What to do about "undiscovered" natives?

[HoreTore]

To answer the question, as long as they arent threatened lets leave them be shall we?

But according to the article, they are threatened, by poverty. Life expectancy of 35-40, high percentages of mothers dying under birth, high percentage of infant deaths, etc etc...

They are human beings, after all. If we can significantly improve their lives by simple things like matches, metal tools, basic medicine, etc, how can we not do that?

[Odin]

But according to the article, they are threatened, by poverty. Life expectancy of 35-40, high percentages of mothers dying under birth, high percentage of infant deaths, etc etc...

this is subjective Hore Tore maybe by their standards they are living in the lap of luxury.

They are human beings, after all. If we can significantly improve their lives by simple things like matches, metal tools, basic medicine, etc, how can we not do that?

Improve by who's standards? If they ask us to come in I am all for it, but the imposition of improvements to others lives has a couple of failed examples through history dont you think commrade Lenin?

[HoreTore]

this is subjective Hore Tore maybe by their standards they are living in the lap of luxury.

Improve by who's standards? If they ask us to come in I am all for it, but the imposition of improvements to others lives has a couple of failed examples through history dont you think commrade Lenin?

Of course, I'm trying to generate some sort of debate here

But as the guy in the article says:

The Australian government followed a sensible, enlightened policy that allowed the indigenous people to develop at their own pace. They stopped encroachment by missionaries and miners, set up regular trading posts in the interior, and simply waited for the native people to approach. Contrary to the view of groups like Survival, native peoples are not stupid. They have always heard a great deal about the white men from contact with other tribes. They know that ‘white man’s medicine’ offers better treatment for many conditions than the tribal shaman. They know the value of metal tools and matches – simple implements that can mean the difference between starvation and survival. They know their lives are hard and not as full of ‘social and leisure activities’ as Survival’s ‘experts’ believe.

They would prefer not to have to lose their wives during childbirth, that half their children would not die within the first two years of their lives, and for outsiders to stop the brutal retaliatory wars between tribes that often start as an accident but must then escalate as ‘payback’. They quickly understand the value of disease-prevention (by vaccination or malaria eradication).

[Odin]

Okay fine set up the trading posts but the intent still bothers me. Its being done under the pretense of improving their lives because we feel we could improve them. Again, if the pretense changes too "they are in serious danger lets start the process now" sign me up.

If you want debate you are going to have to pick something far more emotional, or become more sensational in you're presentation Hore Tore.

[HoreTore]

If you want debate you are going to have to pick something far more emotional, or become more sensational in you're presentation Hore Tore.

Haha, I usually leave the gun threads for CR and tribesman

[Lemur]

Haven't any of you mooks played Civilization? You move in a scout or a warrior, and you usually get some cash, a bonus tech, a free scout, a free settler or XP for your unit. Sometimes the villagers are hostile, and they spawn like eight spearmen who go ape on your unit.

I thought a forum of Total War addicts would be on the ball when it comes to native villages ...

[Ronin]

I say we get in there and trade any valuables they might have for shinny pieces of glass and coca-cola!