Joffrey, Renly, Robb Stark, they are all thieves
In my experience pirates prefer fighting unarmed men
While Robert smashed Rhaegar on the Trident, my men ate the dogs, because the horses had already been devoured. While the Lannisters sacked King's Landing, we ate the rats.
Show too much kindness, people won't fear you. If they don't fear you, they don't follow you