eli5 what was the point of the skull and bones pirate flag? why would you give away that you are a pirate?
In: 10371
Someone already linked you to the CGP Grey video but to give the biggest reason.
Always remember that piracy was a life outside the law. A dangerous business and the most dangerous part was fighting. When you enter a fight with another ship you could both sink, or have a hole shot through your body or stabbed to death. Hell even if you don’t get killed a pirate without arms is useless. It doesn’t take much at all to be injured so badly that you’re out of the game forever.
The pirate flag was a symbol. You saw the flag and you as a merchant crew knew you had 2 choices. Surrender or fight. If you surrender the pirates take your valuables, leave you with enough food/water to get to port and then go home. If you fight and lose you will be slaughtered,tortured and killed as a warning to the next merchant shop that hears stories of the idiot crew that had all their eyes cut out and their teeth pulled.
One more thing. Remember that the merchant ships tend to have people who aren’t paid nearly enough. You’re not dying for your own profit but so that your boss can make a mint. Is your boss being rich more valuable than not being murdered by pirates?
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