opnet [OpNet] What are humans to do?

[Wakinyan]

We so often look at what we should do I wonder what humans should do if they accepted the Terat belief of outside human law?

Say some Nova ran into a jetliner and knocked it out of the sky killing hundreds of humans. In the human world this would cause an international incident, maybe even a war. Should they react the same way? should they treat us less than human and just try and kill us? Should they negotiate and try to have reperations made?

Or Should they just smile and wave it off as the Nova gives them a thumbs up with a pack of Mentos in his hand? "Oh those silly Novas!" Then go on about their day.

Should our response be? "It's their problem not ours. Let them figure it out."

[Ashnod]

Once both sides accept that Novas are not human, true interspecial relations can begin. Rules and laws for interacting with the other nation can be established.

[Ghostwriter]

The circumstance mentioned by Totem should be treated exactly the same as a driver losing control of his vehicle on the road and killing someone.

[Ulysses Bailey]

Totem - The international law idea, as it's currently stands, wouldn't be too effective. At this point, international law isn't really law at all, it's merely a set of general customs that are followed by nations. Which means in the long run, a country can do whatever it wants until another country tries to stop it through force, also known as war. Despite good intentions, the UN really doesn't have power over any nation.

[Wakinyan]

So we are looking at the same situation with Novas then? If we went that route?

[Ulysses Bailey]

Yes, Totem, assuming no new customs were created specifically for novas in the international arena. Obviously, it's uncertain if that would happen.

[Wakinyan]

So you could say ban a Nova from entering your country. Or Tariff any products they produce for sale. I could see this possibly working but it seems like there would be a lot of work to do.

[Ulysses Bailey]

Unfortunately, Totem, there are other problems.

Since a nation has sovereign control over its territory and we decide to treat novas as nations, how do we address the nova's territory? Merely their bodies? Perhaps a certain area surrounding the nova? If we work with an area, how large would it be? A meter? Ten meters? What about novas (like Backlash) who can potentially inhabit incredibly large areas, is the area they temporarily inhabit become subject to their sovereign power? What happens if that area is already within the sovereign territory of another nova or a country? Would that be an invasion? How about a nova, who has total sovereign rights over his body, who enters the territory of a nation? Is that an invasion? Where does nation stop and the nova begins?

Much to the frustration of many, that is only a small scratch in the surface of treating novas like nations using the current set of international laws.

[Wakinyan]

Well it's obvious that this way isnt going to work any better either. Something new has to come about. A hybrid of the human standard rights mixed with the knowledge that each Nova is a power unto themselves. I have no idea how this is going to work.

[Sakurako Hino]

What saddens me, is that there is not a protocol that Novas have with dealing with Baseline populations. I've tried sitting myself down to write down something comprehensive, but I'm not in the mood of being called to the carpet for it by those that don't wish to at least spend a few minutes to listen.

Then again, my former philosophy of non-interference was rendered moot and hypocritical from the start, so, who'd listen to me anyways?

[Wakinyan]

Humans don't share the planet well with others so I doubt this sharing with another sentient species thing is gonna work either.

[Sakurako Hino]

Then again, Humanity has a better track record of adapting when an imminent threat comes to their door.

I hate to say it, but we are that threat. Right now, things are pretty ok for the most part, but what about 10 years from now? or 25? 50? 100? Will we now be looked back upon as pioneers, or destroyers? Or perhaps a failed race?

Only time will tell.

[Alex Craft]

Humans do adapt well, but in that regard we're no different. After all, we come from human stock, and most of us grew up in a human society. The only thing humans have going for them these days is the so-called 'innovation factor' - the statistical chance that one of all of those billions of humans will come up with something that none of the super-humans thought of.

[Wakinyan]

You where just to nice to say the million monkeys with typewriters comment.

[Alex Craft]

Well hey - they could. Except maybe more along the lines of monkeys in a machinist's shop putting together a gatling gun.

[Story]

As long as the wee fellows are keeping busy and out of mischief.

That's the important thing isn't it?

[Jager]

Totem, they will find an answer to our powers, but it will take them a while.

In the interm, they will hire/entice other novas to protect/avenge them.

[Fenrir]

No! No, no! Do not be stupid! We are gods, we are here to rule! What we do is none of their concern! What can they do to us? What action can man take against us? Mortals have no right to take action against us, and any that do should be punished thoroughly.

"Share" the planet? Don't be such little girls. We rule the planet. End of debate.

[Ian 'Very Bad' Blakely]

They need to accept we are what we are and move on from there. The world has changed and trying to use the same old laws and the same old practices is doomed to failure.

[Charr]

Fuck'em.

[Menagerie]

Quote:

Originally posted by Ian 'Very Bad' Blakely:
They need to accept we are what we are and move on from there. The world has changed and trying to use the same old laws and the same old practices is doomed to failure.

Good point addressing the obvious point of transition we're going through in Earth's development. I would like to propose that it may be less Baseline's issue than our own as Novas. If we allow the old laws and old practices to apply to us, it's our issue. I'm simply speaking from a social point of view. Asserting our identity as something from juvenile comic book fantasy only reiterates the idea that we are simply human beings with something extra. Maybe that's what we are. If that is the image we project then of course their law applies to us.
But as we are dynamic penultimately individual beings, there is no broad sweeping solution to this problem.

Does a Nova have the option to not be considered a "Nova" in reference to law or what not? What we are permeates our being, changing us as we change ourselves. I think it's important that we admit the world has changed as well. The old laws (Human or not) were not written for our kind.

Mr. Blakely you suprise me. I considered you a solely militant personae. Your pixels have a depth that is easily overlooked.

[Sphere]

The only difference between Novas and baselines law-wise is that we're a lot harder to actually catch and contain.

"The old laws were not written for our kind."

What bollocks. Have any of you actually come up with a decent system for regulating a Nova society? No. So until you do, we can all run around breaking the only laws that actually regulate human behaviour, is that right?

I've been a criminal all me life. Can't see myself doing what anyone tells me to, even if it's that glowing ponce Devis Mal himself. So sod your attempts to justify what you do, just acknowledge that breaking the law is fun and easy and get on with it.

[Redback]

Hey Sphere ever thought of joining the Coalition, now thats Pulsar has disappeared there is no needless debate and the odd law break isn't looked down on. You aberrent friends, ultimatley, are Utopia the've just had a small falling out... come on it'll be fun!