The Prime Directive in "For the World Is Hollow …"
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Star Trek
marmac2768 — 9 years ago(September 23, 2016 10:57 PM)
Okay, here is something for you to ponder. We all know that "The Prime Directive" really got in the way of the Captains of Star Trek a lot over the years. In this one, the landing party had to show the people of Yonada that they were from outside of their world and it doesn't really cause them to "meltdown" too much. In fact, when you see Kirk, Spock and McCoy walking around in the "ball", the people just kind of nod their heads like they see aliens everyday.
The conundrum was, was this a violation of "The Prime Directive" to fix their screwed up navigation system and save them and Darren V from destruction. Kirk says, "It's better than letting them and the people of Darren V be destroyed". HOW DOES HE KNOW THAT?? That is the problem with the Prime Directive. The PD was to keep the Federation from interfering with things that would happen if they didn't interfere. If they hadn't been around, Yonada would have crashed into Darren V and kill everyone of them. What if, in the future, after the Enterprise's interference, the people of Yonada were to be the next Klingons? Or Romulans? What if Darren V were to have something happen that would change the course of history because they weren't destroyed.
Another thing is that they have a library that has the total knowledge of the Fabrini that helps to save Dr. McCoy. Of course, because they weren't destroyed, what if some of that knowledge were to be used for a nefarious reason? What if they had a weapon there that were to be used against another world? I am sure they would have had the technology of space travel given to them. They were a little bit on the superstitious side with that Oracle and a Priestess. A lot of room for some big time screw-ups in the future.
I guess they didn't learn anything from "The City On The Edge Of Forever" did they? -
Drunkdustmonkey — 9 years ago(September 24, 2016 06:07 AM)
According to my interpretation of the Prime Directive the Enterprise could alter the course of the asteroid without it being a violation, especially since the asteroid was artificial. They didn't realize the asteroid was inhabited until they actually beamed over. At that point it's captain's discretion of how to precede, and Kirk never seemed to strictly adhere to the Prime Directive. The whole moral dilemma of this episode could have been avoided with a simple distress call from Daran V.
Considering that the Fabrini haven't seen outsiders for 10,000 years or more I agree with you about their reaction to aliens. It's possible that their reliance on the Oracle is so great that seeing non-Fabrini wouldn't phase them.
"Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." J. Robert Oppenheimer -
Drunkdustmonkey — 9 years ago(September 24, 2016 07:12 AM)
Any unnecessary contact with pre-warp civilizations was prohibited by the Prime Directive. After a civilization achieved warp technology first contact could be made, but most of the Prime Directive still applied.
"Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." J. Robert Oppenheimer -
ZAROVE — 9 years ago(September 25, 2016 05:31 AM)
That's Next Gen era Thinking. In TOS, thee PD was moreof a guidelien to not interfere with their politics or natural social develop,ent, not to stand idly by and let them all die.
In fact, every argument yoy made applies to any situation, even he Federation tuself. Let's assume for a moment thatTranswarp is perfected, allowign The Federation to go 100 Times Faster than they use to. But, that Tech can be used for nefariosu purposes sowell we can't use it. Peopel wpuld think that's stupid. Sure, new discoveries can be used for ill purposes but that doens't mean we don't advance. Nor do we let a woman get murdered in a back ally just because if we don't she might give birth to a Future Hitler.
RThe Prime Irective in Moern Trek is more of a monstrocity than an ENlightened Ideal. -
timmytony80 — 9 years ago(October 22, 2016 07:37 PM)
ZAROVE; There's a 6 yr old documentary that examines, very carefully, Hitler's WWI, 20's, teens & childhood yrs. Particularly, his WWI tour of duty. He was 1ce Semetic-Friendly! During or after the war, I forget, events in his life turned him Anti-Semitic!
U might want 2 check it out.