Intergalactic Summit

I have noticed over the past months that the term "profit" is denigrated in these forums, and amongst the capsuleer community at large. Most of those who rise to the defense of the concept are those who pursue unrestrained, simple, selfish greed, with few exceptions. No doubt this is somewhat worrisome to my Caldari friends, as it appears to be a simple cultural misunderstanding. Just as "Freedom" means so much more to a Galletean, so much more than they seem to be able to easily explain, "Profit" means much more to a Caldari than most non-Caldari are aware of. So, I've decided to make an attempt at bridging the gap and explaining the term in greater detail.

Your comments are welcome! However, please note - I am a poor linguist and even worse sociologist. This is simply my personal interpretation of the term and its implication for my culture. For edification, I live in the Lonetrek region, and am fairly steeped in the Todaki-Kakakela metaculture.

I've noticed that most people I've spoken with have a negative view of the pursuit of profits. This has always struck me as odd - here, asking how profits are going is literally a greeting. I've done a little investigation and asked a few questions, and have concluded that most Capsuleers consider the practice of pursuing profits to be selfish, greedy, and materialistic. Let me address these ideas before moving on to my own description.

To the idea of pursuing profits being selfish - not at all. Profits for a corporation are normally used to expand that company. This results in more jobs, more opportunity, higher wages, and an increase in the standard of living of all those within the company. For those corporations that distribute more of their profits to shareholders, those shareholders almost never simply keep their wealth - they spend it! Often this is in the form of investments, which enrich other companies and other people. It is rare for profits to stay stationary. A river that doesn't flow will freeze, after all.

To the idea of pursuit of profits being greedy - yes, this is true. Greed is a great motivator, and isn't neccesarily evil. Greed is a tool to create ambition. The creative act is born of greed - greed for fame, for love, for money, for any number of things. The world is born in desire, and dies when desire is extinguished.

To materialism - Yes, profits are often, though not always, about materials. We are material beings, and we must never forget that the foundation of peace is build of bread, not ideals. How can one expect to find happiness when their family goes hungry, or when they know that their children will never achieve their potentials for a lack of school money? Ideals are important, heart is important, but these will be for nothing if one hasn't the materials to bring those ideals into reality.

So no, I don't deny the allegations made. However, like I said, there's a lot more to it than that. Frankly, I'm bafled as to why people would think that's all Caldari profits are about. It's very well known that the Caldari culture is focused on teamwork and honour. How can it then be assumed that we are also selfish, greedy and materialistic, with no link between the two? I don't understand, and if anyone wants to enlighten me, I'd much appreciate it. For my part, I will try to explain how these traits meet.

The concepts of profit, honour and family are very tightly linked, here at least. I alluded to the idea above. Profit is not about oneself. Profit is a shared trait - we here at Lai Dai Biomedical And Cybernetics Research rise and fall together with our shared profits. They are my family - not biologically, but in any meaningful definition of the term. When they profit, I profit, and our lives improve. Someone who keeps their profits to themselves dishonours themselves and discredits their corporation - their family. We share and share alike, honouring our superiors with a greater share, as is their due.

This is a sticking point for many - the idea of ones superiors deserving more. I'd prefer to not say to much on this - if anyone wants to, please do. All I will say is that my superiors serve me as I serve them, and they protect my honour and my very life with their actions. I'm happy to see them with better pay - they earn it. The extra credits they earn is a poor reward for the great services they do me. 

I've done a poor job of explaining, I'm afraid, so I will try to clarify one more time. We Caldari have a strong sense of community - I feel a great kinship with the Matari I've met for this reason. We don't live in tribes, and there are great many differences, but we both give our hearts to those we live with. When I ask a friend if they're profiting, I'm not asking what they're making this quarter - though it's a fair way to reply! I'm asking if their contributions are being well-received, if they are encountering problems, if their family is healthy and happy.

This is what "profit" means to me. All the ISK in Jita may not mend a broken heart, but all the ISK in Jita could buy some new stations for Lai Dai, and fund a new employee education programme. In this, they find new happiness, and their smiling faces can mend a broken heart, in time.

Profits are happiness, and friendship, and love for family. Please remember this the next time a Caldari asks you if you're profiting.

Moittekin katien

Here's a bit of insight into the mind of the Caldari.

If a culture evolves, it is a profit.

If a new thing is learned, it is a profit.

If progress is made, it is profit by its very definition.

Finally and most importantly...

There is always something to gain.

Capatain Sebiros-jaijii;

Thank you for your input, Captain Sebiros! I was hoping that a Gallente patriot would reply with a rebuttal. I will reply in two parts, first to your discussions of profit, and secondly to your discussion on language.

To profit and its place in Caldari society: I fear that I have entirely failed in describing the term. Individual profit is almost meaningless. It is the profit of the group that is paramount. Asking the individual whether she profits is asking whether her group is profiting, and whether she's aiding that profit. If I am personally not profiting it is because I'm not successfully helping my group. And, yes, if I'm a detriment to my group, it's only right I move along. It's the best way I have to help them, and that's simply more important.

As an aside, I like ideals. They're important, obviously - profit and honour are certianly ideals. I had hoped that my original piece had shown that profit is a subordinate ideal to friendship and family. This is in fact why the tube-children were born - not to create super-minds, but because the State has lacked population density and adequate genetic diversity. They are just as human and just as worthy as any of us.

To language and its imposition on cognition: I'm well aware of the importance of language on cognition. The language centres of the brain are some of the most active, and inform a great deal of conscious thought. I won't argue that making profit a central tenet of a culture has the effects you describe - a certain ruthless pragmatism certainly exists within my culture. However, I had again hoped to demonstrate that family and group solidarity are higher concepts, and profit is simply the expression of the strengthening of that group. Discussions of board-room politics are beyond me, however, as I'm not privy to them very often. Perhaps I will ask my project director if he can share his thoughts no the matter.

I would like to point out, specifically, the comment:



It is here where I despair, Captain, for I can see you have entirely missed the sale of my argument. I am only able to say that I feel nothing but compassion, respect, gratitude and friendliness from those around me, and I am an enormous profit drain on Lai Dai Biomedical research. My circles are limited to those who hope for me to profit - of course they are. My friends all want me to profit, just as I want them to. When they profit, I do, and vice versa. It's almost as if you felt this a bad state of affairs. I don't think so at all, it's wonderful. We all fly on the same ship, our fortunes are bound together.

Finally, let me say thank you. I encourage you to visit a Caldari station or world one day, and get to know us a little better! It isn't easy, because we have something of a resistance to outsiders. But I promise you this much - if you manage to make a friend of a Caldari, you will have a friend for life.

Captain Fehrnah-jaijii;

There is of course great veriation. The drive to profit is a strong one in our culture and there are many examples of those who go too far. My discussion is mostly on how it's supposed to look on the inside. You've bought at the right price, though; I'm glad that my argument was cogent enough for you grasp it.

Also, as something of an aside. Those who pursue profits above their ties of loyalty and family are considered black sheep at all but the highest levels of corporate affairs, and hoarding ones' profits is a quick way to get ostracized. What would the point be of making profits and not contributing?

Thank you for contributing. I'm always thrilled to read your words.

My apologies! I'm happy to have a private conversation on the matter, feel free to contact me at your leisure.

It is survival of the fittest.

Only small children and honored elderly are exempt from the requirements of contribution to the greater whole. The sick and lame will be cared for only as necessary to facilitate their recovery, or basic survival if recovery is not an option. Individual immediate families would be the primary source of support for those who carry no dishonor by their weakened condition.

Those who's options are exile or suicide? Those are the disassociated and dishonored. You only get that way by not doing your damn job without good reason. The lazy and uncooperative are quickly eliminated from society, and this is exactly what has allowed our people to survive since time immemorial.

We didn't survive the frozen wastes of Caldari Prime by providing handouts to every open pocket and mouth.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm not sure what you mean by "family", since you keep putting it in quotes. Are you referring to literal family, such as spouse, parents, siblings and children? Or are you speaking in a figurative sense referring to the Megacorporation or fellow citizens as a whole?

The megacorporations should not be compared to Matari tribes, they are not quite the same. Consider the megacorporations more like governing provinces within the State, each with its own set of laws, practices and motivations.

However, your apparent understanding is lacking. The Caldari are extremely loyal to family and kin, to deny that is either ignorant or intentionally hostile. Consider it this way: if a member of the family is incapable of contributing to the whole for whatever reason, be it illness or disability (though there are many ways in which even a disabled person may contribute to the community), then the family can, and most often will, choose to provide for the incapable individual. If there is a member of the family that chooses not to contribute or seeks only selfish gain and profit apart from the community, then this individual brings shame to the whole and disrupts the community and its provision for each part involved. This individual chooses not to give to the community and so the community will choose not to give to the individual, instead they are removed from the whole because they are quite literally taking away from those contributing and receiving.

No one who applies themselves and strives to bring profit to themselves, their family and their community will find themselves unable to do so in Caldari society. There is a place for all those who would seek to do their part and every part, no matter how seemingly small, comprises the whole and so the whole, in turn, repays the part.

EDIT: I have reiterated with Oniseki-haani has said, nothing more.

Captain Gottii;

Thank you for voicing your opinion. I mean that sincerely - without knowing the place we start, we can never get to where we want to go. You dislike us, and feel that we are disloyal to our kin, especially the weaker amongst us.

I didn't realize that we were seen so harshly in the Cluster. While I certainly can't speak for anyone but myself and my own group, I can tell you for certain that we are not so cruel to the weaker amongst us here. Contribution comes in many forms, after all.

We don't dispose of our weaker elements. We don't hold the less-able to impossible goals, and then sell them out if they don't succeed. Far from it - they have a place of honour, too, and we honour them for it. I've been there on the lower rungs - I contributed by providing medical data while I was in a coma. Pilots Khross and Oniseki speak well on this.

What you're referring to is the concept of face. It translates poorly, so I'm not sure if that's the appropriate word in your language. It roughly correlates to "living up to expectations" and "showing respect for ones' family," though I'm sure many of my Caldari friends will offer corrections. It's a grave, terrible thing to lose face, and many would rather die than do so. Thus the idea of ritual suicide.

Those who are unable to contribute, due to infirmity or incapacity, are in a unique and heartbreaking dilemma. They wish to contribute, but feel great shame at being unable to do so, and still have the esteemable drive to give to those that they love, and who love them. The last, most precious thing any of us can give is our lives. In giving up our lives to those we love, we are no longer a burden, and in this final act we strengthen and support them.

This is the most honourable and most heartbreaking act we Caldari can take. My friends, Pilots Oniseki and Khross, alluded to the public shaming and outing of high-ranking individuals that we are apparently known for. All I will say on this is : One does not have to drink the tea. It is love of family and friends that lifts the cup. If their love for themselves is greater, they can always leave their community behind. I have great pity for those who choose this path instead.

The people rejoiced, and took from the storehouse, and ate, and were satisfied. But they did not waste the day. As they ever had, they took up their bows after their morning meal and went out into the forest.

Otelio Kaataleta did not eat with them, instead travelling deep into the woods, where he met Heart-Of-The-Forest. Once more he cried, and begged the spirit, "Heart-Of-The-Forest! I have been a fool! I have grown fat from the gifts of my people, and the gifts of my trade-partners. I have desecrated our lands, and now they provide us nothing. I have known no shame, and now I have shamed us all. I beg of you - how may I erase this stain of dishonour on us, so that the forests and fields will be bountiful again?"

The spirit whispered to him, "Otelio Kaataleta, you have been a fool, and you have known no shame. As your life has brought misfortune to your people, only shall your life cleanse them." And with those words Otelio Kaataleta knew what needed to be done. He took a handful of the Kresh leaves which grow bountifully in the forest, and he ate them whole, on the spot, dying where he knelt.

The hunters, meanwhile, had been chasing a magnificent stag - the finest they had ever seen, and the first game they had found since the curse had befallen them. It stopped beside Otelio Kaataleta's body, and knelt there, and the hunters took its life, taking both their prize and Otelio Kaataleta back to the town with them. The stag was dressed and butchered, and its pelt was used as a cloth upon which was lain Otelio Kaataleta, whom they put upon the hill for the winds to take away his spirit. Then they wrapped him in the pelt, and placed the horns across his chest when they lit the pyre.

It is in this manner that the White-Harvest-Guild regained its honour and prosperity, and how Otelio Kaataleta removed the mark of shame that he so foolishly laid upon them.

This is the history of Todaki Freight and Foundry, subsidiary of Lai Dai, member of the Caldari State.