A MODEST PROPOSAL; to ensure that Ungentlemanly Combat is no longer a Burden upon the Publick

It is of great distress to all space-ship capsuleers to find all manner of wrecks and debris littering our passages between star systems, at the undocking locales of our space stations, and in the industrial asteroid fields that help to prop up the wealth of our nations.

It is a mindless and senseless violence that has re-captured the hearts and minds of our space-faring population. We move inexorably towards barbarism. This truth fills with a deep melancholy any gentleman or lady who thinks too hard upon where it is we are headed as a grand population, whether we be of Amarr, Caldari, Gallente, or Minmatar persuasion.

I think it is agreed by all parties that ungentlemanly combats must be curtailed. We must actively work to reverse the deplorable direction in which our kingdoms are heading. We cannot let ourselves drift into another age of anarchy, war, and disarray.

Ten thousand years ago, during the dark times after the EVE Gate extinguished herself, we were at the very brink of extinction. We persevered, looked into our souls and saw our own light. Through our tenacity to survive we pulled ourselves from the last dark age of Humanity. We struggled through the Age of Expansion, always threatening to falter, but our inner light sustained us. Civilization did eventually take root and we turned anarchy into order. Contact between the four peoples were re-established. Now we walk in the light of the Empyrean Age and there is much promise. As far as we have come, there is still farther yet to travel. The Empyrean Age is only a promise. As much as the firm hands of law and order guide us, we must be ever-vigilant that we do not once again slip toward our dark past.

Greed, avarice, vainglory, wrath: these are some of Humanity’s least desirable base instincts. These dominated the spirit of Men during our descent into that dark age. Temperance, charity, kindness, humility: these are some of Humanity’s more desirable aspects. These were the qualities of Men that pulled us from the pit. As Men we have the unique ability to recognize these aspects within ourselves, to fetter them or to let them be unconstrained. Where we do not have the strength to suppress our more sinful desires, we have laws and threats of punishment. Law and order is a reminder that some Men are weak.

As to my own part, I have turned my thoughts to this important subject for many years. How do we continue, how do we ensure the survival of Humanity, how do we ensure that we do not slip into the darknesses that hide in the souls of Men? We still stand at a precipice. As many schemes as I have weighed regarding an assured future for ourselves into the light, I have eventually come to put my faith in a single idea.

I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.

I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that all combats unbecoming to Gentlemen be made forfeit across all known space. The purview of CONCORD must be expanded, from the inner sanctum of our known space to the very outer rim. Unbidden conflicts must be diminished and eventually eliminated. We must extend greater powers upon Crowd Control Productions, that subsidiary of CONCORD with power to expand the domain in which CONCORD operates, to create new laws upon which order can prosper. These men of Crowd Control Productions are a highly regarded group of scholars and theologians, and we must put our trust in them to guide us through this Empyrean Age, toward a greater future for Humanity. These men trade in goodwill. Let our goodwill be their profit.

It is known by Science that Men will come into conflict with other Men, that these disagreements are inevitable by their very nature. I do not suggest to the careful reader that all conflict be eliminated, as Science has proven that to be an impossibility. What can be accomplished is that conflict be regulated and controlled, that a safe and reasonable outlet for aggression be made available to the publick. We already witness this in high security space, where aggrievements between corporations and alliances are resolved through CONCORD’s war conventions. We already witness that quarrels between individuals are resolved through CONCORD’s dueling charter. This is how Gentlemen resolve their differences, through legally-binding contests governed by rule of law.

We must bring the low and null security areas of space to heel. These environs pose a threat, a slippery slope back toward the dark age of our past. The depravity of men preying upon men, coalitions preying upon coalitions, where Greed rules hearts and minds, these must be eliminated with all due haste. These areas of our empires are a Cancer that will spread uncontrolled if we do not take prompt measure immediately.

It is true that arguments are made in favour of the status quo, that no evidence exists to suggest that settling conflict in ruthless manners will inevitably lead us down any dark paths. The agents of the New Order would present their own attestations that conflict governed by law would actually move capsuleers from the space-faring businesses to more staid employments like taxidermy or accountancy. They suggest that my treatise on the subject would in actuality do more harm than good, that a depopulation of the space-faring trades would hurt the progress of Humanity.

I beg to differ on that account very strongly. Engaging in industrial pursuits has proven to be a very rewarding past-time for a great many capsuleers, and I feel that as conflicts are reduced, that men will gradually gravitate to these pursuits, quite happily and with much enthusiasm. Asteroid, ice, and gas mining is known far and wide as a noble occupation, and one that engages fully of a man’s intellect.

Beyond the employment of industry, there are threats to our Empires that cannot be levelled by law alone. There are Men who suckle on the teet of depravity. I speak of the pirates and brigands of our known outer-space, barely-men who call themselves Gurista, Serpentis, Angel, Blood Raider, or Sansha. To move our capsuleers away from their own imagined conflicts with each other and toward a greater good in eliminating piracy, there is no higher calling. This is the most honourable activity that men can engage.

Those who speak against my plans would advocate that the menace of piracy is but a night-time tale to scare children. The threat they pose exists only in the literature of propaganda. That a pursuit against piracy cannot supply meaningful long-term occupation, and would be nothing more than a mere avocation. That these brigands pose nothing more than mere annoyance to our way of life. This need requires but a handful of our pilots, which would ultimately result in decimation of the capsuleer populace.

There are further whispers in dark corridors of areas of space beyond the reach of our Empires, mysterious places where new corporations have laid down their business. There is already word that movement in capsuleers to these dark regions has already begun. One hears of these corporations, with names such as Blizzard Industrial, BioWare Genetics, UbiSoft Technology, and Bluehole, already luring capsuleers with the promises of new challenges and excitements, of new frontiers to conquer. Persons of a desponding spirit, such as those agents of the New Order, would argue that encapsulating the conflict of Mankind under the rule of law and order will only drive capsuleers to these new frontiers with increasing haste. The Imagination of Man is driven by conflict, and by attempting to stymie conflict you drive Human Imagination elsewhere. I decry this as unnecessary alarmist rhetoric.

A very worthy person, a true lover of his empire, and whose virtues I would highly esteem would accept graciously the challenges around him. He would endeavour to improve not only his own lot in life, but the lots of those around him. He would enjoy the simple pleasures of an asteroid mining operation, or ridding a constellation of a Sansha incursion. He would recognize his worth to his empire and would have no need to seek out conflicts with fellow citizens. As a gentleman he would aspire to virtue over vice.

I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of the Empires, by advancing our trade, our welfare, and our security. All one needs is the prodding of a Pointy Stick to understand the true value of the Gentleman’s way of life.

The End

- Poetic Stanziel

You can read more of Poetic Stanziel’s opinions at his Poetic Discourse blog.

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