I recently saw a mention that real life law should not be cited in IC interactions.

This post is not intended to criticize or highlight any individual. My purpose is to address this perspective, particularly to ensure it doesn't evolve into a widely accepted, unwritten standard. It is an opinion, but in this case, a strong opinion.

It's important to recognize that Hathian, the setting for our role-play, does not possess its own codified laws. Consequently, there isn't a specific "Hathian Law Book" to reference during in-character interactions. This fact underscores the necessity of having a defined geographical setting for Hathian, which is loosely based on Louisiana. Such a location provides a realistic backdrop for quite a few things and legal framework to enrich our role-playing experiences is one of them.

The ability to reference Louisiana's laws is crucial, especially for those role-playing as lawyers or engaging in legal scenarios within Hathian. Without this, the alternative would be for participants to invent their own laws, leading to inconsistencies and conflicts when different characters' self-created legal systems interact.

While Hathian does incorporate laws that diverge from the real world, and some real-world laws are intentionally overlooked, these are exceptions. For the most part, real-world laws, particularly those of Louisiana, serve as the foundation for legal role-play in Hathian, except where something else is already in place or where a law or juridical process is intentionally overlooked. It's vital to maintain this clarity to ensure a cohesive and realistic role-playing environment.