Personalities in the Gaming Industry and Politics

[nothing to see here]

Well, folks, now we know what it's like to be on the Titanic as it's sinking.... Everyone wave to the camera!

One hundred and fifty posts aint bad. Somebody was bount to get way too wound up eventurally.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Well, folks, now we know what it's like to be on the Titanic as it's sinking.... Everyone wave to the camera!

"I will never let go, Jack. I'll never let go."

 

[wingsandsword]

I am genuinely happy at the civilized, polite, respectful level of this thread and how well it reflects on the community here at ENWorld.

That said, when an artist or celebrity uses their place in the public eye to push a political ideology or religious point of view, they have to accept that there may be consequences of that. I make a point of not going to Tom Cruise and John Travolta movies because I vehemently disagree with the religious beliefs they publically extole. I may agree with the beliefs and positions of some celebrities, but that doesn't mean I'll watch their movies and shows even if they are awful otherwise.

I regret that there are so few places where people can meaningfully have any kind of political discourse without it degenerating into a flame war. Godwins Law gets invoked way too often nowadays. Of course, people yelling at each other and making a scene gets ratings on TV, intelligent and moderated political discussion shows have faded from view. This Week, Meet the Press and Face the Nation don't get anywhere near the attention of inflammatory demagogues, regrettably. Physical violence sells in the movie theaters and TV, and verbal violence sells in politics.

I'm not anybody in any industry, I have a small blog, a livejournal under the same username I have here. Even then, I make a point of making all my political postings and ramblings (which I do moderately often) friends-only, because I am mindful that political manifestos, strong ideologies can offend people and I really don't want some prospective employer finding my blog filled with my political ideas (in case they offend my potential employer). As for celebrities (and for these purposes, published and known game authors count as celebrities), if they want to use their blogs to talk religion and politics, they're welcome to do so, as long as they are willing to deal with any consequences. They have every right to their opinion and I'm not going to stop them. If I strongly disagree with their opinion, I'll make a rational and reasoned comment on their blog, that's it.

 

[John Morrow]

Wagner? Guilty or innocent? Of what?

Perhaps you are thinking of Robert Blake?

It all went down hill after he started working for Dr. Evil...

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Wagner? Guilty or innocent? Of what?

Perhaps you are thinking of Robert Blake?

Yes I was thank you for the correction. Which is funny because I didnt mean him at all and got completely side tracked by someone elses comment.

Anyway I did not mean to detract this conversation or insult anyone.

My basic stance is if your views radically differ from mine and in the course of me possibly buying your product you rub your views in my face a la SKR then I won't buy from you. That is all and anything beyond that which I said should probably be either dropped or taken to private email.

Sorry all.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

And their ability to step outside themselves and examine their quirks, knee-jerks, assumptions, opinions, etc. with an objective eye, which is extremely challenging for everyone regardless of your education, I think.

Absolutely it's difficult for everyone. But the difference is that educated people have the tools to think objectively, abstractly, and logically about their "quirks, knee-jerks, assumptions, [and] opinions."

For example, take progressive taxation. Understanding progressive taxation as it affects me is simple. Understanding progressive taxation as it affects people like me is only slightly harder. But there can be no real objective understanding of progressive taxation without understanding concepts like, but not limited to, what John Rawls' called "the veil of ignorance."

There are plenty of people who stand for and against progressive taxation without understanding the veil of ignorance, but their understanding of it is either subjective or simplistic, no matter which side they're on. They do not have the tools to truly understand their own position, and thus they are not equipped to support it, to refute the opposing position, or to recognize if and when they're wrong and think about exactly how and why they're wrong. If one is unable to do that, it is much, much less likely that one will change his mind on a subject. And even when one does change his mind on a subject, his new opinion is going to be worth about as much as his old one.

It has become fashionable to claim that all opinions merit equal respect, but it is simply not true. The opinion that is grounded in objectivity and logic is superior to one that is grounded in emotion and subjectivity, at least insofar as the consequences of the opinion in question, as social policy, affects others, like him and unlike him. (In other words, someone's emotional attachment to Mandy Moore and thus his opinion that Mandy Moore is a better singer than Billie Holiday was doesn't really matter.) The only thing sacred about opinions is that everyone has the right to hold and express them; that right of equal expression does not translate to equal value.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

I am genuinely happy at the civilized, polite, respectful level of this thread and how well it reflects on the community here at ENWorld.

That said, when an artist or celebrity uses their place in the public eye to push a political ideology or religious point of view, they have to accept that there may be consequences of that. I make a point of not going to Tom Cruise and John Travolta movies because I vehemently disagree with the religious beliefs they publically extole.

LOL, you know if I was religious I might actually be offended that you just grouped my faith in with that cesspool known as scientology by calling it a religion. ;-)

 

[GMSkarka]

One hundred and fifty posts aint bad. Somebody was bount to get way too wound up eventurally.

Somebody got wound up? Where?

I haven't seen a single flame yet....(Or maybe my flame-tolerance-meter is skewed from too many years at RPGnet...)

I think we're seeing some empassioned opinions, sure....but I don't see any "U R an ***hat!!" blasting going on.

 

[EricNoah]

Or maybe the well-educated are better at finding facts/data/statistics/evidence that matches and reinforces their world view? Dunno, just playing devil's advocate here...

 

[EricNoah]

Somebody got wound up? Where?

I haven't seen a single flame yet....(Or maybe my flame-tolerance-meter is skewed from too many years at RPGnet...)

I think we're seeing some empassioned opinions, sure....but I don't see any "U R an ***hat!!" blasting going on.

*Snickers* You do have amazingly thick skin, sir! I think I would have freaked out if someone had essentially called me a Nazi to my face.

If you're ok with it, and given DocM's clarification recently, maybe the Titanic can continue on its voyage a little while longer...