Final answer:
Pirates typically used practices like marooning, kneeling on sharp objects, and whipping rather than making captives walk the plank. Negotiation and economic motives often played a role in their actions, as seen in the historical account of Julius Caesar's capture or the treatment of individuals on slave ships.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pirates are often depicted in popular culture as making their captives 'walk the plank,' though historical evidence suggests that this practice was more myth than reality. Instead, pirates were known to employ various other methods of punishment or execution. Marooning was one such practice, where a disobedient or unwanted crew member would be left on a deserted island with minimal supplies. Kneeling on sharp objects, such as shot, and whipping were other forms of discipline. The excerpt from LibreTexts™ illustrates a situation where deceit and negotiation were tools used by pirates to achieve their ends, which could be as effective as violence. Moreover, historical incidents like the capture of Julius Caesar by pirates, where he was held for ransom rather than killed outright, reveal that economic motives often outweighed sadistic impulses. Lastly, in dire circumstances as seen on a slave ship, punishment and control were exerted through harsh treatment due to economic incentives, not necessarily theatrical forms of execution.