#civil contracts

[chrispineofficial]

i don’t know why i’m consistently surprised by how many of the users on this website don’t know how to be a person. like “haha it’s so cute and fun we’re all so neuroSPICY” girl you still have to be a person. you still have to learn how to Be A Person you have to learn how to be normal around other people for the love of god is this thing on you still have to commit to basic social contracts and that’s a good thing

[itspileofgoodthings]

one of my favorite things about pride and prejudice is that in the last third of the book Elizabeth’s internal monologue about Darcy is her admitting that she’s in love with him but also putting all sorts of qualifications around that statement that kind of ...tamp down the level of emotion (the “feelings, if not as tender as Jane’s for Bingley, at least as just” line, even the whole thing about her and Darcy being well-matched objectively speaking) and as soon as she’s engaged you get the unbridled joy in the narrative about her own joy, cc: “I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.” 

[soath]

Of Contracts Between Gods and Men

On the Aeorian Kinsey-Deicide scale I’m a solid 5 (near exclusively god-preserving) which may seem surprising to my many dear associates who want those fundamental truths of existence wrecked. Without digging in any further, let’s do some quick religious history review on the question: Do you owe anything to the gods and do they owe anything to you?

The answer is not as universal as many raised in the nigh inescapable miasma of Christian theology may think! Reciprocal (or even unilateral) responsibility in religion comes and goes across history and geography. The Norse Aesir, for example, created humans but don’t owe them nada and only rarely bothered messing with them. The Greek pantheon are significantly more touchy on the subject of their pride but a person could manage offering no prayers or sacrifices as long as they didn’t promise any prayers or sacrifices. Probably. Compare this to Mayan theology, wherein both gods and humans have significant co-responsibility in maintaining balance; with ritual and sacrifice key to the continued safety of the polity. Divine-mortal relationships can be classified as nondirectional, unidirectional, or bidirectional with various advantages and disadvantages to each model. Gods come in lots of shapes and the demands they make aren’t universal!

A phrase that will often come up in any divinity studies is “covenant”. Originally a translation of the Hebrew berith or Greek diatheke, and also present in Islam, the Bahai’i faith, and possibly historical Phoenician religious practices, covenant theology has metastasized in Christian scholarship to the point it was genuinely hard to research this piece while dodging blogs by guys named Richard. But, broadly, it’s the idea of making an explicit deal with power(s) greater than yourself where you both have sides of the bargain to uphold.

Contract law is not the solution to every problem on earth or in fiction, but when the issue is a large disparity in power and mutual fears of future adverse behavior…. to quote Kate Bush “I’d make a deal with (the) god(s).”

Vitally, compared to other bidirectional pacts in world religion, Exandria has some advantages. For one thing, they have a godeater they’re right now helping to suppress. As long as the gods remain behind the divine gate they need mortal champions to effect their will—but that only holds true as long as the Divine Gate stays up. And unfortunately the problem with a fence someone else has erected is that you don’t know if they’ve kept a key.

If I was mortality’s lawyer? I’d ask for a second layer to that divine hamsterball I’d ask for anything left of the godkilling spark to be kept by the temples of Vasselheim—if they can’t be trusted with it no one can. And I’d promise cooperation from people of a certain degree of civic responsibility, not coerced or threatened out, whole hearted. But terms and conditions may vary.

Anyway, I guess the thesis is that it’s a terrible sin to destroy something you can’t comprehend with no idea of what the outcome will be (and a lot of you don’t seem to get the inconceivable joy of having/knowing/being a god, even just in fiction) but you can bring any monstrosity to the negotiating table. Don’t kill your gods, unionize against them.

[slythereen]

christian it’s not too late for you to stick a rbr sticker on charles’ car and let him and max team up against carlos btw. if you care

[lenjaminmacbuttons]

does anyone know where i might find a post about how post-apocalyptic scavenging stories, specifically noting the last of us and the walking dead, are fundamentally reflective of a fear of homelessness. i know i saw one when the tlou series was first releasing but i cannot for the life of me think of where to find it

[insert-stupid-username]

[paddockpatrol]

[atroposqine]

KRISTOPH HAS not signed any contracts. really, he's not even glanced at them — which is unlike him, a man who excelled in civil suites in such a matter. whilst criminal was more his forte, civil suites were an easy means to ' show the ropes ' so to speak to potential clients. those who found themselves in unseemly documents oftentimes found themselves at the end of a warrant ( purchasing stolen goods whilst knowing they were stolen was surprisingly common for the ' usual riff raff '. . .).

but these people had forged his signature. he ought to laugh. he ought to find it ironic. kristoph squints at the document in hand , and it was a flawless replication that not even he could argue. they had used his specific pen, the complicated underlining, the stamp from his office and a justice of the peaces verification to boot.

kristoph had stooped so low he had to sell dish clothes on live television ? what would people think of him, on half-rate live shows with cheap items to be sold ? he won't do it. he can't do it.

( why did he have pen ink on his hands, as if he himself had signed it ?! )

kristoph smiles, at least, gentle and polite. he does what he usually does, which is ask for a copy of the contract and the specifications of the work in writing. paper trails, he reminds himself.

"mr. nanami, have you any experience in selling dish cloths?" he asks. "sham-pow, wasn't it? i don't take it that they've taken to forging your signature? 18 USC ch. 25, counterfeit and forgery, is always a fun one to discuss with the judge."

@theseventhree

[divinekangaroo]

I’m reading the scripts for Yes Minister for attempted political inspiration and can’t stop imagining the culture shock of Tommy’s first few months in office.

[howifeltabouthim]

'Civilization . . . is based on not saying what you think . . . It's based on inhibiting one's impulses.'

Iris Murdoch, from A Fairly Honourable Defeat

[itspileofgoodthings]

idk I just can’t think of another story where the emotional core is a boy realizing that he has loved all along but been too stupid to realize it until now and to have that movement make SENSE and not put the girl in a situation where she’s getting something sort of secondhand. I’m sure it exists but like —-

[omegaphilosophia]

The Individual's Expectations of The State

In political philosophy and social contract theory, the relationship between the state and its citizens is often framed in terms of mutual obligations and expectations. The state owes certain fundamental duties to individuals in exchange for their consent to be governed and their adherence to the laws and regulations set forth by the state. These obligations are crucial for maintaining a just, stable, and functional society. Here are some key areas where the state owes duties to individuals:

1. Protection of Rights

Life, Liberty, and Property: One of the primary duties of the state is to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens, including the right to life, liberty, and property. This protection is essential for ensuring that individuals can live securely and freely within the society.

Civil Rights: The state must safeguard civil rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to privacy, and the right to equal treatment under the law. These rights are critical for the functioning of a democratic society where individuals can express themselves and participate in civic life.

2. Provision of Public Goods and Services

Law and Order: The state is responsible for maintaining law and order through a system of justice that includes law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities. This ensures that laws are enforced fairly and that justice is served.

Infrastructure: The state must provide essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges, public transportation, and utilities (water, electricity, sanitation) that support the daily activities and economic productivity of its citizens.

Education and Health: Access to quality education and healthcare is a fundamental duty of the state. Providing these services ensures that individuals can lead healthy, informed, and productive lives.

3. Economic Stability and Welfare

Economic Opportunities: The state should create and sustain conditions that promote economic growth and provide opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. This includes regulating markets to prevent monopolies and ensure fair competition.

Social Welfare: The state has a duty to provide social safety nets for its citizens, including unemployment benefits, social security, and assistance for the disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. This helps to reduce poverty and inequality.

4. Protection from External Threats

National Defense: The state is responsible for protecting its citizens from external threats, which involves maintaining a military and defense system capable of deterring and responding to potential aggressors.

5. Democratic Governance and Representation

Political Participation: The state must ensure that individuals have the right to participate in the political process through voting, running for office, and engaging in political discourse. This participation is vital for the legitimacy of the government.

Accountability and Transparency: The state owes its citizens a transparent and accountable governance system. This includes mechanisms for checking the abuse of power, corruption, and ensuring that government actions are open to public scrutiny.

6. Environmental Protection

Sustainable Development: The state has a duty to protect the environment and promote sustainable development practices. This ensures that natural resources are preserved for future generations and that environmental degradation is minimized.

The obligations of the state to its individuals are comprehensive and multifaceted, encompassing the protection of rights, provision of essential services, ensuring economic stability, defending against external threats, fostering democratic governance, and protecting the environment. By fulfilling these duties, the state upholds its end of the social contract, fostering a just, equitable, and thriving society where individuals can achieve their full potential.

[slythereen]

ferrari and vasseur behavior post charles podium have been strange

fred... he's a mysterious lil fella recently isn't he. like. i used to have faith in him backing charles up. now i'm like 🤨 half the time. sure, he defended charles re: the turn 1 incident, but i think his and christian's responses on it might have been about equally supportive/defensive of charles. which. is crazy when you think about it

but it's really, really weird that they're being sort of bland when like... i'm pretty sure this is charles' first time being booed like that? has he ever been booed? sure, not being right at the front of the podium ceremony might not have been their fault, it looked like there were some ferrari mechanics in the crowd too after all, but... you'd expect them to be a bit more all over him after the podium/presser. maybe they were and it just wasn't on social media, but ferrari were quiet about the booing from what i recall and idk it just seems like maybe they should be doing more hyping in the after math.

or maybe i'm just cynical and expect too much / am not giving them enough credit. charles just seemed a lil down about it and that is an injustice ferrari should be tripping over themselves to fix, in my humble opinion

[leemarkies]

pro tip: don’t learn your practice test score right before bed bc. ouch

[thisbibliophiile]

Books of 2024 #16

A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer

[bellasbookclub]

Reccer Spotlight: M ✌️

Rebecca

Picnic at Hanging Rock

A Civil Contract

Kimi Ni Todoke

Death Comes to Pemberley

[BONUS] Friday’s Child

I got much too overexcited making these recs and making them pretty. Am I mortified to be the only manga rec? Perhaps a little, but that’s the ordeal of being known etc. Aussie winter would not have been the same without this darling bookclub 💟 Full text available in their tab of the Bella’s Book Club Summer Reading ‘23 Reclist!

more info on BBC Summer Reading 2023

more Reccer Spotlights