#SocialControl From On High?

Hey Everyone! :-)

I'm back today with more of Petri's trials and travails. Check it out! :-)

Excerpt from Book Two of the Petri Dish Chronicles:
Petri sifted through some of what the Arcanum had shared with her when they melded earlier. She found several examples of species that had tried to claim part of the territory the Arcanum considered theirs, and how the Arcanum had discouraged such encroachment. She gulped. Discouraged with prejudice, when necessary. Looking back at the alien in front of her, she said, "You don't play around."

"We are not juveniles in search of idle amusement. We use only the force necessary to achieve our ends, no more. Everything we do has a purpose."

"Then why allow the humans, the Paka, and so many others in your territory while excluding new-comers?"

"We don't dissuade all new colonists, child. Look deeper into the memories you now hold."

Doing as the alien instructed, Petri searched through the mountain of data it had transferred to her. It didn't take long for her to understand what it was talking about. "You only keep out those who want to start wars or commit genocide. You want everyone to live together peacefully."

"Relatively so, at least. Trying to prevent all conflicts between inferior beings would take up far too much of our time and energy. But we must have relative stability for our research to flourish, so we take steps to prevent those who would disrupt that stability from entering our territory."

Hmmm...it seems Petri may be learning about some of the drawbacks that come with exerting complete control over people's behavior. Some definite ethical conundrums to wrestle with there. Do you think she's up to it?  I can't wait to find out! ;-)

Thank you all so much for checking in today, and don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the next edition of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)