EVE General Discussion

Hello again capsuleers,


I recently decided to try something new in EVE, namely trading. Yes, I realise that it is perhaps not as exciting as moustachioed swashbuckling around Dodixie, but I'm determined to get my subscription's worth.

Here is where I wore my heart on my sleeve and asked fellow marketeers for a startup investment in my business. Within a couple of hours, the request was filled by two very generous individuals, and I was on my merry way towards making money.

Here's the thing, though. Although I am a fearless individual, I must admit that my heart was in my mouth when I was typing out the original proposal, because I have been lurking on MD for years now and have seen first hand how the tro...individuals there rip apart loan/bond requests if the person hasn't thoughtfully presented their proposal and/or raises too many obvious red flags; I fully expected the same to happen to me. I'm not a snowflake (well, on Friday nights I might be), and there's nothing really different between mine and some of the other, more obviously scammy requests, except that perhaps I might've thought about my plan a little more in depth before presenting it.

I should let it be known, for clarity's sake, that I have no intention of running away with the money, neither now nor ever. I am an honourable individual, and my conscience prevents this. It sounds sanctimonious, and perhaps it is, but there it is - I just wouldn't. I wouldn't feel right with myself for doing it, although I can certainly understand the temptation.

So this is my question, really: apart from your conscience, is there anything else stopping you from ripping someone (or a group of people) off in EVE? I'd be interested in getting your thoughts on this!

It's that thing the compels you to explain to the genuinely bewildered WTF just happened to them when you cause their cranium and rectum to meet.
Doesn't work the same way for everyone, but you know... results may vary.

You run. I con. A tiger don't change their stripes. - James 'Sawyer' Ford

Aside from the the big bad hammer... you yourself determine what is 'wrong' for you. Granted, you also find yourself subjected to the definitions adhered to by those whom you consider peers, but all in all the fact that EVE has no clearly defined concept of 'good' or 'evil' is one of the tastier bits to enjoy about it.

The only thing that stops me in such circumstances is the notion I might, to a varying degree of certainty, want to do business with said individual or group again in the future.

If the answer is not a definite 'no', I generally refrain from relieving them of their Isk without some sort of compensation.

If the profits of cooperation persistently exceed the risk of loss, that is equitable equilibrium.
That builds trust.

But.
Trust is an ephemeral and fickle element..
The fiscal bottomline, is concrete.

As long as you profit, there is no rational reason to break the trust.
But, that runs both ways.

Therefore "trust", in actuality, is an earned secondary quality in a relationship that serves to:
A) Support risky endevours, on either partners side, together, cor potentially greater profits/equity.
B) Can be leveraged, for good or bad, when the equitable arrangement is no longer equilibrious, so as to maintain the relationship over loss, in hopes of future profits.
C) Expendable, and dumpable, as a quality, when either party is:
i) Unwilling or unable to share the risk, and pulls out. Benign. "I cant afford it"
ii) Turns, and shoots his partner in the foot." Zombies/lions/creditors will eat you, instead of me."
iii) Has aquired equity and leverage beyond that of his partner in trust, and leaves with all the profits. "Thanks for all the fish!"

TLDR: You can only trust someone so far as you are making/providing them profit and equity.
If you cant do that, its not your trust in them you have to worry about;
Its their trust in you!

mostly reputation. stealing a few bil really doesn't do a thing for me. That said if someone put a few trillion in front of me I can't say how I'd react. really easy to say right now that I wouldn't steal it, but that much isk I could pretty much do whatever I wanted for ever in game. aww who am I kidding, I'd blow it all on hookers and blow