I don't know what just happend, but it seems that Ayn Rand corrupted my player!

[JamesonCourage]

First off, this is an internet discussion and not a formal debate. Secondly, this very sentence is a false choice coupled with an attempt at a passive-agressive jab. I completely understand what an analogy is.

Okay, so when you said, "Do you guys really think of playing games as a business transaction?", you knew that they didn't mean that literally (as you understand what an analogy is). If your original statement ("Do you guys really think of playing games as a business transaction?") is not attacking them, what was meant by it, exactly? If I'm missing something, then yeah, what I presented might be a false dichotomy. I'm curious what the other choices are, though.

 

[DoctorNick]

Okay, so when you said, "Do you guys really think of playing games as a business transaction?", you knew that they didn't mean that literally (as you understand what an analogy is). If your original statement ("Do you guys really think of playing games as a business transaction?") is not attacking them, what was meant by it, exactly? If I'm missing something, then yeah, what I presented might be a false dichotomy. I'm curious what the other choices are, though.

The third choice is that I had assumed it was a meaningful analogy. In other words, that comparing DMing a game to selling a product was actually supposed to mean something. I was hoping someone would explain how they thought playing a role playing game was akin to a business transaction because the only meaningful way that analogy made sense was in a way that in my estimation wasn't entirely healthy. I'm genuinely sorry if I confused you.

Again, I wouldn't say something like: "You are like a murderer!" and mean: "because you have eyes and so do most murderers!"

You see, and this may be advanced analogy theory so hold on to your pants because they don't print this in the Dictionary under the "Analogy" heading, an analogy typically compares something to something else based on qualities that other thing has that are unusual or unique or perhaps are strongly identified with the other thing in a cultural context not because they share a trait that a lot of other things also have and also ignore all this other baggage that the second thing has you clearly have no understanding of how analogies work, you fool!

As a side note, I would say that playing RPGs is a lot like eating a sandwich.

 

[JamesonCourage]

The third choice is that I had assumed it was a meaningful analogy. In other words, that comparing DMing a game to selling a product was actually supposed to mean something. I was hoping someone would explain how they thought playing a role playing game was akin to a business transaction because the only meaningful way that analogy made sense was in a way that in my estimation wasn't entirely healthy. I'm genuinely sorry if I confused you.

Well, to be honest I'm still confused. Asking for clarification on an analogy would seem to be closer to, "how is a player, in your mind, paying for a service or product?" Asking if people "really think of playing games as a business transaction" might be a bit of a wording issue, in my opinion. If it's a simple misunderstanding, I apologize, but it was coupled with "you're behavior is hinting at a lack of social skills" which, really, is quite amusing to me as well, but perhaps without good reason.

Again, I wouldn't say something like: "You are like a murderer!" and mean: "because you have eyes and so do most murderers!"

But that's not nearly the same thing, in my mind. Your mileage has varied.

You see, and this may be advanced analogy theory so hold on to your pants because they don't print this in the Dictionary under the "Analogy" heading, an analogy typically compares something to something else based on qualities that other thing has that are unusual or unique or perhaps are strongly identified with the other thing in a cultural context not because they share a trait that a lot of other things also have and also ignore all this other baggage that the second thing has you clearly have no understanding of how analogies work, you fool!

As a side note, I would say that playing RPGs is a lot like eating a sandwich.

See, as of this point, it's just confusing (neither sentence made very much sense to me) and/or trolling, as far as I can tell. I'll bow out, as I'm certainly not going to get sucked into that type of 'discussion' on these boards. I respect them too much for that. You have the last word, sir. As always, play what you like

 

[DoctorNick]

I apologize for the misunderstanding.

But that's not nearly the same thing, in my mind. Your mileage has varied.

Would you care to elaborate?

 

[Hungry Like The Wolf]

Don't get mad at me because a poor analogy is chosen. I don't go around comparing people to serail killers because they share the same anatomy (as an example).



First off, this is an internet discussion and not a formal debate. Secondly, this very sentence is a false choice coupled with an attempt at a passive-agressive jab. I completely understand what an analogy is. The way I see it: either you are attempting to discredit me because you don't like what I'm saying or you have trouble with remedial reading comprehension.

The first thing I've learnt coming back to this forum is to recognise to quite when you're ahead. It's not worth it.

 

[haakon1]

In my estimation, no. The DM has the most prep work to do, and is generally the one who is the core creator of the homebrew (if one exists), is the final rules arbiter, etc.

Besides, its hardly authoritarian or "entitled" to run the game as written.

Man, if there were no XP limits, DannyAlcatraz would get so many more from me!

 

[Desdichado]

The third choice is that I had assumed it was a meaningful analogy. In other words, that comparing DMing a game to selling a product was actually supposed to mean something.

Uh... did you somehow miss all the supply and demand discussion that's gone on in this thread? Or did you just conveniently ignore it so that the analogy would appear to be meaningless?

Speaking of passive aggressive; first you make a passive aggressive swipe at the social skills of anyone using this particular analogy, then you make another passive aggressive swipe at the meaningfulness of the analogy. The latter in particular reveals that you've either got half the board on Ignore, or you simply haven't read most of the thread.

And then, after you passive-aggressively insult everyone involved in the discussion, you get really defensive when called on it, start getting all Mr. Pedantic Debate Man going, and throw out more passive aggressive insults.

You might want to reconsider who's showing signs of lack of social skills here.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yes, well, as others are saying, that analogy falls apart, because the players are not usually passive consumers of content. One can argue that they have less work, time, and investment in the endeavor than the GM, and maybe less impact on the result than the GM, but "less" does not mean "negligible".

To clarify, I don't see the audience as passive consumers. A concert is an exercise in give & take. For the audience, it is more meaningful than listening to a recording; for the band, it is more gratifying than playing in a garage.

 

[S'mon]

I think maybe the DM is the singer/songwriter while the players are drums, bass & guitar?

 

[Halivar]

I think maybe the DM is the singer/songwriter while the players are drums, bass & guitar?

Then where the heck are my groupies???