Intergalactic Summit

To the lads and lasses on the frontlines of Empire Space; Do you consider those who up and move on out to NullSec, from civilian workers to ship crews to capsuleers, to be traitors to your Empire?

And to NullSeccers like myself; Do you FEEL like a traitor to the nation you grew up in, and who gave you your first ship?

It's been a question niggling at the back of my mind for a while, brought right to the fore with all the 'property management' I've been involved with in Perimeter and the surrounding systems. I mean, the State trained me up to the point I was a fully-fledged capsuleer. Within a few hours of that I was past the border and unpacking my bags aboard the Beanstar amongst Amarr, Minmatar and even Gallente.

Now, I hardly think the military lifestyle would suit little old me. No matter what gets said here, I doubt that I'll go running off to the nearest recruitment office with a heart full of spunky patriotism. But it would be nice to know I won't be getting too many dirty looks from the Caldari patrols whenever the Gobfather wills us back to HiSec.

When it comes down to it.. I don't really think I'm a traitor. I.. can't really pin down why I moved to nullsec. I'm spending more and more time each day shooting rogue drones, and I think that's what I'm gonna keep doing. In a way, I think I'm helping clean up the mess we made. But.. maybe that's just an excuse.. I'm not really sure.

The best way to serve the Republic is dyin' over n' over on the frontlines. For some folks. Others have other ideas that may or not help the betterment o' their people in the future. But if a hundred falls to corruption, temptation, cowardice, comfort, power n' such, while one achieves greatness n' still rememberin' where he came from, it did worth it.

Wotever I do, it's ultimately fo' me people. Tis none of them business wot I do fo' that end n' where.

Null Seccer's as traitors? No. Not for the most part. Though I find Republic trained pilots that run off to join groups like CVA or their immediate renter allies objectionable.

What I do find irksome is the problem some have in leaving NBSI behind them in null sec. Carrying that frame of mind down into low sec and, to a lesser extent, high is not helpful.

Not all of us got our wings through a military program or in an environment that fosters compulsory services. As an alumnus of Pator Tech School, my education and certification was paid for by my Clan's pooled resources. As soon as I could, I began paying that loan back, with interest. That meant following the money. By the time I left the State for Anoikis, I'd already repayed the initial outlay three or four times over. (We do kind of make a ridiculous amount of money once we get going.)

Through my time in J-space, and on into my career in null, I've continued to send money back, which I at least have to presume is being funneled into the Republic's economy. So... no, I really don't feel like I'm a traitor. If my Tribe needs me, they'll tell me. Until then, I'm building up a network of contacts, working with very talented individuals, and learning as much as I can.

And, you know, getting a nice little nest egg of my own.

No, for a number of reasons.

First, existentially, each of us has the obligation of choice. We decide what is, and is not, worth our time. And the experiences of one individual that have bound them closely to their nationality are not the same as someone who has been driven away, or decided to move away, from theirs. That measure of morality is a thousand shades of grey, and applying any one scale is ludicrous for the simple fact that we are all individuals, and everyone has a point of no return.

Second, legally, the notion that our origin shapes our future ends the instant we become independent capsuleers. There are no laws that keep us where we began. And thus, legally, we're free to do as we will, accepting the consequences.

Third, is a more nebulous moral view, which starts and ends with the question "Whose good really matters more?". Is it more important to grease a governments wheels with ISK? Or does some **** poor settlement in null need you more? For many, admittedly, this last point really is moot, but even the most amoral pirate has some positive effect when they dump stolen goods onto the market that someone else really didn't need.

Personally, I'll stand for the State if needed. It isn't needed at this time. I have my own agenda otherwise.

There's a lot of pilots that live in Hisec doing contract work who's loyalty only really extends to convenience of location and the paycheque. Much the same can be said of the glut of the militias lists of pilots. Conflating whom one works for and where with true loyalty to a given Nation is a fool's game.

Also, why is this so Nullsec centric? What about Anoikis dwellers?

Nothing upsets me more than those silly Nullsec people underestimating the importance of the conflict of the borders!

Nope, that's pretty much it! We live in a war economy after all! But it's important nonetheless!

I may have been born within the borders of the Federated Union of Gallente Prime but I've never really felt any loyalty towards the Federation.

The concept of the nation-state is outdated. The founding members of the Federation recognized this during the first union period, which was considered a post-nationalist coalition where the individual members had far more independence then they do today. Each subsequent union served to centralize power more and more into the hands of the Gallente and as a result the Federation is like a distorted reflection of the intent of it's founders, it has evolved into a war-like nationalist bureaucracy.

In any case, I have not lived in the Federation in some time. I am now located in Syndicate space among the exiled Intaki. I don't know if I would be considered a traitor, but I have been known to engage militia members engaged in military action in Intaki space.