Well, in canon we have one example of a species (well, a mutant individual of that species and his clones) that wasn't technologically conservative. They achieved wonders, then annihilated themselves spectacularly. Maybe the non-conservative species tend to self-destruct at an early stage? Perhaps that's really why the Second Imperium fell apart -- too much Solomani impulsiveness, not enough Vilani caution.

On Tue, Feb 16, 2016 at 4:16 PM, Richard Aiken <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tue, Feb 16, 2016 at 7:09 PM, Tim <xxxxxx@little-possums.net> wrote:
Certainly the Imperium's social restrictions against life extension,
psi, and avoidance of automation appear to fall very deliberately in
that category.  Much of the rest appears to be explained as "Vilani
conservatism", though that doesn't really explain why other cultures
haven't surpassed the Imperium long ago.

Well, if you think about it, the Zhodani, Hiver, the K'kree and the Aslan are all equally (or even more) conservative, each in their own way.
 
Or ... perhaps one of the state secrets is that they actually have,
and the Imperium is surrounded by cultures who mostly play along.
This doesn't stand up to very much scrutiny, but I think some elements
of it could make an interesting scenario.


Perhaps the non-Imperial cultures have decided to play along because they look at how much more extensive and apparently successful the Empire is compared to its closest rivals, then let their own conservative tendencies (see above) persuade them that getting too far ahead of the Empire in socially-dangerous areas is probably not a very good idea.

--
Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein
"I studied the Koran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as Muhammed." Alexis de Tocqueville (1843)
"We know a little about a lot of things; just enough to make us dangerous." Dean Winchester
"It has been my experience that a gun doesn't care who pulls its trigger." Newton Knight (as portrayed by Matthew McConaughey), to a scoffing Confederate tax collector facing the weapons held by Knight's young children and wife.
-----
The Traveller Mailing List
Archives at http://archives.simplelists.com/tml
Report problems to xxxxxx@simplelists.com
To unsubscribe from this list please goto 
http://www.simplelists.com/confirm.php?u=PltOdItWBSgOP4y0Q6abkGbDI1eus0lz



--
Craig Berry (http://google.com/+CraigBerry)
"Eternity is in love with the productions of time." - William Blake