37
top 35 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] ValueSubtracted@startrek.website 21 points 1 year ago

That the Prime Directive only applies to pre-warp civilizations.

[-] GuyFleegman@startrek.website 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You're not wrong, but man the Prime Directive would make a whole lot more sense if it did. The commonly misunderstood version of the PD that is intended to prevent cultural contamination is clear and simple. Given its status as the literal top rule, the actual PD—a generalized non-interventionism/pro-isolationism dictum—is oddly complex, vague, and lacking a focused objective.

[-] USSBurritoTruck@startrek.website 12 points 1 year ago

I still want the story of the one mousey, overworked lieutenant junior grade whose job it is to follow-up on all prime directive violations.

Investigator: Alright, Captain, let's begin, shall we? Apparently you and your crew intervened in a labour dispute between two independent worlds, and taught the previously exploited civilization about unions, and now their entire social development has radically shifted. Is there anything in that basic statement you'd like to dispute?
Captain: Uh...when did this happen?
Investigator: Stardate 43012.7.
Captain: That was eight months ago!
Investigator: Correct. I've had an entire backlog to work my way through, and this is the earliest I was able to address your situation.
Captain: Five months ago my entire ship was trapped in a time vortex and we all deaged to adolescence.
Investigator: ...I did think you looked rather young.
Captain: We don't even have any memory of those events, but it does sound pretty dope. Surely you can't hold us responsible for actions we haven't yet committed, and might not actually commit if we were put into similar circumstances again.

All of this could be avoided if they'd just rename it to the Mind Your Own Business Directive.

[-] khaosworks@startrek.website 3 points 1 year ago

One of my favorite formulations of the PD comes from an old text adventure game, Star Trek: The Promethan Prophecy: "You can look all you like, but don't touch."

[-] USSBurritoTruck@startrek.website 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

"We'll just see about that, won't we Mister?"
- James T. Kirk

[-] pinwurm@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Besides the fact that the Prime Directive is violated constantly, what am I missing about it?

[-] VindictiveJudge@startrek.website 13 points 1 year ago

It's about interference with non-Federation governments and cultures in general. The Prime Directive forbids mucking about with Romulan politics, for instance. Worf gets away with a lot of things that would violate the Prime Directive in regards to the Klingon Government because he has dual citizenship and is a member of Klingon nobility.

The ban on contact with pre-warp civilizations is also more specifically uncontacted pre-warp civilizations (you can chat with them if they're already buying Romulan ale from the Ferengi because the damage has already been done) and more generally pre-interstellar civilizations (warp drive is the usual way a civilization becomes interstellar, but there are alternative methods).

[-] USSBurritoTruck@startrek.website 10 points 1 year ago

Worf gets away with a lot of things that would violate the Prime Directive in regards to the Klingon Government because he has dual citizenship and is a member of Klingon nobility.

Even with Worf being a Klingon, and a recognized member of Klingon society, he still had to resign his commission to leave the Enterprise and go fight for Gowron's forces in the civil war against the Duras' sister's supporters.

Worf: Captain, we must intervene. The Duras family is corrupt and hungry for power with no sense of honour or loyalty. They represent a grave threat to the security of the Federation. Captain, you and I know that they have conspired with Romulans in the past. If they should be victors in this war, they will surely form a new Klingon-Romulan alliance. That would represent a fundamental shift of power in this quadrant. Starfleet must support Gowron. It is in the interests of both the Federation and the Empire. I beg you, support us in our cause.
Picard: Mister Worf, I don't have to lecture you on the principle of non-interference. As Starfleet officers, we have all sworn an oath to uphold that principle whatever our personal feelings. I'm sorry. I must refuse your request.
Picard: Mister Worf. I'm afraid I must recall you to duty. The
Enterprise will be leaving this sector immediately.
Worf: Captain, I respectfully request that I be allowed to take an extended leave of absence.
Picard: Mister Worf, your responsibilities as a Starfleet officer are incompatible with remaining on board a Klingon ship during a time of war.
Worf: Captain.
Picard: I order you to return to duty at once.
Worf: Then I resign my commission as a Starfleet officer.

They just conveniently forget that's the case in the final scene of "Redemption II" when Worf asks Picard for permission to return to duty. Guess he never got around to filing the paperwork.

[-] dekekun@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago

The first television interracial kiss.

It wasn't even the first one on Star Trek.

[-] transwarp@startrek.website 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Spock is the first or only Vulcan in Starfleet. The crew of the Intrepid would like a word.

These can be tough, since three generations of fans have worked on later shows or ancillary official materials. E.g. Startrek.com used to say that about Spock.

Lots about Klingon history: they stole warp tech from the hurq, the hurq (who came after Kahless and stole his relics) are the gods of ancient Klingon myth. Klingon warrior culture is a recent aberration (claims one lawyer whose parents were undervalued academics). Kahless lived a thousand years before TNG. That's only half the time since Surak or Charlemagne, but fans want to see him more like King Arthur or Robin Hood.

[-] pinwurm@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

T’Pol would be the first Vulcan in Starfleet, no?

She started off as Vulcan High Command but officially joins Starfleet later on in ENT.

[-] transwarp@startrek.website 7 points 1 year ago

And when Enterprise did that, there were fans who insisted it was a retcon. It's something people beleived since TOS even though it was contradicted pretty soon after the Federation was even established.

There are several other things that fans have been certain of since the 60s (like saucer separation being irreversible in the field or Vulcans only having sex during Pon Farr) that weren't the production intention, but this one was blatantly impossible and it's very strange.

She joined the United Earth Starfleet, though. If someone wanted to get really pedantic, they could claim there's a possibility she resigned her commission before the transition to the Federation Starfleet.

But yeah, T'Pol, the senior staff of the USS Intrepid, the various admirals we've seen in Disco and SNW, all would have joined Starfleet before Spock.

E.g. Startrek.com used to say that about Spock.

Unfortunately, it still does.

[-] concrete_baby@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 year ago

That Vulcans cannot feel emotions because of their biology. They actually suppress them and have been trained to do that since they are children.

[-] Nmyownworld@startrek.website 1 points 1 year ago

"That Vulcans cannot feel emotions because of their biology."

I remember that idea being prevalent years ago. I did not know that it's still making rounds.

[-] rdh@midwest.social 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That Klingons are honorable.

[-] concrete_baby@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 year ago

Very true. We are misled by how Worf tries to be a stereotypically honorable Klingon because he is culturally human. He has little knowledge of how Klingons raised in Qonos understand honor.

@concrete_baby @rdh worf is like an adult religious convert who understands certain rules to be inflexible that people who grew up in the religion understand to be optional at best

[-] faduda@mastodon.ie 1 points 1 year ago

@julieofthespirits @concrete_baby @rdh
Everyone in Ireland knows that type. The second-generation Yank who harkens back to an Old Country that never really existed, all shillelaghs and corned beef.

[-] marcas@mastodon.ie 1 points 1 year ago

@faduda @julieofthespirits @concrete_baby @rdh One recalls the one good scene in the otherwise contemptible The Devil's Own: his Irish-American host family serves corned beef and cabbage to baffled and appalled (ostensible) Belfast man Brad Pitt.

[-] julieofthespirits@kolektiva.social 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

@faduda @concrete_baby @rdh I guess the difference is that most people from the Home Country can't stand the Diaspora Nationalist, so why do other Klingons put up with Worf, do they just see it as useful to have an ally in the Federation so they never say anything to his face

[-] faduda@mastodon.ie 0 points 1 year ago

@julieofthespirits @concrete_baby @rdh
I mean, we like Joe Biden mostly because he annoys the Brexiters, so yeah.

[-] julieofthespirits@kolektiva.social 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

@faduda @concrete_baby @rdh I mean Joe Biden's one saving grace is that he's somehow not the most godawful politician in the world right now because God has left us to die in this hot car we call Earth

[-] tobimai@startrek.website 5 points 1 year ago

Also what humans perceive as honorable may not be the same what klingons see as honorable

[-] khaosworks@startrek.website 6 points 1 year ago

My pet peeve, that warp drive works like the Alcubierre Drive. It doesn't.

[-] khaosworks@startrek.website 4 points 1 year ago

Oh, here's a biggie. That individual ships in TOS had their own unique insignia. That turned out to be a myth, despite being perpetuated on-screen by ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly".

It also led to a post of mine that was particularly controversial at the time.

load more comments
view more: next ›
this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2023
37 points (100.0% liked)

Star Trek

10571 readers
31 users here now

r/startrek: The Next Generation

Star Trek news and discussion. No slash fic...

Maybe a little slash fic.


New to Star Trek and wondering where to start?


Rules

1 Be constructiveAll posts/comments must be thoughtful and balanced.


2 Be welcomingIt is important that everyone from newbies to OG Trekkers feel welcome, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, religion or race.


3 Be truthfulAll posts/comments must be factually accurate and verifiable. We are not a place for gossip, rumors, or manipulative or misleading content.


4 Be niceIf a polite way cannot be found to phrase what it is you want to say, don't say anything at all. Insulting or disparaging remarks about any human being are expressly not allowed.


5 SpoilersUtilize the spoiler system for any and all spoilers relating to the most recently-aired episodes, as well as previews for upcoming episodes. There is no formal spoiler protection for episodes/films after they have been available for approximately one week.


6 Keep on-topicAll submissions must be directly about the Star Trek franchise (the shows, movies, books etc.). Off-topic discussions are welcome at c/quarks.


7 MetaQuestions and concerns about moderator actions should be brought forward via DM.


Upcoming Episodes

Date Episode Title
11-07 LD 5x04 "A Farewell to Farms"
11-14 LD 5x05 "Star Base 80?"
11-21 LD 5x06 "Of Gods and Angels"
11-28 LD 5x07 "Fully Dilated"
12-05 LD 5x08 "Upper Decks"

Episode Discussion Archive


In Production

Strange New Worlds (2025)

Section 31 (2025-01-24)

Starfleet Academy (TBA)

In Development

Untitled comedy series


Wondering where to stream a series? Check here.


Allied Discord Server


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS