Taking a Bite out of Bumpers

A few of us within the AG community have taken to the idea of engaging "bumper" ships to stop freighter ganking in high security space.  Bumpers, of course, are the ships -- usually Machariels -- that repeatedly bump into freighters to keep them mis-aligned and unable to warp away until either the freighter pilot pays a ransom or a gank fleet arrives to attack the freighter.

Attacking these bumper ships to stop the freighter ganks is usually referred to as "bumper ganking", or "Machariel ganking".  I would like to suggest that we should not use the word "ganking" for this activity.  The word "ganking" suggests a criminal activity, and engaging these bumper ships is more aligned with a police engagement rather than a criminal activity.  For now, perhaps we should just call it "bumper engagement".  I would also like to suggest alternatives to what is usually imagined for this work.

By strict Empire law, attacking a bumper ship in high-security space is a criminal activity.  But this is due to the limitations of the programming and the inability of the programming to take into consideration intent and the inability to respect the spirit of the laws rather than just the letter.

As capsuleers in Eve, we can go further and act in a more intelligent manner than what basic Empire laws can accomplish in ensuring liberty and justice in Eve.  Brave officers within the AG community risk themselves to protect the people.  In this way, these capsuleers, who I today will call officers, are like officers in a police force.  I have thought this from the beginning, as is evident by my use of McGruff the crime dog as a stand in mascot.

This policing need not happen everywhere.  There should be plenty of places and ways in Eve to engage in PvP combat (which I will address in a separate blog entry at a later date).  But as a civilized people, we must draw a line somewhere.  And it almost goes without saying that attacking non-aggressive freighters ferrying cargo through high-security space should be viewed as a criminal activity that the people should not tolerate.  Police officers should respond to such behavior and work to stop it from occurring.

To that end, I would suggest that we review the manner in which we engage bumper ships in high security space.  In the past, there has been a mindset much like criminal ganking -- to sneak up on them, drop attack ships on them without warning, and destroy the bumper ship.  While potentially effective and certainly exciting, it lacks the element of police diplomacy. 

I would like to propose we consider a few changes to this tactic.  In situations where there is sufficient lead time before an impending attack on a freighter, I would propose the following:

1. Issue the bumper a warning.  Something like the following:  "You are engaging in an activity with criminal intent.  Withdraw from this area immediately or we will take action."
2. There is no real need to sneak up on the bumper.  In fact, coordinating an attack may be somewhat easier without trying to drop a fleet right on top of the bumper.  Move your police fleet into position next to the freighter.  It is fine if the bumper pilot sees this happening.
3. If the bumper flees, the engagement was a success.  The attack was stopped and the freighter pilot can continue on his way.  If the bumper persists and continues bumping, the police fleet attacks without the difficulty of attempting to time a warp in. 

Think about it.  Let me know your thoughts.  Share your ideas.  But whatever the case, let us continue to stand united and take a bite out of bumpers.