earthers were in the 22nd Century when the Vulcanians dangled fancy tech just out of their reach. The PD is the excuse the Earthers implemented to do the same to other races. Real mature....
I don't think so. They worshipped it, but otherwise the Edo were free to develop on their own and the aliens weren't stopping them from developing. In fact, the aliens were upset at what they perceived as the Enterprise interfering with their children--but I didn't get the impression interfering with the aliens control over the Edo, but simply with the Edo.
In fact, the aliens seemed content to sit back and observe and didn't take action until the Enterprise crew did something to interfere with the Edo's custom. I think if the whole Wesley incident never occurred the aliens would have allowed the Enterprise to come and go unscathed.
But I didn't get the sense they 'controlled' the Edo. I never got the sense they themselves interfered with the Edo. They weren't like Vaal, and Landru, which actively controlled the population and prevented them from developing. I didn't get that sense with the Edo gods.
If anything, the gods of the Edo seemed more interested in letting the Edo develop without any interference and only interfered themselves when they thought someone was interfering with them (the Edo).
Basically I didn't get the impression the Edo were being held back. They seemed to have a thriving civilization. In a way it sort of reminded me of the Bajoran prophets.
But they didn't stop the Enterprise from visiting. They kept a watchful eye but took no direct action until they thought someone was interfering with their customs. And of course they eventually relented and agreed with Picard to let Wesley go. Let's face it. The idiot should have been watching where he was going.
Walk into a church, temple or mosque, and screech truthfully that all present are fools, who need to renounce their god and find a less stupid way to spend their spare time.
I'm sure that they will all be grateful, and buy you a short black.
"Sigh"
The Edo are perfectly happy with the relationship that they have with their God.
Walk into a church, temple or mosque, and screech truthfully that all present are fools, who need to renounce their god and find a less stupid way to spend their spare time.
I'm sure that they will all be grateful, and buy you a short black.
"Sigh"
The Edo are perfectly happy with the relationship that they have with their God.
The Prime Directive is a Starfleet Rule, not a Federation Rule.
The POTUFOP can decide to legally do awful things, but s/he can't make Starfleet follow orders that conflict with it's charter.
Checks and balances.
The Federation, in totality, block of member worlds or an individual member world, must have other bodies of enforcement with a less restrained remit, ready to roll up their sleeves and go to town on bastards protected by the Prime Directive who do not really, in their mind deserve to protect by the Prime Directive.
Besides... I think the Admiralty is arguably above the Prime Directive, "sometimes" because what these four hundred or so old white men want to make sure is that the 10 thousand children who they gave star ships to (every one under 40 is a child to a 70 year old) need to act responsibly and not commit war crimes or drag the Federation into a war, by being a dick to unknown new species who may over react to bad faith.
Or at least as far as the Prime Directive works when engaging with post warp civilisations.
