Recruitment Thread

[Maniac]

I actually read Starship Troopers in IIRC May/July last year to get in the right mood for Sparta, as some Spartans like Jamski and Skanky were talking about it.

Personally, as a moral relativist, I didn't like the notion the book presented, that one could supposedly mathematically calculate what was the right solution to an ethical question (= "Ethical Calculus"?). That being said, some of the values presented in the book seem to fit for a Spartan society. One thing we've specifically used is that one needs to perform a few years of Federal Servive before gaining full citizenship rights.

I can speak only for myself, but I don't appreciate that kind of fanatics. Blind followers, with bad leadership.

Do you mean in the book, or in the movie (which I (fortunately?) haven't seen)? Though in the book I didn't like the supposedly rational fundament of their ethics, I wouldn't call them blind fanatics (as far as I can remember of course).

[binTravkin]

Ahaaa! A split in Spartan rows!

[Modo44]

I mean the movie, haven't read the book. The whole style reminded me very much of Hitler's nazis. Too fanatic, and too little questioning of motives. I don't think that's what Sparta is about.

[binTravkin]

Why have you brought this conversation to public forums?

Is this kinda propaganda?

[murielwasser]

You do realize that Starship Troopers was tongue in cheek, right?

[Snoddasmannen]

Moral relativism? Questioning of motives?
Me: I liked the explosions.

[Modo44]

Originally posted by murielwasser
You do realize that Starship Troopers was tongue in cheek, right?

Yes. So what? We Spartans don't laugh at enemies.

[Maniac]

Here's a brief summary and debunking of some of the negative myths surrounding the book.

Link first provided by Googlie in our initial recruiting thread.

[arginine]

Thanks for the link on the negative myths.

I was talking about the book. I have not seen the movie, but a friend of mine said it butchered the book :P

I don't think the book was tounge and cheek. On the other hand, I have not done much deep thinking on "Starship Troopers". On a side note, I am amazed that the Spartan Federation has been able to stick to adhere to its original principles (from what I have seen).

As for the seemingly unquestioning loyalty of the soldiers to HQ, if the people are aware that they are working for highly skilled people being used effectively to further the entire group's aim (an end of the bugs' war, through genocide if need be), then I would think it to be logical to spend one's effort on their task instead of trying to second guess command, or do a less effective job on your own.

[Maniac]

Originally posted by binTravkin
Ahaaa! A split in Spartan rows!

In Sparta we are allowed to form our own independent opinion about a movie or book, and freely share thoughts about it. From your comments, I assume this is not the case in the Gaian Union?

[binTravkin]

In Sparta we are allowed to form our own independent opinion about a movie or book, and freely share thoughts about it. From your comments, I assume this is not the case in the Gaian Union?

Nono, we of course have our own opinion about books, but the case is more serious - you discuss what the Sparta should be and express different viewpoints.

That was serious, but my intent of that post was just to make you smile..

[murielwasser]

I would go even less far than Biv. In the Gaian Union there are significant disagreements about even the essential character of the Union. We were just experessing surprise at that in your own.

After all, who has the higher police rating?

[Maniac]

Originally posted by binTravkin
That was serious, but my intent of that post was just to make you smile..

I know, I know. Mine wasn't serious either.

Originally posted by murielwasser
I would go even less far than Biv. In the Gaian Union there are significant disagreements about even the essential character of the Union. We were just experessing surprise at that in your own.

After all, who has the higher police rating?

(Serious now) Well, personally I explain this seeming contradiction like this.

Spartans are individualists, and so in the private sphere there is a wide variety of different practices and customs, etcetera, both dating back from Old Earth cultures, or new ones created on Planet. Gametext examples of Sparta's individualism and decentralized attitude include their right to keep and bear arms, and the fact that the faction is not a unitary state but a Federation with a large degree of autonomy for the bases.

However the story is different for the public sphere. Spartan Citizens realize that in most cases what is good for them is good for the faction, and what is good for the faction is good for them. So therefore they voluntary accept a basic set of rules and conduct to behave in public. As a consequence eg vandalism is a rare event in the Federation (though the helots seem to have a peculiar tendency towards burning embassies. ) So while being individualists they are at the same time disciplined (=> high police rating) and can accept a strict hierarchy such as in the army. The fact that everyone giving sufficient effort can rise to join the society's elite also helps to accept the existing order.

Col. Pedro Riveira, "A Sociological History of Sparta"

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by Maniac
... (though the helots seem to have a peculiar tendency towards burning embassies. ) ...

The deny all responsability for consequent hostilities between factions as an result of this minority's actions.

[binTravkin]

... (though the helots seem to have a peculiar tendency towards burning embassies. ) ...

Your helots sure are well armed - they even have copters and C5 (or what did they call em) explosives..