Inquisitor Ehrenstein wrote:Ok. That's good. It makes sense that it would be shortened before posting it there. I assume you limited it to web sources since it's online? I just thought it was strange to have so few footnotes in a college paper. I think doing interviews was really great (good primary source). Often times though they aren't considered great for using on the internet since they basically require trust
I'll read it at some point, since it looks really interesting.
----
We also might want to consider toning back the discussions of genocide possibly.
Basically, I cut it down to the easy to find websources (a lot of college professors and other similar types) and cut away most of the books except Colonel Grossman's work since I quote his material extensively. More to frustrate copiers then anything else. Especially with my own sources in there. I agree with the internet these days it's hard to get interviews to hold up, but every man (and two women) interviewed were people I know personally from my time in the Corps and all have at least one, most have several combat deployments. I spoke with my professor at length on the subject and he did not require me to turn in proof of service for them for the redacted reasons I previously provided. Several in fact speaking on a condition of having ANY personal information blacked out even on my personal copies of the notes from the interviews. As you know this is an extremely sensitive subject and speaking about it as an active duty officer or SNCO could be a career ender in the newly
PC western military.
So yeah more or less it's to prevent copy-pasta minions.
Back on topic, not really sure we can tone down genocide and dehumanization on some level with this particular subject because it's the Imperium's
MO so far as we can tell. Aliens are tolerated in some places but just barely, and more often then not it's in a situation like in one of the Ciaphas Cain novels, the colony is too far extended to really be able to beat the xenos (tau in that case) off with military force that makes it worth while. On many worlds being caught "xeno" pretty much signs your death warrant where you stand, or if the arbites who grabs you is very offical and proper, you'll have the courtesy of a quick trial... probably for espionage, before your execution. As much as we end up liking groups within the fluff. (Tanith 1st, Cain and his regiments, more human elements, etc) it does not change the grimdark nature of the fluff which is that the Imperium is a brutal, murder machine. Both of it's own citizens and everyone who does not match it's only acceptable genetic code.
