Do you also get upset about people doing BDSM because you don’t want to choke your partner? This is a similar thing where someone is expressing an impulse in an appropriate space that would be dangerous in other contexts. If they get weird about it or take it to spaces where it is no longer safe by all means get upset, but while it is contained it doesn’t matter to you. And I’m not saying “just let people enjoy things,” because if someone is always playing the nazis that is concerning, but if they’ve done it once or twice I really don’t think that means they’re a wehrabo.
And I hate the use of the id because it suggests humans have some violent, selfish core that’s only held back by what we think we’re supposed to do. In reality, caring for others and sharing are every bit as central as every other impulse. You’re suggesting this person has horrible impulses they are jsut barely holding back, while in reality it seems they want to play a game in a way you don’t like.
No, I don’t think activities performed between consenting participants are the same as activities performed against virtual non-consenting participants.
And I hate the use of the id because it suggests humans have some violent, selfish core that’s only held back by what we think we’re supposed to do.
I obviously don’t believe this, as I have said that there is a unexamined darkness if a person’s escapism expresses itself with the desire to be the bad guy. If there is catharsis in hurting the virtual innocent, in playing the despot, then the person should examine where these reactionary tendencies come from. If I believed all people’s subliminal desires were as dark and violent, then I wouldn’t have suggested there was something to be done about it.
they’re not real and cannot be hurt. It’s a virtual punching bag. And you don’t know they haven;t thought about it. I’ve enjoyed dark power fantasies that disagree with how I choose to actually act. It’s because I have a temper and constantly holding it back is frustrating. Yes it’s a good thing to do, something I would choose to do even if there were never enforced consequences for not holding back, but watching an extreme of the opposite, releases of anger can be satisfying. Way more people enact their deep fascist beliefs through neighborhood watch associations and HOAs then by playing one fascist run of an RPG. be more worried about those which have real consequences.
Perhaps you can kill cops, racists, imperialists, etc. instead of the powerless in games? Also perhaps you can work on the source of that temper, understanding your feelings, and dealing with the causes instead of venting the symptoms on ‘valid targets’?
Also, I definitely worry more about those with real consequences, I’ve never argued differently.
Do you also get upset about people doing BDSM because you don’t want to choke your partner? This is a similar thing where someone is expressing an impulse in an appropriate space that would be dangerous in other contexts. If they get weird about it or take it to spaces where it is no longer safe by all means get upset, but while it is contained it doesn’t matter to you. And I’m not saying “just let people enjoy things,” because if someone is always playing the nazis that is concerning, but if they’ve done it once or twice I really don’t think that means they’re a wehrabo.
And I hate the use of the id because it suggests humans have some violent, selfish core that’s only held back by what we think we’re supposed to do. In reality, caring for others and sharing are every bit as central as every other impulse. You’re suggesting this person has horrible impulses they are jsut barely holding back, while in reality it seems they want to play a game in a way you don’t like.
No, I don’t think activities performed between consenting participants are the same as activities performed against virtual non-consenting participants.
I obviously don’t believe this, as I have said that there is a unexamined darkness if a person’s escapism expresses itself with the desire to be the bad guy. If there is catharsis in hurting the virtual innocent, in playing the despot, then the person should examine where these reactionary tendencies come from. If I believed all people’s subliminal desires were as dark and violent, then I wouldn’t have suggested there was something to be done about it.
they’re not real and cannot be hurt. It’s a virtual punching bag. And you don’t know they haven;t thought about it. I’ve enjoyed dark power fantasies that disagree with how I choose to actually act. It’s because I have a temper and constantly holding it back is frustrating. Yes it’s a good thing to do, something I would choose to do even if there were never enforced consequences for not holding back, but watching an extreme of the opposite, releases of anger can be satisfying. Way more people enact their deep fascist beliefs through neighborhood watch associations and HOAs then by playing one fascist run of an RPG. be more worried about those which have real consequences.
Perhaps you can kill cops, racists, imperialists, etc. instead of the powerless in games? Also perhaps you can work on the source of that temper, understanding your feelings, and dealing with the causes instead of venting the symptoms on ‘valid targets’?
Also, I definitely worry more about those with real consequences, I’ve never argued differently.