I don't want to be showcased on Business Insider.
BYOB RYOR
'Code is mightier than the State' - Anon.
“The shortest answer is doing the thing.” – Ernest Hemingway
I think they may be a contemporary of the Maghribi. Here is a brief summary courtesy #ChatGPT
The Maghribi traders operated under an informal but highly effective code of conduct that facilitated trust and cooperation within their trading networks. This code of conduct was not codified in formal legal documents but was based on shared cultural and religious values, mutual trust, and reputational mechanisms. Key aspects of this code of conduct included:
1. **Trust and Reputation**: Trust was the cornerstone of the Maghribi trading network. Merchants relied heavily on mutual trust and the reputation of their partners. A trader's reputation was built over time based on their honesty, reliability, and adherence to agreements. Breaches of trust could lead to severe social and economic consequences, including ostracism from the trading community.
2. **Reciprocity and Fair Dealing**: The principle of reciprocity was fundamental. Merchants were expected to deal fairly and honorably with each other, ensuring that transactions were mutually beneficial. Fair dealing helped maintain trust and long-term relationships.
3. **Informal Enforcement Mechanisms**: Instead of relying on formal legal systems, the Maghribi traders used informal enforcement mechanisms. Community members monitored each other's behavior, and information about trustworthy or untrustworthy individuals was shared within the network. Social sanctions, such as exclusion from future business opportunities, were used to enforce compliance.
4. **Kinship and Community Ties**: Strong kinship and community ties played a crucial role in maintaining the code of conduct. Family and community connections provided a support network and helped ensure that individuals adhered to the expected standards of behavior.
5. **Shared Religious and Cultural Values**: The Maghribi traders were often bound by shared Islamic religious values, which emphasized ethical conduct, honesty, and trustworthiness in business dealings. These shared values reinforced the informal code of conduct and provided a moral framework for commercial activities.
6. **Flexible and Adaptive Practices**: The code of conduct was flexible and adaptive, allowing traders to respond to changing circumstances and new opportunities. This adaptability was crucial for navigating the complex and dynamic trade environments of the medieval period.
The Maghribi traders' code of conduct exemplifies how informal institutions and social norms can effectively govern economic activities and foster cooperation in the absence of formal legal frameworks.
Paul’s letters to the early churches in Corinthians are a great read on the initial ruleset for Christians. I am going to read up on the merchants of Corinth for more context.
Am I the only one who now finds AI-generated art exceptionally boring?
It’s been awhile since I’ve written my last long-form post, but I plan to go back to a headline photo attributed to a real person. I find the process of searching for a photo that expresses the zeitgeist of my post much more satisfying than producing an AI-generated image.
Please tell me I’m not the only one thinking this way.
(Photo credit: me, after paying with BTC) 
In case you need the 3hr remix version
Go out in a blaze, like Galois
Canadian here. We keep the ‘u’, prefer the ‘z’ (pronounced as ’zed’) and drop the second ‘l’.
Apparently, you can't judge a book by its cover, but if you make a webpage your innermost being is revealed.
GM 
‘Illegal Parliament’ was not on my bingo card!
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