Maintaining order post apocalypse - what would be your first law?
One of the questions that we were given was "what are the first laws that you would impose?". This was the one question that got the most discussion, and the one that had us arguing with each other a lot. What do we focus on? What's most important?
We figured that murder was a complete no-no, but with a population of as little as 100, mere assault can be just as damaging as murder if the victim can't contribute to the group. Even, what punishment would be given out? We agreed that capital punishment was out of the question, and so settled on banishment. It was a really tough set of decisions to make, but we made the best of the situation.
In a lot of post-apocalyptic fiction, attempts to rebuild society are balanced with the presence of cruel and barbaric men who do what they please. The breakdown of society turns these people into monsters. It makes me wonder: if any kind of law had been established, would it have gotten to a state where monsters like that were permitted?
If you were the leader of a group of survivors, what would be your first law, and what punishment would you give to those who broke it?
Seriously, I want to work where you do. We do this Halloween dress up as a team competition. I suggested zombies 2 years ago (before The Walking Dead, thank you very much) and no one wanted to do it.
ReplyDeleteFirst law? I'd have to think about that. But punishment should be swift and exacting. No room for mutiny in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Either death or banishment to the wastes.
Banishment would probably be the best option. Let the, deal with the mutant cockroaches beyond the perimeter.
Deleteyep, that reminds me of that horrid Shane from THE WALKING DEAD, who is the example of cruel and barbaric men who do what they please. I guess the first law should be something about respecting the decision of others if you want to live in the group. Without that, the survival would be very difficult.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one. I can imagine that'd be a hard one to enforce though, without coming across as a tyrant.
DeleteI really need to catch up on the walking dead to see why Shane has annoyed so many people!
I couldn't agree more with you about Shane. I'm looking forward to his death.
DeleteWow, people really seem to be hating him this season! I've still not seen season 2. Any non-spoilery hints as to what makes him so bad?
DeleteYeah, Shane has become really annoying. Ring the zombie dinner bell!
DeleteAgreed. Shane has got to go!
DeleteI think this is the beginnings of the anti-Shane Defamation League :)
DeleteI really want a job in Oxfam with you aswell. your so brilliant !!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to try to poke fun, use proper punctuation :p
DeleteCould I cheat and say the first law is everyone must obey the Ten Commandments? I mean, that would cover most things. Punishment though - that's tough. For murder, I'd almost have to say eye for an eye, because if you banished them, they could come back and take revenge and do more damage. Slavery, perhaps? Tough call. I keep thinking of the movie Speed - just remove them from the equation.
ReplyDeleteGood point. I think a version of the ten commandments would be good. So as to encompass all religious views (unless you were going for a divine kingship, in which case the 'I am the lord thy god' bit could apply to you). We did think that forced labour was a possible alternative, though you make a good point about banishment.
DeleteI'm not religious. I wouldn't want religion to dictate law. I think a better example could be gleaned by looking at the U.S. Constitution.
ReplyDeleteTrue enough; I'd not want religion to interfere with governing, though I suspect it would become an issue once a community has been established. I think a constitution has potential to overcomplicate things for such a small society, but a lot of the points that it makes would be valid.
DeleteI don't know what the first law should be, but I believe punishment should be strict. Not execution because you need to preserve the population, but strict enough to severly discourage breaking the law. There is no room for anarchy in a post-apocalyptic world
ReplyDeleteDamn straight. Finding a way of punishing someone but keeping them useful is a tough one. What we need is something like the Wall in Game of Thrones - a lifetime commitment that's basically prison.
DeleteI'd skip the first half of the commandments but keep the thou shalt not kill, steal, lie, covet, or commit adultery - although with a mere 100 people that last one might have to go, too. Punishment would prove tougher. Maybe make the punishment that the 'sinner' has to be a slave for a certain amount of time. That keeps him/her useful, is a pretty awful punishment (especially if it was for murder), but also gives the person the opportunity to re-join society once they've paid their debt.
ReplyDeleteand yeah, I wish we had training sessions like that where I work, too. Sadly, 'inventory management' is about as exciting as it gets *yawn*
If you were forced to start a reproduction program, there would be no adultery ...
DeleteI thought about the slave thing for a while, but who'd want a convicted murder as their servant? In a society of 100 people, it must be pretty uncomfortable to be able to be near that person. Unless you made them an 'untouchable' and no one could acknowledge their existence.
I'm pretty sure that'll be it for exciting training sessions. We were guinea pigs on a trial so it's probably a one off.
You work at a truly awesome place!
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty cool, though I doubt I'll get the opportunity to do something like that again any time soon.
DeleteAll chocolate must come to me for inspection. Failure to do so means you lose your water rations...for a week!
ReplyDeleteThat's a damn good law! You could set up a special chocolate scouting division to look through the ruins of the cities to find you chocolate too.
Deletenow you're talking!
DeleteHm, I'm presuming the laws would be made after the leadership is settled? Because you can only enforce the law if you agree on who's in charge. That argument alone is likely to break a few commandments.
ReplyDeleteVery true. I'd imagine it would be after the initial chaos has settled down, the survivors have been 'rounded up' for want of a better word, and you've more or less established yourself as top of the pecking order. once you've started the process of rebuilding society, what would be the first law you pass?
DeleteI think mere banishment would end up coming back to haunt you. If I were writing such a story, that would certainly be the case. The group is too humane to do what is necessary and execute the offender, so they banish him, and that only makes the man want revenge, which he will then exact in some brutal manner. In such a world you can't afford the luxury of being nice. If you want to survive you have to do what is necessary, while still holding on to a reasonable set of morals.
ReplyDeleteVery true, and though it'd work in a story as a good device for conflict, I can imagine there being very serious real life implications. Although, if you are the only 100 survivors for many many miles, banishment would almost certainly a slow death by starvation and exposure.
DeleteNice to meet you. Good luck with A-Z. I look forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteWell met to you too, Squiddy :)
DeleteThis is a tough one. I would make it simple: Do not under any circumstance, kill, maim, injure or strike any of your fellow survivors no matter how much they might deserve it or you will be banished to face the zombie horder/giant spiders all alone.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty tight first law :) If there's conflict, let the people decide the outcome rather than dealing with it yourself. Funnily enough, in this exercise we didn't have a judicial system in place, rather a 'keeper of the peace' who would enforce the law.
Deletei have no clue... i would be happily tending the mending and allowing someone else to make that decision... i'm a wuss!
ReplyDeleteotherwise, i'd be tempted to make the decision be that i was supreme emperor of them all... and that would be bad... very bad. :P
Ha! Actually, the one of the first things that our group said is that we'd almost immediately delegate the power onto someone more fitting than ourselves - we didn't want the responsibility of having to make those decisions.
DeleteI don't know what my first law would be, but banishment would definitly be high on the list for punishment. I might also consider putting someone to death, say, if you were worried banishment would just let said person continue to hurt the group.
ReplyDeleteFinding that balance is tough. In the early stages I'd say something like forced labour would be more useful to make use of every able bodied person, even if they are a criminal. Once there's an increase in population you can start meting out capital punishment.
DeleteI believe it would have to be a law against violence to one another and then perhaps a law requiring everyone to contribute to the society in some way. We never have cool assignments like that at my work.
ReplyDeleteThis was likely to have been a one off, but it was an awesome thing to take part in :)
DeleteWe did consider compulsory drafting, at least in the early days. Everyone was allocated a role by the state and had to perform that role. Once things settled down then free choice was fine.
My first law would be Cherry Pop Tarts for breakfast should always be *available,* but you don't have to eat them.
ReplyDelete(I'd be rubbish, post-apoc.)
Yes! Mandatory scouting expeditions into the ruins of the city in search of Cherry Pop Tarts! I like it :)
DeleteOh, yikes, that's a tough one. I suppose I'd have to prescribe a mandatory glass of wine per day. Good for the health.
ReplyDeleteLots of good answers here. I think maybe "Do no harm" - an oldie but maybe a good jumping off point.
ReplyDeleteHey there, Jamie!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you for your recent comments on my blog. You always have very nice (as well as very interesting) things to say!!
Also, I love that you now have a titled sword in your header! That makes for a more dynamic feel to it. And it's nice that you now offer sandwiches, as well! (I'm just sweetening you up so you can beam over a sandwich or two at warp speed...)
Now, as for what law I'd implement, let's see....well, I'd get all of the remaining hobbits and orcs to try to work together and.... Okay, okay, I'll be serious. I think my very first law would be that there would be a weekly mandatory gathering around the communal campfire so that everyone could share stories. Yes, indeed! People could tell stories of their past experiences, no matter how harrowing, or make up stories of things they would like to see happen, whether fantastical or not. Everyone would be encouraged to participate. When a member of the group faltered, another would immediately pick up the tale, and so on. Eventually there might be someone who would act as 'group scribe', to make sure these tales were saved for posterity (because we're hopeful there WILL be posterity). As for punishment? I don't think the need for any would arise. People might grumble a bit at first, and perhaps want to avoid participating, but I think this would catch on very quickly, and it would no longer be necessary to have a law in place in order to force people to participate. However, if there MUST be a punishment...any offender(s) would be temporarily banished to an enclosed, guarded area on the night there's a storytelling meeting. The following morning, he/she/they would be released, only to have to suffer through all the comments from those who participated in the storytelling the night before, the content of which would be mostly feedback, both positive and negative, on the tales told, inside jokes, and other such miscellaneous stuff.
I think the offender(s) would come around soon enough! They would realize how much fun they'd been missing out on!
"And the road goes ever on..."
Maria @ http://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com/
Ooops!! I meant a "TILTED" sword, not a 'TITLED" sword! Lol. (Hey, Frodo, don't bring me any more of that Middle-Earth brew, okay?)
ReplyDeleteBanishment.. why does this sound like a good idea? Capital punishment is the way to go then everyone falls in line.
ReplyDeleteA banished person may very well find that one roaming band of baddies and tell them the who what where when of your group. Then where will you be?