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Old 07-23-2018, 10:54 PM   #31
henry quirk
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busy with stuff...here's some nuts & bolts to play with

Originally Golgotha was to be a minarchy of the night-watchman kind (what I personally favor in the here and now).

If I'd gone that route surely there'd be some kind of constitution, sumthin' extending out of 'mnd your own business, keep your hands to yourself...or else'. But I discovered while researching economic systems, and fleshing out Uroboros, Golgotha isn't a minarchy but an anarchy. Much of what I assumed in terms of court, police, military for Golgothans didn't pan out and wasn't needed.

So: beyond the (One and Only) Law, there is no law, no constitution, no courts. What you got is a small population of (essentially) blue-collar miners and haulers and tradesfolk surounded by a variety of polities. Golgotha is self-governing in the purest sense (each 'one' responsible for himself wholly).

Makes for rough times, harsh circumstances, and guns....lots and lots of (coil) guns.

Public forum: The Bazaar is as close to a 'town hall' as you'll get. It's the prime spot for major, public trade and it serves well as a market for ideas. However, anything from a quarter to half of the population is off-Golgotha at any particular time, so the weighing of issues is on-going, informal, more a matter of gossip and grapevine than organized debate and action.

Much of the foundational Golgotha infrastructure was put in place by the Union Central Planners who intially oversaw the place. Since going independent, the place (including all the smaller bodies in proximity) has become a hodge-podge of idiosyncratic styles and engineering techniques. There are frequent (sometimes violent) disagreements on proper 'use' of a particular volume of the interior. Not surprisingly, there's just as much cooperation (motivated by self-preservation) as competition.

#

Golgothans don't care how you learned to repair an atmosphere scrubber, or how you learned to figure atmospheric pressure for an irregular volume, or how you learned to target a comm laser, or how you learned communicate -- in writing and speech -- exactly what you mean. They just care that you can.

To that end: there is the equivalent of home-schooling, and apprenticing, along with whatever folks pursue on their own when adults.

#

As I mentioned above: I've rethought certain aspects of things, moving Golgotha from minarchy to anarchy, so constables are off the table. Order, such as it is, is maintained through equal parts of self-direction, self-defense, thinkin' before you act, vigilantism, etc.

As for 'fire' (or explosive decompression): self-preservation over the long haul has taught Golgothans a lot about how to drop everything and go patch that hole...NOW. That guy you hate? Hate him later ('later' bein' sumthin' you won't see if you and that guy you hate don't patch that hole...RIGHT NOW)

Golgothan economy inspired by this essay...

http://www.anarchism.net/anarchism_b...capitalism.htm

Golgothan notions of 'property' inspired by this essay...

http://www.anarchism.net/anarchism_p...asynthesis.htm

Full explanations to follow, as my time gets un-stuffed.
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Old 07-24-2018, 07:09 AM   #32
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Sounds to me like the mining towns of the wild wild west, with all the good and bad history has shown us.
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Old 07-24-2018, 08:47 AM   #33
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That's a good comparison.

Those gold rush communities sprang up overnight, weren't really planned, were wholly motivated by profit.

The difference: Golgotha is well established with certain ideas concrete-set. Folks who thrive there are hard and spare. Folks who don't thrive, who mebbe look to ride coat tails, end up dead.

Some one, can't recall who, wrote about a place -- Jackson's Hole -- on a (I think) colony world. It was lousy with all manner of organized crime. The primary difference between that place and Golgotha is a fanatical adherence to the (One & Only) Law. Unscrupulous types arrive all the time...some are even able to get a leg up...the clever ones can hang on for a long time. But if Jane Deuterium miner discovers she's been bilked, she's gonna gonna have sumthin' to say about it. Larry, the one who sold her substandard scrubber parts may wake up dead.
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Old 07-24-2018, 10:44 AM   #34
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What's preventing organized crime? If the one rule is MYOB, they can target people a few at a time to build a power base, and people trying to organize against them will be accused of not minding their own business. Does the one and only law prohibit them from hiring outside contractors for security to protect against reprisals from people like Jane?
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Old 07-24-2018, 12:32 PM   #35
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"What's preventing organized crime? If the one rule is MYOB, they can target people a few at a time to build a power base, and people trying to organize against them will be accused of not minding their own business. Does the one and only law prohibit them from hiring outside contractors for security to protect against reprisals from people like Jane?"

But MYOB is not the whole of it.

'Mind your own business, keep your hands to yourself...or else.'

And: you gotta remember context. The Law isn't meant to primarly govern interpersonal interaction, it's meant primarily as an admonishment to those who'd presume to rule, to govern, Golgothans.

Some busybody lookin' to get up in your affairs: that's on you how you handle it.

Some busybody lookin' to establish a conduit on Golgotha wherein illegal (elsewhere) product is moved to and fro, that's on individuals how they wanna deal (some will ignore, some will align).

But folks comin' and tryin' to muscle Golgothans, or develop a power base so as to direct the affairs and finances of Golgothans, well, it won't just be Jane goin' to war.

Let's say Munson is lookin' to replace one of the electron beam initiators on his pulse drive. He's got a cargo box full of spices from a previous run. He knows Lazarus Whey is the go-to guy for refurbished initiators and he knows Whey has a sidebusiness trading in rare organics. A normal transaction would have the two haggle over price and they'd settle on sumthin' mutual or Munson would take his business elsewhere. But suppose Whey wouldn't sell the initiator, or asked for a price way beyond what the market dictates, or just flat out admits he has 'partners' who win't let him deal the way he used to. Munson (cuz he dreads the loss of Whey's products, and mebbe cuz he likes Whey) will make his inquiries. Golgotha is small...some one will spill the beans. Before you know it, Whey is gettin' visits from concerned folks lookin' to help (introduce his 'partners' to vac). Within the confines of the Law this is wholly acceptable and probably even mandated. If Jane has a lucky run and brings home surplus deuterium that will skew the economy but naturally. If Whey's 'partners' skew the economy through artificial price hikes and created scarcity, this is a large-scale event, a major 'not keepin' your hands to yourself' event. '...or else' is invoked with a vengance.

And if Whey goes pussy and refuses to assist Golgothans lookin' to break his 'partners' most surely he's slated for vac. He's already on thin ice lettin' himself be used in the first place.
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Old 07-24-2018, 12:47 PM   #36
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I understand the Golgothians value self reliance and are solitary minded.

Do they ever need help from the community? Are there ever natural disasters there? Floods? Fires? Earthquakes? Do they age? Do they ever get sick and need care? Do they get early onset dementia in the same proportion that other humans do? What happens when a self reliant solitary minded individual suffers some misfortune that is more than they can handle themselves?
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Old 07-24-2018, 12:57 PM   #37
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The thing about organized crime is the organization. They can call on outside resources. If they're at all clever, whatever hold they have on Whey will not be directly dependent on any individual enforcer the Golgothan posse is able to space.


The thing about anarchy is it's not organized. It's fine to say that a particular event is an "or else" situation, but you have to actually convince each Golgothan individually that it is the case. If their default mode is FYIGM, that's going to be hard to turn around.
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Old 07-24-2018, 01:05 PM   #38
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"Do they ever need help from the community?"

Probably. They can ask for help (no crime in asking). Mebbe they'll get some; mebbe they won't. No one is forced to lift a finger.

#

"Are there ever natural disasters there?"

Touched on that up-thread...

(S)elf-preservation over the long haul has taught Golgothans a lot about how to drop everything and go patch that hole...NOW. That guy you hate? Hate him later ('later' bein' sumthin' you won't see if you and that guy you hate don't patch that hole...RIGHT NOW).

This is SPACE...SPACE wants to kill you...you do what you gotta to not let it.

#

"Do they age? Do they ever get sick and need care?"

They age, they do get sick, they do need care (and they pay for it with their own resources [which they have or they wouldn't be Golgothan]).

#

"Do they get early onset dementia in the same proportion that other humans do?"

I'm assuming 500 odd years down the line some of what ails us, won't ail them. But that's okay: there's plenty in the Uroboros that kill 'em dead. The absence of senility isn't even noticed with all the other shit flittin' around.

#

"What happens when a self reliant solitary minded individual suffers some misfortune that is more than they can handle themselves?"

As I say: they can ask for help...best to start with the people who love 'em...mebbe those folks will lend a hand (but that ain't guaranteed).
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Old 07-24-2018, 01:11 PM   #39
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The ones who made out best in the old west were saloon keepers and general goods suppliers because a large segment of the residents didn't want them to fail or leave.

Oh, and Levi Strauss.
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Old 07-24-2018, 01:15 PM   #40
henry quirk
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"The thing about anarchy is it's not organized."

Not formally, no. But don't equate 'anarchy' with 'chaos'. The two aren't -- in context -- synonymous.

#

"It's fine to say that a particular event is an "or else" situation, but you have to actually convince each Golgothan individually that it is the case. If their default mode is FYIGM, that's going to be hard to turn around."

But the default mode is not 'fuck you i got mine', it's 'leave me be'.

And: in the example laid out above (with Whey) ther'd be little convincing needed. Some one is screwing with the natural economy, this endangers all Golgothans: dem motherfuckers got to go (out the nearest airlock). Absolutely, some Golgothans won't lift a finger, but some will and 'there will be blood'.
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Old 07-24-2018, 01:17 PM   #41
henry quirk
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"The ones who made out best in the old west were saloon keepers and general goods suppliers because a large segment of the residents didn't want them to fail or leave."

Yep, like Whey, for example. He's 'important' (he best keep in mind, however, he ain't 'that' important).
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Old 07-24-2018, 01:24 PM   #42
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"The thing about organized crime is the organization. They can call on outside resources. If they're at all clever, whatever hold they have on Whey will not be directly dependent on any individual enforcer the Golgothan posse is able to space."

Then the posse will introduce Whey to vac and wait for the nascent syndicate to make the next move.

As I say: 'there will be blood'.
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Old 08-23-2018, 11:31 AM   #43
henry quirk
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Since I last posted in this thread...

...I course-corrected a bit.

Rescaled some things, retooled others, generally re-thunk stuff.

What follows is an experimental stab at a beginning.

-----

Space (Truckin') Opera

by Henry Quirk (2018, mine, all mine, goddamnit!)

ONE

After decon I made my way across the orbital's Esplanade. 'Bustling' doesn't cut it. It was befuzzlin' after three weeks of just me and V.I.ola, betwixt. Big noise, big color, all manner of people, everywhere. I navigated the fiasco, un-augmented eyes mostly straight ahead. I'm no tourist, got no interest in the orbital's goin's on.

I nearly tripped over and then side-stepped a Brain (in a jar) skitterin' erratic-like on its four mech-legs through the shifty crowd. It wasn't runnin' its ghostface so I couldn't say for sure, but I'd have bet five creds it was drunk. Surrounded by hundreds of bios, mechs, and enfleshed infos, can't say I blame it. If I were gonna be there for more than a handful of hours I'd probably get blitzed myself.

I was relieved when I got to the brokerage and he was at his terminal, all big and fat, plugged in and (mostly) human.

"Trujo."

He swiveled in his chair. Plugged in, it didn't matter much which direction he faced. If he coulda stood on his head at all, then he coulda stood on his head, facin' the wall, and conducted his business with the same greasy efficiency as he did sittin' up, facin' the mostly superfluous ghost terminal.

"Munson! What brings you to Hesperis?"

Trujo knew I was in-system 'bout five minutes after I cleared the Needle (along with a whack of other 'interested' beings, each and every one I hoped to avoid). And he knew why I was on-orbital. And he knew I knew this. And he still acted surprised to see me and curious why I'm on Hesperis. Meh.

We shook hands. I plunked down in the human-form chair that sprouted from floor.

"Same as always. Droppin' off."

He relaxed back in his own grown chair. Seemed to me it groaned a little. Like I say, Trujo is a large man.

"Now you're looking to pick up."

"Yep."

Trujo's eyes irised closed as he accessed his manifests and schedules by way of the optical cable plugged into the top of his shaved head.

"Well let's see what I have... You still flying that old tractor?"

'Course I was flying the 331. *If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Besides, no way I coulda afforded another tractor even if I wanted to. Creds were tight, always.

"You know I am."

Mech eyes opened.

"Hmm... Have a preference?"

I shrugged.

"Nope. I'll go wherever takes me out of Comm Space."

I haul in Community Space (cuz work is work), pay their friggin' fees (cuz that's just one of the prices of doin' business). But I can't cotton to their 'one for all' hooey. So when I can, I fly in Free Space. Business is spare flyin' Free but I breathe easier.

I fly the Gadsden on the 331's nose for a reason.

"You're in luck, then. I have two scheduled for Golgotha."

A mostly defunct mining station in Free Space affixed to a big chunk of mined out rock surrounded by other chunks of whatnot, all orbiting a small, dim, dwarf. Notable mostly as a way-station between Flinx and Lapis 5 (with 1 through 4 bein' long gone I don't know why they just don't drop the numerical). Was a hoppin' place a few years back, then a new Needle cropped up that bypassed Golgotha's. Sparsely crewed, quiet, and about as far as you can get from any place excitin as a body could want.

"Mass?"

"Touch over one."

Decent load for a hauler like mine.

"Pay?"

"Standard plus half, and the out-going Needle toll."

That plus five is for the distance. Like I say, Golgotha is off the beaten and more than just a few AU from its Needle. Most don't wanna travel that far, that deep, in-system. Me, long-haul is what I do.

"That'll work. Load need anything?"

"It's Pseudo Grub..."

"So nuthin' special."

Really, what the hell do processed, compressed algae and yeast blocks need? Besides flavor, that is.

"Just avoid the rocks and the mooks."

"Always."

"Status?"

"I unhitched soon as the creds cleared. Inspected her. Moved off and parked her half a click out. Still gotta re-tank and restock. After that I'm good to go."

"Okay, then. Thumb the plate and you can get moving. Link with my comp when you get back to your tractor for the relevants."

"Will do."

"So, how you've been?"

"Meh... Workin'."

"That's what you been doing. How are you?"

"Alive."

"Hmm... As always, a pleasure."

"Thanks, Trujo."

It occurred to me on my way back to the lock (as it always does) that mebbe the man I meet when I'm Hesperis-way isn't a man at all. Entirely possible Trujo is an A.I. not even on-orbital but tucked away in one of the hundreds of satellites clustered 'round, or a non-human runnin' a proxy body from two offices up-spin. I've never seen him outside of that office, or without that cable plugged into his skull. It's part of the problem I got with Comm Space. Almost nuthin' and no body is what it seems. Flesh gets reshaped or swapped or ridden by remote; ghosts hang on every-thing and -body like a shroud. I thought on it all for five then put it aside. Don't matter much what Trujo is as long as he plays me straight and makes with honest work. Don't matter what Comm folks do with themselves cuz I'm just passin' through.

TWO

Threadin' a Needle is easy. You let the V.I. do it. Nah, strike that. If you're like me you don't 'let' the V.I. do it cuz the V.I 'must' do it. Executin' a spiral around a Tipler Needle can't be done with a natural, unmodified human brain. Not fast enough to take into account the always shifting variables. Between Needles I'm more than competent (if I say so myself) at navigatin' the 331. Needles, they're V.I.ola's.

She's not top of line (not for a long time now), but she knows Needles, knows the 331, knows me, and generally knows a helluva lot about any place we're liable to end up, and that's all I need to get through my day to day.

When I bought the 331 she was already installed, experiential- and data-bases deep and wide. I'd have been a damned fool to wipe her. I didn't (cuz I'm no fool, mostly), so she's got a personality that don't always jibe with mine. which is to say, sometimes she's a royal, Grade-A, bitch. Makes for interesting times, now and again, betwixt.

Last edited by henry quirk; 08-23-2018 at 12:18 PM.
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Old 08-23-2018, 11:41 AM   #44
Happy Monkey
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Looks good. One question:
Quote:
can't say I blame the it.
Is this patois or a typo?
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Old 08-23-2018, 11:46 AM   #45
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typo...corrected

Thanks.
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