• stickly@lemmy.world
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    17 days ago

    Generally via public challenges and consent delivered to 3rd party witnesses (seconds) that could verify that the duel took place in an agreed upon manner. It was, in certain times and places, very legal and ritualized.

    The real reason is that it doesn’t actually settle disputes. It mostly serves as a nuclear option to elevate arguments, attack someone else’s character, or simply a legal loophole for violent sociopaths. See: this crazy example.