Tivolian Cowardice

Sci-fi writers really observe people so closely and can lift out behaviour traits so well and isolate them just to make them sound/look ridiculous until one day you’re like: OMG I know a Tivolian!!

Now, Tivolians are a humanoid race of people from the planet Tivoli whose main defining trait is cowardice. But this cowardice was not subjective or passive. In fact, this cowardice was very calculated. The Eleventh Doctor would describe it as “aggressive cowardice”.

At first glance, the Tivolians were a society of cowards who had grown so used to being conquered and occupied by other races it had become a way of life just to accept it. They never defended themselves and did everything they could to make their conquerors as comfortable as possible. In fact their anthem was basically “Glory to [Insert Name Here]” so as to make it easier for invaders. 

All this seemed amusing, if but slightly exhausting, and you even feel sad for them and maybe would defend them, until you start to realise that this cowardice was decidedly a plan of hostile action. That at the core of it was a combative disloyalty. You realise that a Tivolian would switch sides on you the moment the wind shifted.

Now do you understand my first para better? You do know a Tivolian in real life too, don’t you?