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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Circus: Mafia 2011: The Penultimate Frontier
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
Decide now not to kill is foolish. May smell guilt - why not take throat in our teeth if do?
Hellenes use psionics. If aboard, make sense to listen. But better trust own nose than stranger's brain. Psionics not always reliable. Not see change of mind in future. Not see past neural shield. May see only what can do, not what side. We rely on them only, we die.
I say, all talk first. Then pack decide.
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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Rev per Minute
Shipmate
# 69
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Posted
Minuto was chatting in the bar, ignoring the piano-playing lizard who appeared to be murdering the classics and talking to some cave-dwellers from Androzani, when he realised that the tone of the chatter had changed. A carefree group of creatures had suddenly become a bit more nervous, a bit more worried. The Ariston may have done better than the starship Titanic, but everyone knew that the ship was a target for warships, privateers and others: only the slipstream drive kept them safe.
Minuto knew less about spatial mechanics than the average space barnacle, so at first a mention of 'starboard nacelle failure' meant nothing. Then he realised that the ship was becalmed - and vulnerable. Whoever had done this was going to be hard to tell so early in the voyage. But he knew that a scared crowd quickly finds a victim - the trick was finding the right one.
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"Allons-y!" "Geronimo!" "Oh, for God's sake!" The Day of the Doctor
At the end of the day, we face our Maker alongside Jesus. RIP ken
Posts: 2696 | From: my desk (if I can find the keyboard under this mess) | Registered: May 2001
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
Grstamjuarlt was not psychic, nor psionic; neither could it know the future with any more certainty than most life forms. It didn't even really get gut feelings because it didn't have a gut. But unfortunately, its mode of communication sometimes gave others the impression that they could do these things. The Ariston was adrift, and none of the passengers seemed to know much about what was going on.
Suddenly Artichoke Smudgeson blurted out "I don't know why but I'm sure I have this certain feeling that there's no real way of telling what's going on right now". The other inhabitants of the Ariston nodded knowingly. "Given that it is likely that there are saboteurs on board then we must do something in order to expose them." At that instant Artichoke seemed to realize what she was doing, and the first reaction to this epiphany was to stop talking and adopt a surprised expression. Without having to say anything more, everyone aboard the Ariston suddenly thought the same thing: Who is behaving weirdly?
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
# 10894
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Posted
A message to those involved in the investigation:
We appreciate your assistance in our time of need. Though our agents are already investigation, we ask that all passengers and crew keep an eye or three out for any suspicious or anomalous behavior.
It might also be prudent to consider any seemingly normal behavior as well. Normalcy, sad to say, is something in very short supply these days.
If you wish to nominate one of your fellows, we politely request that you do so within the next sixteen hours—or by 12 PM EST, for those of you using the old solar method of chronology.
Regards,
Mycroft
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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.
Posts: 6849 | From: The People's Republic of Balcones | Registered: Jan 2006
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Banner Lady
Ship's Ensign
# 10505
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Posted
Boa Languina sensed Xhosamina's presence in the wall she was draped around. Her employers wanted her back at the recreation area immediately.
"I was only trying to help," she thought to the wall.
"We know." The wall stroked her reassuringly before tipping her gently off.
BL resumed visibility and headed obediently off to the lounge areas around the various bars, her rainbow scales glistening like diamonds, and her four purple eyes wide open.
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Women in the church are not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be enjoyed.
Posts: 7080 | From: Canberra Australia | Registered: Oct 2005
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The Great Gumby
Ship's Brain Surgeon
# 10989
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Posted
Gumblor squelched despondently along the corridor. The ship had barely set off, but it was already apparent that none of the other passengers were interested in a good, honest game of tennis. He could play against one of the ship droids, but he could muster little appetite for such a sterile encounter - droids didn't eat and they tasted vile, as he'd learnt from bitter experience, so the distracting and thrilling possibility that either player might be eaten in straight sets was entirely absent.
It would be understandable if they were lazy or cowardly, but it seemed that they were more occupied with discussing piddling matters like murder, theft and sabotage than playing a couple of sets. What was a carnivorous blancmange meant to do in the company of freaks like that?
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The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. - Richard Feynman
A letter to my son about death
Posts: 5382 | From: Home for shot clergy spouses | Registered: Feb 2006
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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
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Posted
Ruby has a little muse in between her nap and her next nap.
Nobody has accused anyone of the crime yet and she's not sure this is a good idea. If the majority decide that no lynching is the way to go that could be fair enough, but if they don't even make any nominations then the decision is made by default. A couple of random guesses would at least keep their options open.
Trouble is, she really has no idea who to accuse. There are certainly some lifeforms* acting very oddly (but isn't weirdness all in the eye of the beholder, anyway? Being a blancmange probably looks quite normal on a planet where everyone's a blancmange, for example), but that's different to being responsible for blowing the ship up. OTOH since everyone is being so reticent, making the first accusation could also make a cat look quite dodgy.
Maybe she should just make a blind guess, but she'd really rather a more telepathic lifeform did it for her.
*not sure "people" is quite the appropriate word here on the Ariston…
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Rent my holiday home in the South of France
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Dafyd
Shipmate
# 5549
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Eliab:
Decide now not to kill is foolish. May smell guilt - why not take throat in our teeth if do?
Neversaid found himself in the recreation deck with a variety of other passengers.
He agreed with the ferrety militaristic person that if we smelt guilt we should certainly take the miscreant out. He was, however, sceptical of our collective ability to discriminate between the smell of guilt and several other smells, such as not having much to say, trying to be clever, and getting hold of the wrong end of the stick.
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we remain, thanks to original sin, much in love with talking about, rather than with, one another. Rowan Williams
Posts: 10567 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Feb 2004
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leonato
Shipmate
# 5124
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Posted
Leox woke to find a message from the Captain on the Telescreen. So someone had died, the ship had been sabotaged and MAFIA activity was suspected. The Captain had begged Leox for his help, well with his history of work in Pan-galactic diplomacy that was only natural.
He sat down to think. There are thousands of people on board, who could be responsible? It soon became clear that there were only a handful of people on board who could possibly be involved, which made things easier. Unfortunately Leox had only the haziest impressions of any of them, and at least one was a life-form so vague as to be hardly there at all. Who is most suspicious?
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leonato... Much Ado
Posts: 892 | From: Stage left | Registered: Oct 2003
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Dafyd
Shipmate
# 5549
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
There are certainly some lifeforms* acting very oddly
*not sure "people" is quite the appropriate word here on the Ariston…
People is appropriate for all sentient beings capable of living socially. Lifeform discriminates against us androids.
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we remain, thanks to original sin, much in love with talking about, rather than with, one another. Rowan Williams
Posts: 10567 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Feb 2004
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Banner Lady
Ship's Ensign
# 10505
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Posted
It was late, but Boa Languina knew she needed to make the first report to her supervisor before she could go off-duty.
"Yes, there is a great degree of apprehension among many of the passengers. I have done my best to spread a sense of calm and patience, particularly as none of the passengers have been directly affected. Do I detect anything seriously amiss?
Well, I have to say I do sense a rat on board. It may be nothing to be alarmed about, but may I bring to your attention the presence of an unauthorized entity who calls himself Rudi Rattleschneck. This may bear further investigation. He may of course be perfectly harmless, but his being here does raise anxiety levels in the coms, security, and sanitation departments."
BL. Report 1.1
[ 17. February 2011, 09:43: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
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Women in the church are not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be enjoyed.
Posts: 7080 | From: Canberra Australia | Registered: Oct 2005
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Adam.
Like as the
# 4991
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Posted
My, that was a good sleep! There was something about the air substitute on this ship which was very inducing to tiredness and napping. Also, Herodartus hadn't been out much as he seemed to be growing a new ear and he never had thought they looked good when they were new. Like a beard, they need time to 'settle' on the face.
But, this was worth getting up for. Sure, it didn't compare with the great subterfuges of the past he was writing about in his History, but being able to be there as an eyewitness was a fascinating new possibility.
This ship was somewhat of an unknown quantity in many ways. He didn't really know any of his fellow passengers and was unfamiliar with what special powers they may or may not have. Some might have something more useful from periodically growing new body parts, but it's also possible that they didn't (that extra thumb on his back was very useful for scratching, after all). So, all things considered, he thought knocking someone off before the mafia have a chance was probably a good idea.
There was currently only one nominee, which wouldn't make for a very interesting trial scene in his History. He decided not to nominate Boa, as he approved of early nominating. Reader, you'll have to take my word for this, but with her and I eliminated, this nomination was chosen completely at random: Leox, leonato
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Ave Crux, Spes Unica!
Preaching blog
Posts: 8164 | From: Notre Dame, IN | Registered: Sep 2003
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Surfing Madness
Shipmate
# 11087
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Posted
Zoink had felt the jolt and new sonething must have happened, but knew she would be in trouble if she went to investigate. Zoink continued to clean the machines that cleaned the ship though she often thought that it would be quicker for her to clean the ship herself and that way she would at least see some of the ship and those aboard.
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I now blog about all my crafting! http://inspiredbybroadway.blogspot.co.uk
Posts: 1542 | From: searching for the jam | Registered: Feb 2006
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Antisocial Alto
Shipmate
# 13810
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Posted
In the opulent recreation lounge, Astraea sipped her pomegranate Seabreeze. She was terribly disappointed to sense that the ship was crippled under her; so many years she had waited to be able to visit the Oracle, and now she was foiled almost at her first step toward it. It almost seemed like a message from the gods.
But if she understood correctly, this mischief was caused entirely by human (or if not human, at least non-divine) agents. She swore a quiet oath to Demeter that she would find those responsible and put them at the top of the cult's sacrifice list. (Was there a suitable sacrificial altar on board the ship? Surely there must be; one of the touch-buttons in J Elevator was labeled "Devotional Deck".)
Posts: 601 | From: United States | Registered: Jun 2008
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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
# 10894
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Posted
"Thank you for your input, everyone. Nominations are now CLOSED!" Mycroft banged his gavel against his antique desk for effect. "Your options are:
Rudi Rattelschneck, nominated by Boa Languina
Leox, nominated by Herodartus
Nobody.
"You have twenty-four hours to make your defense speech; when this time is up, we will begin to vote."
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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.
Posts: 6849 | From: The People's Republic of Balcones | Registered: Jan 2006
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An die Freude
Shipmate
# 14794
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Posted
A crack was heard on the ship. No, not a hull breach. Just the soft cracking of metal as the panel marked "GNDN" was torn into two neat halves. A man exited. Unmistably a professional metal scavenger, uncaring of how he looked, constantly taking deep breaths and with a surly, tired appearance. To Jorfh "the Moose" Eta Carinae was not the final destination, but that was where a representative for the Salvation Army of Minerals and Materials was going to pick him up. He wasn't working for them, but rather he was temporarily hired as a 'consultant'. Meaning they needed a true professional. Those were hard to come by, and they usually believed in free enterprise. Jorfh was no exception, but he needed the money.
Obble-42 passed by in the corridor. Jorfh opened his mouth, and with a rather loud, mean tone he said, "Well, you're a nice piece of scrap... Wanna come home with me?" Obble-42 hurried his steps. Yeah, he'd better. Jorfh grabbed the broken panel - you never know when these things might come in handy - and left for his cabin, muttering something inaudible.
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"I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable."
Walt Whitman
Formerly JFH
Posts: 851 | From: Proud Socialist Monarchy of Sweden | Registered: May 2009
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
Rudi or Leox?
No reason to think either guilty or innocent. So which worth more?
Rudi sneaky, but talks. If innocent, useful. If guilty, probably tell later. True, rat look tasty. But not worth fighting cat for.
Leox say little of weight. Observant. If innocent, useful much later. But probably dead then. If guilty, not likely give self away.
If both innocent, not much to choose. If both guilty, best kill Leox first. Both unknown. Best way, kill Leox, I think. Hear defence first.
[ 18. February 2011, 09:04: Message edited by: Eliab ]
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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leonato
Shipmate
# 5124
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Posted
Well, Herodatus said I was picked for nomination completely at random. There are 15 possible MAFIA members on this ship, I guess at most 3 are (currently) members. So there is only a 1 in 5 chance that I am guilty. Not very good odds.
The innocent gain nothing by lynching an innocent. The mafia can easily hide their votes among the votes of the innocent, or even split their vote to confuse. Only the mafia have anything to gain from lynching an innocent person at this stage.
I am innocent. There is clearly very little chance of me being guilty. Don't play into the mafia's hands by following the crowd and lynching someone who is innocent. I know from experience how that only ends badly.
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leonato... Much Ado
Posts: 892 | From: Stage left | Registered: Oct 2003
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by leonato:
Well, Herodatus said I was picked for nomination completely at random. There are 15 possible MAFIA members on this ship, I guess at most 3 are (currently) members. So there is only a 1 in 5 chance that I am guilty. Not very good odds.
Same true of everyone. Soon as odds "good", MAFIA win.
Best see this as one of five chances to get right. Bad to waste chance. Even if slim.
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
Grstamjuarlt observed the conversations that were occurring in the vessel as it existed in its cabin. It had not been planning to socialize much with the other passengers, mainly because he had tried such things before and it seldom ended well. For some reason, most corporeal beings were deeply suspicious of lifeforms who communicated directly to your very soul and had no tangible presence. Grstamjuarlt did not really understand why, but long (and sometimes bitter) experience had been enough to convince it that this was true.
But now things were different.
All that has been said is true felt everyone on the Ariston, as if as one. We simultaneously have nothing to go on and every reason to act. Beware those that are quiet, beware those that speak too much; beware those that claim to know, beware those who feign ignorance; beware those that are the center of attention and beware those who keep to the shadows. In short, beware.
A ripple of unease drifted disconcertingly through the Ariston.
But in addition to your watchfulness, act. Discuss, vote, accuse, defend. This is vital.
The rippling unease did another lap of the recreation deck like a marathon runner in training.
I shall wait until all defense has been spoken before I vote: we must have all information.
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
Eliabus' ears stand straight up, causing his plumed helmet to sway alarmingly. His tail is wagging furiously:
quote:
Originally posted by Eliab:
Hellenes use psionics. If aboard, make sense to listen. But better trust own nose than stranger's brain. Psionics not always reliable. Not see change of mind in future. Not see past neural shield. May see only what can do, not what side. We rely on them only, we die.
Ignore this. Stupid. Erratum. This make difference:
quote:
Originally posted by AristonAstuanax:
2. Unlike previous games, behind-the-scenes communication, unless otherwise noted, is permissible.
Ergo all innocents be told by psionic who others are. And psionic not break cover. If two psionic clear one other per diem, could have majority three days.
Risks: MAFIA kill psionics. Psionic who read ability get side wrong. Traitor tell MAFIA who psionics are.
Could be best chance. If have two psionics. Worth thinking.
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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Adam.
Like as the
# 4991
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by AristonAstuanax:
"The usual—uniformed officers, a few plainclothes—as well as some psionically adept agents. Naturally, those are in deep cover and of varying ability and function—I met one the other day who could read my every intention, but couldn't tell you what my position was even from my uniform. Another? The exact opposite. I've heard rumors that one of our passengers is a medium of some sort—able to commune with spirits, that sort of thing—though, quite frankly, that seems rather unlikely. There's also that security officer we recruited; you should have seen the demonstration of the ancient art of close-quarters pen combat I saw! I certainly wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of that one's ledger . . ."
Herodartus started his work of collecting sources. This looks like an important excerpt from recent conversations to include if he wrote this up.
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Ave Crux, Spes Unica!
Preaching blog
Posts: 8164 | From: Notre Dame, IN | Registered: Sep 2003
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obble
Shipmate
# 10868
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Posted
code:
Loading...........................................100%
Sirius Robotic Cybernetic Operating System Ver. 3.11.
Share and Enjoy
obble@hospitality-bot:-$
Obble woke up in a corner and tried to figure out what was going on and why it'd rebooted. All it could tell from it's error logs was that it had been hit by some kind of radiation surge.
code:
1st person module active...
Oh Smeg. Now I'll have to hack myself again to turn off the worst of those personality circuits.
Having spoken to a few other people, I began trying to piece things together. Someone had attacked the ship's engines, and some of the crew were dead. the general consensus, it seemed, was that the Mafia had done it, though you always get these conspiracy theories floating around too. I've heard one person blame the Silicon Anti-Defamation League, and another the anti-vivisectionists, but it wasn't their style. No, there must be Mafia agents on board, but who are they? I'll have to do some more thinking.
And there seems to be a dodgy scrap dealer on board too. And the tea lady seems to have the wrong idea about what a hospitality robot does. As if anyone would want a cup of tea from a robot made by the company responsible for the Nutrimatic! I'm not even allowed to take the used tealeaves to the interstellar composting facility...
[typo]
[ 18. February 2011, 15:22: Message edited by: obble ]
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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
Posts: 1700 | From: Some other planet | Registered: Jan 2006
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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
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Posted
That last comment might not have been very clear. My point is this: MAFIA operatives know exactly who is innocent and guilty (unless some among us can switch sides). They could also send a message saying "Dear X, I am a psionic, I have investigated you and found you innocent, along with Y and Z". How would you know the difference between a real detectively message and a counterfeit one?
In other news, I don't what outfit to go for for tonight's set. What do you think? Sequins or feathers?
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Rent my holiday home in the South of France
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
I think I'm wary of behind the scenes communication on the whole. There's no way of knowing that anyone's telling the truth. It may be allowed, but I'm not sure it's wise most of the time.
Too dangerous to fake. If I not psionic, and claim to you I am, have to give you true facts or found out. And same to one more each day. Would be found out.
Would do in extremis. Not from start.
Problem is betrayal - psionic find traitor before traitor find MAFIA, and traitor defect before we win. Can't trust people psionic cleared then.
Say now - psionic not clear me. And not say I guilty. Lusitania know Hellene use psionics. I soldier, but was diplomat, two year. All diplomat to Hellene fitted neural shield. Otherwise they see if lie. See nothing in my mind. Not waste time to try. Watch tail.
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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leonato
Shipmate
# 5124
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Posted
quote:
Same true of everyone. Soon as odds "good", MAFIA win.
Best see this as one of five chances to get right. Bad to waste chance. Even if slim.
Not at all. When we start having more nominations, voting, lynchings and mysterious deaths in the night we will have evidence to decide who is MAFIA. But as Herodatus said there is no evidence against me, I was chosen at random. As such I am far more likely to be innocent than guilty, as is everyone else at the moment.
You seem to suggest that we should just lynch at random, sacrificing innocents in the vague hope of lynching the mafia, which seems to me to be just what the mafia would want.
Now what do the mafia want? Well having two innocents nominated is good for them. They will either get an easy lynching or try and look innocent by preventing one.
But if one of us accused is Mafia then the Mafia need to prevent the lynching of their own in the first round, which means they will lose. They would start nominating innocents, or try too imply that the other nominees are guilty, or try and get people to vote for no lynching. Now nobody has done any of these, so either I am innocent, or my Mafia colleagues are incompetent.
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leonato... Much Ado
Posts: 892 | From: Stage left | Registered: Oct 2003
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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
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Posted
Easier to fake than you think. All a person needs to know in order to fake a psionic is whether any given individual is innocent or guilty. The MAFIA know exactly that. They can give true facts, lots of them. You would have to be quite barefaced and extremely evil, but actually not all that clever. The only danger is they themselves are investigated by a real psionic, or if something weird happens (which we have been warned may happen).
I remain very cautious of secret exchanges.
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Rent my holiday home in the South of France
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
# 10894
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Posted
And now, to vote. You may vote for one of the accused, or for no lynching at all. We will close voting on Monday evening.
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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.
Posts: 6849 | From: The People's Republic of Balcones | Registered: Jan 2006
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
Real question is what we do. We lynch to cut number of unknowns? Or we not lynch, to not kill psionic and give time for investigation?
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by leonato:
You seem to suggest that we should just lynch at random, sacrificing innocents in the vague hope of lynching the mafia, which seems to me to be just what the mafia would want.
We kill at random, have 21% chance never get MAFIA. Assume three.
We miss this kill, then act random, 25%. Worse.
Neversaid's idea might be good reason not kill. Yours bad.
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Eliab:
We kill at random, have 21% chance never get MAFIA.
Was wrong. 17%.
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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Dafyd
Shipmate
# 5549
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Posted
Neversaid thinks that Eliabus is overestimating our chances of not lynching a mafia member. We're not lynching at random: we have a bias against lynching mafia, since the mafia will be tilting the votes towards innocents if they can get away with it.
Obviously, we do need to be active sooner rather than later. But as Eliabus says, any detective we have on board can communicate their findings to any one that they find innocent, that would speed things up. Admittedly, they might find a traitor - but I think the risk is worth taking. There will be only one traitor to estimate twelve innocents. That's much better odds than random lynchings are.
Anyway, I shall open the voting: No Lynching.
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we remain, thanks to original sin, much in love with talking about, rather than with, one another. Rowan Williams
Posts: 10567 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Feb 2004
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
Neversaid thinks that Eliabus is overestimating our chances of not lynching a mafia member.
Agree. MAFIA know, not guess. We think, not guess. Random chance show odds before we make better, they worse.
Point is, not kill now mean win harder. Unless not kill help psionic.
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
# 10894
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Posted
Mycroft cleared his throat for effect before addressing those present.
"It has been brought to my attention that there is a question regarding our voting procedure. Much as I am in favor of adopting a Condorcet-efficient method of preference aggregation, I am afraid that the technical problems posed by the theoretical basis of the social welfare function prevents this; therefore, we will be using a plurality voting system, much as it pains me. First to 50% meets their chosen fate; in the event of a tie between two candidates, both shall be swiftly ejected from this life. Voting, I should add, is compulsory; you signed up for this little exercise in vigilante justice, now it is up to you to run it."
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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.
Posts: 6849 | From: The People's Republic of Balcones | Registered: Jan 2006
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Banner Lady
Ship's Ensign
# 10505
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Posted
"Interesting how Eliabus clearly and firmly wants to direct everyone away from voting for the only self-confessed rat on board." thought BL to herself.
Rudi Rattleschneck.
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Women in the church are not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be enjoyed.
Posts: 7080 | From: Canberra Australia | Registered: Oct 2005
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Antisocial Alto
Shipmate
# 13810
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Posted
As a worshipper of Demeter, Astraea had an automatic loathing of anything that endangered grain crops. She wanted to see Rudi swing. A big rat like that- imagine how much of the goddess's beautiful produce he could destroy if he weren't stopped!
Also, Astraea knew that not lynching anyone only gave the Mafia a free shot, as it were. Much better to take any chance offered, even if small, of bagging a Mafioso.
Posts: 601 | From: United States | Registered: Jun 2008
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Autenrieth Road
Shipmate
# 10509
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Posted
I like hearing the perspective of a rat. Therefore, sorry, (because you're probably both innocent), Leox.
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Truth
Posts: 9559 | From: starlight | Registered: Oct 2005
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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
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Posted
I think Leox has a point about no one coming to his defence, actually. Although it strikes me that much the same could be said of the little rat as well.
Anyway, such as it is, I think the rather slender evidence points to them both being innocent. The MAFIA don't have to show their hand if the lynching of either candidate is to their advantage. So much as I would like to eat the tasty, tasty rodent, I vote for no lynching.
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Rent my holiday home in the South of France
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Eliab
Shipmate
# 9153
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Banner Lady:
"Interesting how Eliabus clearly and firmly wants to direct everyone away from voting for the only self-confessed rat on board." thought BL to herself.
Not surprise that snake want rat snack. You want fight cat for, fine.
Agree Netua. Rat talk. Talk good. Think we tell later if guilty. Eat rat then. Leox.
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"Perhaps there is poetic beauty in the abstract ideas of justice or fairness, but I doubt if many lawyers are moved by it"
Richard Dawkins
Posts: 4619 | From: Hampton, Middlesex, UK | Registered: Mar 2005
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leonato
Shipmate
# 5124
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Posted
Easy choice for me:
No lynching
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leonato... Much Ado
Posts: 892 | From: Stage left | Registered: Oct 2003
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Sylvander
Shipmate
# 12857
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
In the meantime Neversaid hoped that there wouldn't be any lynchings. Admittedly, the other way where we randomly lynch innocents and then make inaccurate guesses based on misguided suspicions of other people's behaviour is more fun. But Neversaid hoped that there would be detectives on board, and it was his opinion that our best chance was to do our best not to kill them.
Rudi Rattelschneck agreed with Neversaid. The other strategy had now failed six or seven times. Why not try the alternative? And he had insufficient time to even read the thread, never mind think about it.
no lynching
Posts: 1589 | From: Berlin | Registered: Jul 2007
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The Great Gumby
Ship's Brain Surgeon
# 10989
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Posted
Gumblor considered. It would be a negligent conspiracy to allow one of their number to be involved in a two-way vote, and the risk of taking out anyone with special powers on the good guys' side was all too real. Besides, there was little eating on a rat, and slimy tentacles gave him gas.
No lynching
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The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. - Richard Feynman
A letter to my son about death
Posts: 5382 | From: Home for shot clergy spouses | Registered: Feb 2006
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Rev per Minute
Shipmate
# 69
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Posted
Minuto pondered the facts, such as they were. Two passengers, one a stowaway, had been nominated, on little evidence that he could see. He thought it odd, though, that neither of the nominees had voted for the other to be lynched, surely the usual form of self-defence. Still, perhaps other planets had different ways of reacting to the threat of death than the ones he was used to.
Minuto cleared his throat - to the surprise of the other passengers, who had forgotten that he was even there. A number of pairs, trios and other multiples of eyes swivelled, bounced or otherwise relocated to watch him.
"I have always been told that action is better than inaction. I realise why people prefer to leave the decision up to others, but the facts are that we either take the chance to get rid of one of the bad guys - however small the odds - or leave it to the bad guys to get rid of one of us. So we need to try to choose one, even if some of you think there should be no lynching.
"The vote is tight, but I'm not going to be the one to tie it. I think that Rudi Rattelschneck should be dispatched."
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"Allons-y!" "Geronimo!" "Oh, for God's sake!" The Day of the Doctor
At the end of the day, we face our Maker alongside Jesus. RIP ken
Posts: 2696 | From: my desk (if I can find the keyboard under this mess) | Registered: May 2001
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Adam.
Like as the
# 4991
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Posted
Herodartus looked over the quaint holographic voting displays that were floating around the ship. So far... 2 votes for Leox; 3 for Rudy; 5 for TESS; 8 needed to lynch; 6 left to vote (including to him). Does he go with his pick, or with the one that it's now easier to lynch? He decided to stick with his pick. He knew he'd picked Leox at random without first eliminating MAFIA (as he didn't know who the mafia were), whereas there was always a chance that the snake did know and was eliminating.
He "pressed" the imaginary button labelled Leox.
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Ave Crux, Spes Unica!
Preaching blog
Posts: 8164 | From: Notre Dame, IN | Registered: Sep 2003
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An die Freude
Shipmate
# 14794
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Posted
"What is it now? Oh, you want me to speak my mind? Screw the rat. It'll give us more info on whether Eliabus was trying to hide something before (as that snake implied). In general, dead people are more informative than living, especially at this stage of the game."
Jorfh "The Moose" lowers his dark eyebrows again over that drink that could be some alien form of beer, but might just as well be crude oil.
Rudi Rattelschneck.
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"I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable."
Walt Whitman
Formerly JFH
Posts: 851 | From: Proud Socialist Monarchy of Sweden | Registered: May 2009
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
Grstamjuarlt made its intentions known: a vote for Rudi Rattleschneck
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
# 10894
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Posted
"Thank you for your vote . . . sir?"
As Grstamjuarlt left his office, Mycroft placed another black ink mark on his paper record of the voting. Every member of the vigilante coalition had to file through the steward's study; some still remained, however.
Rudi: IIII/
Leox: III
Nobody: IIII/
16 voters; 8 votes needed to lynch
A list of names followed Mycroft's columns; 13 had been stricken out after their owners had voted, but three remained:
Artichoke Smudgeson
Zoink
Obble-42
He stepped into the library, speaking both to those present and, via relay, to those in other parts of the ship. "Less than 24 hours remain to register your vote. Remember, voting is compulsory. It is kindly requested that all relevant passengers and crew visit the offices of Steward Mycroft in the ship's library within the specified time frame. Thank you."
"No ma'am, I cannot give you a schematic of the ship's engines." A rather persistent sentient shade of crimson had been pestering him for information. "Unless the education of Hooloovoo socialites has grown considerably more comprehensive, including subjects beyond antiquated etiquette and elementary optics, I am afraid that you are singularly unqualified to effect any repairs that might allow us to safely exit the slipstream."
Silence.
"I understand your concern, ma'am, but the fact is, the ship is currently hurtling through multidimensional space at velocities that boggle the imagination. Please, if you have expertise in engineering the event horizons of supermassive gravity fields, I'm quite sure someone official would like to hear about it."
"Oh. I see. While it is true that members of the engineering crew are distinguished by their red markings on their uniforms—hence the term "redshirt"—they are given this uniform because of their expertise. Simply being red does not make you an engineer, I'm afraid."
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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.
Posts: 6849 | From: The People's Republic of Balcones | Registered: Jan 2006
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Smudgie
Ship's Barnacle
# 2716
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Posted
From the bowels of the ship, Artichoke finally emerges, having found a suitable place for her coffee shop after all but mourning the apparent lack of customers so far. Perhaps putting up a few signs on the walls would help.
Her investigations had shielded her from the other investigations taking place in the strange community around her - she knew nothing of any lynching plans or murderous intents. Thus it was that when a small piece of cognisant metal rolled past her and enquired "Rudi or Leox?", she immediately shuddered and vehemently responded "Neither!". Whoever would have believed that this voyage would be employing the services of a matchmaker amongst the crew!
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Miss you, Erin.
Posts: 14382 | From: Under the duvet | Registered: Apr 2002
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