Is it wrong to prey on the weak??

[PotatoOverdose]

A good sandbox needs heroes and villains.

I say do what you like, don't let anyone's faux internet psychology degree keep you from enjoying the game the way you want.

From reading these forums, you'd get the impression that every single person that killed someone in call of duty was a monster because he was keeping his "victims" from unlocking new achievements/perks/weapons.

 

[Wicz]

That's an interesting point. And it sparks my curiousity. You say the bully didn't pick on anybody after he got treated in kind by a tougher kid. But let's say that he didn't stop picking on others. Let's suppose he continued to pick on others, took another few beatings, and accepted them as a risk and a consequence of picking on other kids. Would that in any way change the morals of what he was doing?

So in this instance if the Op continues to turn noobie pilots into space dust that might make him less culpable of villainy than if he himself gets ganked, changes his mind about his path in the game, and starts to play "cleanly".

I think in the context of the game universe not a lot of inference can be drawn from how most people play the game. Pirates playing in game aren't necessarily immoral out of the game (just as most of you Darth Revans aren't really ready to dominate the universe). This is to a large extent a roleplaying game, and a lot of people who roleplay will try to roleplay a character that they themselves would never dream of being, because that character is so alien to their personality.

The point I was making is that as far I was concerned he was picking on the smaller kids because there were no negative consequences. As soon as there were some ( the punch ), he lost his desire to be a jackass pretty much immediately.

I thought it was poignant given the way this game works.

Maybe when we get some appropriate consequences for the destruction of clean players, there will be less of it.

 

[Ghostwind40]

Riedquat is where if off to then. time for some exhilarating bully shooting. see you at the beacon

Actually you should try Gilgamesh. Popular spot for players killing other players for the fun of it because they know its a system that traders like to sell.

 

[Ghostickles]

Such unprovoked violent behaviour should be restricted to Confict Zones. Conflict Zones are deathmatch arenas and everybody knows that (or should know that). In the rest of the ED Galaxy the same social rules and conventions apply as in real life. You are still dealing with real people, not computer-generated characters. So you should behave the same as if you met those people in real life. That means that if you want to roleplay as a murderous psychopath who kicks on clubbing the weak to death you'd first have to convince the community that this is an acceptable role to play in ED. This will not be easy as you can see from the controversy surrounding roleplaying as a pirate in ED.

Elite Delicate.

 

[GMac]

A good sandbox needs heroes and villains.

I say do what you like, don't let anyone's faux internet psychology degree keep you from enjoying the game the way you want.

From reading these forums, you'd get the impression that every single person that killed someone in call of duty was a monster because he was keeping his "victims" from unlocking new achievements/perks/weapons.

Rep to you for making me laugh but for the record my psychology degree at least is real.

 

[Ariastrasza]

To go against the weak will get you no honor or glory, you should be ashamed.

 

[FuzzySpider]

The point I was making is that as far I was concerned he was picking on the smaller kids because there were no negative consequences. As soon as there were some ( the punch ), he lost his desire to be a jackass pretty much immediately.

I thought it was poignant given the way this game works.

Maybe when we get some appropriate consequences for the destruction of clean players, there will be less of it.

What sorts of consequences? Bigger bounties? The inability to pay off such bounties for a time? That might work, unless those attackers actually get a kick out of getting those bounties and have lawless systems to hide in. The "cut-throat galaxy" of Elite is at play here. The safer the game is made the less tension there will be.

 

[Surly_Badger]

Strong always prey on the weak, as Machiavelli spoke once that the strong do what they can and the weak suffers what they must.

"The strong do what they want, and the weak suffer what they must" is a very old expression; it dates back to Thucydides - not Machiavelli.

Machiavelli was an interesting case in point: he was a bootlicker in the employ of a powerful autocrat, Lorenzo "The Magnificent" De Medici, who paid him to write admiring fluff-pieces to verbally fellate his ego. Nowadays, Machiavelli would be a reporter on FOX News and would specialize in writing defensive pieces explaining that Cheney was really a great leader who had the world's interests at heart. What was ironic was that Lorenzo was a hereditary noble; his "greatness" had more to do with what uterus he came out of than anything else that he did. Like so many plutocrats, he convinced himself that he deserved it, of course.

If you're going to traipse out authoritarian tropes, stick with Nietzsche and steer away from the professional bootlickers like Locke, Burke, and Machiavelli.

 

[Lord_Crazy]

Over the last 2 days i have had my first 3 human kills on ED. They were all taken at Riedquat hanging around the nav beacon and were all suprise attacks on newer players. Am i wrong for attacking innocent players and taking their scalps or does anyone else find it actually exhilerating like i do?? I really hope someone else enjoys it, i've been feeling everso guilty.

It is not wrong at all to do that and enjoy it. It is like it is and ED is just a video game after all. It also tells a lot about the player. Like lacking ambition, being a coward or even having a sadistic behavior.

 

[Genar-Hofoen]

Over the last 2 days i have had my first 3 human kills on ED. They were all taken at Riedquat hanging around the nav beacon and were all suprise attacks on newer players. Am i wrong for attacking innocent players and taking their scalps or does anyone else find it actually exhilerating like i do?? I really hope someone else enjoys it, i've been feeling everso guilty.

If you were an animal, and you were higher up in the food chain, then your prey would usually be weaker than you.

However, the distinguishing feature that humans have over animals is that they exhibit conscious thought, and empathy for other humans - at least most humans do, otherwise there'd be constant chaos and mayhem on the streets. We are mostly civil creatures we humans. Mostly.

Humans who exhibit behaviour demonstrating a lack of empathy for their fellow human beings, are usually thought of as being not quite human, perhaps as being down at the level of animals. Those ones are often captured and brought to some form of justice depending on the severity of the crime commited, whether it be fines, a custodial sentence, or - depending on the country - even death.

Which type of creature do you wish to be? One who shows empathy for their fellow human being, or do you wish to be considered as no more than an animal?

Entirely up to you.

 

[dayrth]

npowell28 - winner of today's big wooden spoon award.

 

[Lord_Crazy]

Humans who exhibit behaviour demonstrating a lack of empathy for their fellow human beings, are usually thought of as being not quite human, perhaps as being down at the level of animals.

Wow that's extreme. Denying people their nature or specie just because they cannot show empathy... I mean I get the idea but still. The word you might look for is sociopath or something the like.

 

[Genar-Hofoen]

Wow that's extreme. Denying people their nature or specie just because they cannot show empathy... I mean I get the idea but still. The word you might look for is sociopath or something the like.

"Extreme" would be a word I would use for human players to single out newbie human players in a game, and destroy their ship/character just because they are newbies.

 

[Mikey2305]

i would personally be very uncomfortable with doing that. seems a bit like playground bullying. im bigger than you and i will because i can...

 

[xondk]

Its all well and good to call yourself a cut-throat and whatnot, that's fine, however I personally have to ask, what is the challenge or fun for that matter in attacking someone that cannot challenge you? you prove you are better them them? are you? not in my mind, since anyone can take out someone that is worse equipped.

 

[CMDR NightsLong]

A good sandbox needs heroes and villains.

I say do what you like, don't let anyone's faux internet psychology degree keep you from enjoying the game the way you want.

From reading these forums, you'd get the impression that every single person that killed someone in call of duty was a monster because he was keeping his "victims" from unlocking new achievements/perks/weapons.

This is the only comment that makes sense

 

[Loetmichel]

If you were an animal, and you were higher up in the food chain, then your prey would usually be weaker than you.

However, the distinguishing feature that humans have over animals is that they exhibit conscious thought, and empathy for other humans - at least most humans do, otherwise there'd be constant chaos and mayhem on the streets. We are mostly civil creatures we humans. Mostly.

Humans who exhibit behaviour demonstrating a lack of empathy for their fellow human beings, are usually thought of as being not quite human, perhaps as being down at the level of animals. Those ones are often captured and brought to some form of justice depending on the severity of the crime commited, whether it be fines, a custodial sentence, or - depending on the country - even death.

Which type of creature do you wish to be? One who shows empathy for their fellow human being, or do you wish to be considered as no more than an animal?

Entirely up to you.

This, totally this. Perfect!

+rep!

 

[Wicz]

What sorts of consequences? Bigger bounties? The inability to pay off such bounties for a time? That might work, unless those attackers actually get a kick out of getting those bounties and have lawless systems to hide in. The "cut-throat galaxy" of Elite is at play here. The safer the game is made the less tension there will be.

That's a good question, and thankfully I don't have to come with the answer

However an equivalent to the punch would be good. You kill a clean player in a non-anarchy system and the security forces swarm you! That way the galaxy would indeed be dangerous, for everybody

Anything along those lines would work imho.

 

[teufeldritch]

True but he didn't ask if it was allowed, he asked if it was wrong. People just want him to tell us if he feels it is an achievement to beat people who are just learning. His OP suggests he gets a kick out of it, the mindset is a mindset whether it's in game or real life. Just my opinion and that of others it seems

Yes, but it is not wrong in game as it's allowed in the game. Wrong indicates morality. If you personally believe it's wrong then that's your personal morality making itself manifest in your gaming experience. It may be unpleasant for those on the receiving end but it is not wrong in a overall game sense. That said I am guilty of the same morality intrusions in my game; there are just some things I believe are wrong -for me- to do, but being this is a game & not the Real World, that does not mean those things I believe are wrong for me to do are wrong for others to do as well. IT'S A GAME.

 

[CMDR M Kozak]

What sorts of consequences? Bigger bounties? The inability to pay off such bounties for a time? That might work, unless those attackers actually get a kick out of getting those bounties and have lawless systems to hide in. The "cut-throat galaxy" of Elite is at play here. The safer the game is made the less tension there will be.

Bounty systems doesnt work as crime prevention. Instead they represent a status symbol that plants fears in opponents that is afraid of ingame death.