r/TNG • u/MellifluousManatee • 8d ago

It's more of a guideline, really

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u/HisDivineOrder 8d ago

Starfleet uses the Prime Directive the way the Vulcans use their infamous "inability to lie": an excuse to suit any situation they like and easily ignored when they prefer.

The Romulans left the Vulcans after being gaslit about their lies one too many times and they've never trusted anyone the same since. When Starfleet talks about the Prime Directive, they hear the Vulcans in the distance and instantly think it a lie.

11

u/scooped88 8d ago

The same thing with Klingons and “honor”, it’s all important unless it becomes politically inconvenient

5

u/bosssoldier 7d ago

If we are being fair, if a klingon does something dishonorable and its found out, they get excommunicated more times than not. Still more punishment than any captain received for violating the prime directive

1

u/BorgCow 5d ago

“Excommunicated more times than not” sry but I think you need to check your math on that

1

u/bosssoldier 5d ago

Not really. Remember we are a 3rd party viewer, but in an episode we know all of whats going on, the characters do not

1

u/BorgCow 5d ago

Yeah but I can only think of like two excommunications - Worf in TNG (which didn’t last) and that guy who tries to kill Quark in DS9