No taxes, no legislature, no democracy -- No state

[DBTrek]

The mutually agreed upon contract being the rule by which we are governed. The enforcement, however....

When the crew exorcises their prerogative, they become the body of persons constituting the governing of the ship - or, the n. government

Lest you think you made some brilliant point that I'm dodging - consider this:
By your above definition, every time the dealer at the Casino scoops your chips away after a losing hand - he's the government.
That's a pretty broad way to define the word.
I don't think you'd get many takers on that definition.

Every time that happens, I am being governed by the rules of the casino. Should I dissent, the threat of violence compelling me would become obvious.

The threat of violence being used to compel has been, so far, the definition used by anarchists for government.

Ah - but you agreed to the rules of the casino, much like pirates agreed to the rules of crew membership.
Furthermore, you're free to voluntarily reject the rules, and in fact the entire game, without cost or consequence to yourself - much like you can with any board game by simply not playing.

How are you going to do that with a government?

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

Lest you think you made some brilliant point that I'm dodging - consider this:
By your above definition, every time the dealer at the Casino scoops your chips away after a losing hand - he's the government.
That's a pretty broad way to define the word.
I don't think you'd get many takers on that definition.

Every time that happens, I am being governed by the rules of the casino. Should I dissent, the threat of violence compelling me would become obvious.

The threat of violence being used to compel has been, so far, the definition used by anarchists for government.

Ah - but you agreed to the rules of the casino, much like pirates agreed to the rules of crew membership.
Furthermore, you're free to voluntarily reject the rules, and in fact the entire game, without cost or consequence to yourself - much like you can with any board game by simply not playing.

How are you going to do that with a government?

How?

Well, I just might take myself to the freer latitudes of the open ocean, where I find myself governed by another set of rules with the threat of violence keeping me in line.

But, its totally different, because it is a boat, and won't last forever.

[DBTrek]

How?

Well, I just might take myself to the freer latitudes of the open ocean, where I find myself governed by another set of rules with the threat of violence keeping me in line.

But, its totally different, because it is a boat, and won't last forever.

So .... you're under the impression that the IRS cares if you're on a boat come April 15th?

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

How?

Well, I just might take myself to the freer latitudes of the open ocean, where I find myself governed by another set of rules with the threat of violence keeping me in line.

But, its totally different, because it is a boat, and won't last forever.

So .... you're under the impression that the IRS cares if you're on a boat come April 15th?

As far as I can tell, our operating definition of a government is:

A body that exercises the prerogatives of an organization with the threat of violence.

I am having a hard time understanding how that definition doesn't apply to a pirate ship and her crew.

[SuburbanFarmer]

My pirate ship retreats to international waters, come spring.

[Martin Hash]

Indeed.
I guess that makes Hasbro and their extensive backlog of board games they largest purveyors of governments on Earth.
I learn so much in this place.

Dude, was that an accidental insight? It’s good. Games without rules are anarchy; games with are government.

How does the government of Clue exercise authority again?

You must not take games seriously at your house.

[Fife]

How?

Well, I just might take myself to the freer latitudes of the open ocean, where I find myself governed by another set of rules with the threat of violence keeping me in line.

But, its totally different, because it is a boat, and won't last forever.

So .... you're under the impression that the IRS cares if you're on a boat come April 15th?

As far as I can tell, our operating definition of a government is:

A body that exercises the prerogatives of an organization with the threat of violence.

I am having a hard time understanding how that definition doesn't apply to a pirate ship and her crew.

The pirate crew (or the private community, or the commune, or whatever) is based on:

1. Consent
2. Right to Exit

Organizations that violate either of these become persona non grata among civilized society. Not - Not - NOT a utopian concept.

The, ahem, utopian concept, if you prefer, i.e., that of a central authority providing this that and the other to the demos, is both (1.) compulsory and (2.) mandatory.

That Hasnas essay linked in the OP is really worth a small amount of time, IMNSHO.

If for no other reason, then as a thought experiment about how you might steel-man the next anarchist you run across standing in line at the weed shop.

[Martin Hash]

The cool thing about the MHF is that we can idolize murder, pillage & rape, and no one seems to notice.

[C-Mag]

The cool thing about the MHF is that we can idolize murder, pillage & rape, and no one seems to notice.

See, that's why I'd rather you didn't get famous.

[SuburbanFarmer]

The cool thing about the MHF is that we can idolize murder, pillage & rape, and no one seems to notice.

See, that's why I'd rather you didn't get famous.

Hear hear.