Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us, but within that inch, we are free.
Valerie - V for Vendetta
And so I'm back at work. I'm hoping to put my blog back on a regular schedule(Monday, Tuesdays and Fridays again).
I've joined Noir., a mercenary corp of some renown. It should be a fun ride.
As for you dear reader, I would like to ask you for a bit of help. I'd like to start a discussion on this blog on the morality of piracy in Eve. State your opinions, reply to others or just rant a bit, I'm curious as to what everyone thinks. I'll be using the discussion in a project I'm working on. Don't disappoint me.
Good Day.
Valerie - V for Vendetta
And so I'm back at work. I'm hoping to put my blog back on a regular schedule(Monday, Tuesdays and Fridays again).
I've joined Noir., a mercenary corp of some renown. It should be a fun ride.
As for you dear reader, I would like to ask you for a bit of help. I'd like to start a discussion on this blog on the morality of piracy in Eve. State your opinions, reply to others or just rant a bit, I'm curious as to what everyone thinks. I'll be using the discussion in a project I'm working on. Don't disappoint me.
Good Day.
I'm a trader, so I'm not sure whether I'm the right person to debate the morality of piracy, but here goes:
ReplyDeletePiracy is just an another cost of doing business, just like taxes. Someone in a position of power (no matter whether it's self-gained or not) exercises that power for their benefit. However, the reliably ransoming pirate is better than someone who just blows up your shipment, because it's easier to estimate the cost of the former and make a decision solely on the numbers. The latter is more unpredictable and thus requires a judgement call: His mere presence reduces the supply from other traders, driving up prices.. but am I stealthy enough to avoid his attention and seize the opportunity?
To conclude, a trader like me doesn't see the subject of piracy in the axis of good and evil, but rather in the axis of order versus chaos. Order is always favorable, because it's predictable and thus easier to adapt to. Whether the order is upheld by words or by the barrel of the gun is irrelevant.
Aah, the morality of piracy in the eve universe. Well I am of the opinion that morality does not nescesarilly come into question.
ReplyDeleteEve itself is a dangerous place to be and people profiteer from other players through various methods within it.
Piracy is merely another form of playing and enjoying the game. Reading the bastard and hellcats blogs indicates how difficult a pirates life can be.
Pilots not willing to risk being pirated have plenty of space available to them with near 0 risk of these activities.
High sec piracy in the form of can flipping again is not a question of morality. It is a game mechanic that sparks controvicy and anger perhaps. But it is essencially harmless. It gives high sec miners a taste of danger however and if anything teaches them that nothing is completely safe.
Morality only comes in play when real life becomes involved. Money trading, threats, harrasment. Funny enough I dont believe that pirates are actually the people involved in these activities.
Please note this comes from someone that is not a pirate. Yet...
I have a simple view, this is a game...there is no such thing as Morality in a game...do what you will, as long as it's fun for you.
ReplyDeletePiracy as Immoral? Well, the first issue is trying to get a definition of "piracy" in EvE, but that is for another discussion. So I'll use as a definition that a "pirate" is a player who attacks unsuspecting players in non-consensual PvP action. In which case, whether this act is immoral depends completely on POV. The pirates think it is not immoral since "EvE is just a game and I'm not really hurting anything," while their victims do believe it is immoral as it causes loss and hence harm in time lost. Furthermore, since on-line gaming time costs money, there is tangible loss to the victim in the real world from this activity. However, and this should be stated more often - this does not mean that all victims condemn pirates for their perceived immorality, as most understand that "EvE is a game and I will get hurt in it." I've had hauler alts ganked and consider it just part of living in our lil' puddle o' space. My personal code doesn't allow me to attack innocents, but I am certainly not going to condemn others for playing differently. I used to hang out in Mynxee's bar when I first got into the game and learned a lot, but quickly realized that I was not their type of player; however, I still follow the blogs with an eye towards studying one's potential foes - wink, wink, nod, nod -
ReplyDeletePiracy in Eve is nigh on impossible to define. My own definition would be those who PvP for ISK and live off the ISK that they make in PvP. This kind of pirate is very keen to offer and accept ransoms. ISK is more important than a killmail. I've been living like this for a while and its a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteVery few people manage to live from their piracy income alone, though. Most people have alts that generate enough ISK to allow their PvP to be fun rather than excessively cautious. I find myself in this situation now. I want to fly expensive ships but I can't afford it. I need another revenue stream. Thankfully I have a business associate who is starting to help with this.
So, morality of piracy. I'd probably agree with those that say its not really possible to assign a morality to it. People do it for so many reasons but the main one is probably that at the end of the day, blowing stuff up is fun.