Board of investigators

[niltrias]

Universal recognition of board's authority isn't required for this to work. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.

Im not saying I agree with the idea of the board, exactly; Im just pointing out the blinding obvious truth of this statement.

Who was it that said "The only reason we can sleep sound at night is because in the darkness there are rough men ready to do violence to those who would do us harm."?

Thats where we are at. Except without the sound sleeping.

[Potjeh]

I'm not saying I agree with it either. I'd have to see a fully fleshed out system before I can agree or disagree, for in details lie boogeymen.

Anyway, to continue with the theme of quotes learned from Tropico's manual, here's a piece of advice for those that seek to establish authority of this board: you can make a throne out of bayonets, but you cannot sit on it for long.

[niltrias]

I'm not saying I agree with it either. I'd have to see a fully fleshed out system before I can agree or disagree, for in details lie boogeymen.

you can make a throne out of bayonets, but you cannot sit on it for long.

First one should be "the devil is in the details" no?
Second is Talleyrand, to Napoleon.

Ill add one more, re: recent events

You must injure a man either not at all, or so completely that he cannot after harm you; for a small slight will bring rise to anger, while a dead enemy need not be feared."

That is a free translation, I admit. But better than some I have seen.

[KoE]

George Orwell, apparently. (To answer Niltrias' quote question - the one about the rough men.) Got me curious enough to google it. And now you guys are apparently having a crazy quote-a-thon while I try to write my post. I know I've heard that second one from Nil, too, or at least something extremely similar in nature.

I can't get my thoughts together on the matter now, but my gut reaction is that having a single world-wide entity calling the shots - via consensus or not - isn't something I'd like.

[niltrias]

Heh. What, exactly, is crazy about our quote-a-thon?
You want crazy, here is my all time favorite:
"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns a lesson that he can learn in no other way."

That, BTW, is apropos nothing. But very true.

Edit -- BTW, thanks for the attribution. George Orwell, how could I forget? Bah, must be going senile. The other is a pretty famous quote, but I couldnt find a copy of one of my English translations, so I went back to the original. I was working on a translation for UoN Reno for a bit, but they ran out of funding. Thats not what was said, but I feel safe in saying that that is what was meant.

[Raephire]

Here's what I think about it.

The coalition of village authority figures can agree on laws, or laws may differ village to village, they will be enforced and a GUIDELINE of behavior will be outlined. It is up to the individuals to uphold these ideals or not. It is up to everyone to work with them at all, or not.

That's all there is to it.

[theTrav]

There's currently a bunch of vigilante's running around killing people, either because they're paid to do it, or because the victims inconvenienced someone.

Anything that causes these vigilante's to slow down a bit and do some fact checking/opinion gathering before gutting people is probably a good thing, even if it's not a complete solution.

While we're throwing away quotes how about a paraphrased "democracy a terrible government, the only thing worst is all the alternatives".

[Raephire]

Well said, Nobody HAS to follow these values. but these are important for civilization, even player run.

[kobnach]

There's currently a bunch of vigilante's running around killing people, either because they're paid to do it, or because the victims inconvenienced someone.

Anything that causes these vigilante's to slow down a bit and do some fact checking/opinion gathering before gutting people is probably a good thing, even if it's not a complete solution.

While we're throwing away quotes how about a paraphrased "democracy a terrible government, the only thing worst is all the alternatives".

Yes, there is, and having them slow down a bit would be good. It's reached the point where some people are advising avoiding certain parts of the map completely, lest one be attacked on sight by vigilantes. This is not good.

That said, I am not personally acquainted with any of the people promoting this board of investigators. How do I know whether they are fair minded, equipped with common sense, etc. - rather than simply being yet another batch of hair trigger vigilantes wanting a fancy title? Including representatives from all villages is a great idea - if you live in a village, and so expect representation.

Presuming one does not live in a village, and logs in to a smoking homestead - well, what would _you_ do? Contacting some people you've never met and hoping they respond before the clues expire - sounds great, doesn't it? It sounds even better if you expect them to demand a fee for their services.

It's a bit of a catch 22. I want less of this dashing off half cocked and killing the wrong person - such as an alt who was "stealing" from his non-complaining primary character - but when the clue is in my homestead, or that of my kin, and they are describing real damage - well somehow that feels very different

Put another way, I'm afraid we have opened Pandora's box. I don't know how to close it again, except for _individual_ self control and common sense on the part of everyone who feels a need to right some wrong against them or their friends/kin/clients. I don't see how a committee is going to help with anything.

[StewineBeef]

More info on these "vigilantes" would be nice. Are they only attacking/killing people they have clues connected to? Or just random people?