Duelling, when it was legal, was a part of the gentleman's code, which followed the previous code of chivalry. Under chuivalry the nobility spent their time doing battle for fun and glory at the expense of the peasants, who they robbed, raped and killed for fun and profit, which was justified as being moral, as they were doing it in the name of God. The gentlemens code followed. Under the gentlemens' code, gentlemen could raise their prestige by killing a few other gentlemen in duels, it being a good idea to pick opponents who were weak or aged and thus against whom one was likely to win. Pressure was easy to apply, as a person who tried to avoid a duel was seen as cowardly and ungentlemanly. A great system for second handers, but of no particular benefit to rational, self sufficient people. Duelling was quite rightly outlawed. Walter Scott was a critic of chivalry, see 'Ivanhoe.' More recently Ken Follett has portrayed chivalry in 'Pillars of the Earth' and 'World Without End.' Donald Hamilton criticises the gentlemen's code in 'The Big Country.'
A more recent manifestation is what one might call the playground code. As little children we learn rules such as "you aren't supposed to hit someone when he is down," "You aren't supposed to hit smaller kids,* "Boys aren't supposed to hit girss," etc. Does this mean it is all right to hit someone who is standing, or your size, or the same gender? In fact, the correct rule is that the use of force is not propper except in self defense. The playground rules are easy for bullies to manipulate. When former peacenik hippies who were opposed to self defense got older and started taking over the senior teaching jobs and positions as principlals and administrators, they started punishing the kids who tried to defend themselves instead of the bullies, and Columbine and other similar school disasters were the result.
Under the gentlemen's code a gentleman could only be challenged to a duel by another gentleman. If challenged by a member of the lower classes a gentleman was within his rights to give him a good caning. Perhaps we should note that anyone who would want to reintroduce duelling is a second hander, and therefore not a gentleman, then take a good stout stick and give him a sound thrashing!
