"Bring back the private duel?" Topic

Since everyone was for bringing back the judical duel.
Let's tackle the private duel, the duel about honour.

As the crowns and church put a stop to the judical duel. The private duel took over.

Starting in the 16th century Italy, it became all the rage.

During the same century France lost 1/3 of it's nobility to duels.

Everyone agreed it was fantastic, except losers like Cardinal Richelieu and Sir Francis Bacon.

Richelieu though it was wasting the states manpower, and Sir Francis was all sappy thinking it was a shame young impressionable boys who were immature felt forced to die over trivial matters.

Everyone else though it was great, Gustav Adolph was such a fan of it, he said everyone could duel, they had to fight in front of the army(and winner was hanged) but obviously he thought it was great.

Only if bicycling is involved.

All sorts of civil disputes could be resolved. Somebody blocks your car in – duel. Get outbid buying a house – duel, somebody calls you a **** – duel. Think your boss is a **** duel, if you win you swap roles, assuming both survive. of course all sorts of novel weaponry could be employed. Your best mate calls you a **** and you really don't want to have to kill him so you duel with cabbages. I see it catching on.

The insurance business could ride on the coat-tails – duel insurance. Sorry I can't come to work I'm fighting a duel at dawn, in fact I may not come to work again.

Nah, it favours the rich. So, this too ends up degenerating into all civil actions are resolved in favour of the person who can buy the best Yugioh deck on the secondary market.

From what I see on the 5 o'clock news, we sort of have.

The government would have to get involved to keep it fair for the poor. They would convert police stations into dueling parlors (since all disputes could be handled by the complainants coming in to the station/parlor).

They would have to keep it stocked with pistols, swords, flails, bicycles, cabbages and cupcakes. This also removes the need for individuals to deal with the bodies of the loser after the affair.

Nice idea, but… this being the Age of Rage, as rustymusket implies, members of the 'now' generation don't have the patience and self-control to defer settling their differences beyond the immediate adrenalin-charged moment of perceived insult to a formal, passion-free and fair contest – especially when fuelled by ice and its successors.

Timmo uk
Your best mate calls you a **** and you really don't want to have to kill him so you duel with cabbages. I see it catching on.
etotheipi
Nah, it favours the rich. So, this too ends up degenerating into all civil actions are resolved in favour of the person who can buy the best Yugioh deck on the secondary market.

Have to agree with eto, the rich can afford to get the better cabbages.

Here's your chance to make bank. Start growing those gourmet cabbages and be first to market.

the rich can afford to get the better cabbages.

True, but the Koreans ferment them better. Besides, cabbages are too soft and leafy. If you want a real fight, use turnips!

Next thing you know, they'll be outlawing assault turnips.
And if you've ever been hit with a cabbage, you would know that they are not very soft.

I think Henry Martini has hit the nail on the head. While I have no issue with consenting adults participating in a duel, I think that in today's edge of being offended, way too many would rush into duels over trivial matters that aren't worth dueling over. On the other hand, it may be Darwinism at work, so it may not be a bad idea after all.

The private duel is about honour, so you can't force a duel based on house buying.
But yes if someone cuts you off in traffic, you might want to challenge them.
And again this is the private duel, police are not involved (go see the judical duel poll for official involvement in duels)

There is no favouring the rich.
All weapons must be equal, so you can't but an advantage.
Also unlike the 16th century, everyone can have access to the training.
Joining a martial arts club is no more expensive then any other hobby.

way too many would rush into duels over trivial matters that aren't worth dueling over

Unlike when exactly?
You think that 3rd of the French nobility that died in the 16th century only fought over very important matters?
If anything gentlemen of old were the biggest snowflakes in history.

Next thing you know, they'll be outlawing assault turnips.

You'll pry my assault turnip from my cold, dead hands.

True, but the Koreans ferment them better.

KIMCHEE !!!! Now I am insulted ! That should be outlawed as a WMD !!!!

I'm not gonna hafta get up at dawn fer this, am I?
Sorry, can't make it to the duel, I'm sleeping in.

Dammit now I'm gonna hafta get a turnip locker!!!

Heeey! would onions be considered Bio-chemical weapons?

Darwinism in action but unfortunately it's the crazy thugs and those that can afford to hire them as champions that are rewarded.
Young impoverished "nobles" would seek out victims that they could profit from by killing them to free up land and inheritance or boost their own reputation as a "blade".
There was good reason why it was stamped out.

Again this is PRIVATE duel, no champions, it's a matter of honour between gentlemen.

There is a totally different thread about judicial duels.

You know, the origin of the duel was when even your second (the person whose job it was to prevent things from coming to bloodshed!) couldn't get the insult retracted.

I'd be game for going to, say, flintlock dueling pistols. Chances are good someone won't be hit, anyway. Even if they are hit, doing things organized would make it very likely to survive.

How about modernising the procedure by using those imitation flintlock pistol cigarette lighters?

Solves nothing, just increases bloodshed. Empowers the violent to be even more so. Just a really, really bad idea. Nothing romantic or honorable in it all.

Fight it out on the tabletop if you must.

Btw… Two duels photographed in Paris in 1914. Click on the images to enlarge them!

April of 1914: link

June of 1914… Gottlieb versus Kissling (Polish):

link

link

link

…, but if you must, make sure you clear away all your figures and terrain from the tabletop first.

Hey, can I have your terrain…if you lose?

Well we could do with:

YouTube link

Empowers the violent to be even more so.

Not necessarily violent, but people skilled at close combat martial arts. Being violent, loud, and having a short fuse does not necessarily equate to being able to actually fight.

People who behave in that manner will often get reasonable and timid people to back down. If duels were legal, it could potentially curtail some of that behaviour. And then encourage other behaviours.

Ultimately, law is about collectively deciding who should be allowed to bully whom, and in what ways.

This thread is getting too deep for my weak mind. I'm still on about using turnips.

Keep yer hands off'n my turnips!

There's hobbitses in 'em!