Personalities in the Gaming Industry and Politics

[Belen]

But to not buy someone's book merely because they vote for a party (a totally democratic party) other than the one you vote for - that's not only daft, but actually distructive to democracy. You shouldn't find it offensive that someone votes for a party other than your own. That's democracy. Finding out that someone's a Democrat when you're a Republican (or vice versa) should not qualify as something that "offends you" or prevents you buying their book.

That is not the point. No one here has said that they would not buy a product just because someone either a member of a specific party. People are saying that they will not buy a product from someone who has shown themselves to be a rabid extremist member of a political party.

 

[GMSkarka]

People are saying that they will not buy a product from someone who has shown themselves to be a rabid extremist member of a political party.

For sufficiently variable qualities of "rabid extremist".....


Unfortunately, it's gotten to the point in this country where the most moderate position of a party is viewed as "extreme" by proponents of the opposition. Hardly surpising in a climate where people won't even consider non-political content from people who don't share their views. Pathetic, even.

 

[Kanegrundar]

Unfortunately, it's gotten to the point in this country where the most moderate position of a party is viewed as "extreme" by proponents of the opposition. Hardly surpising in a climate where people won't even consider non-political content from people who don't share their views. Pathetic, even.

As long as gaming product doesn't become a platform for thinly-vieled political rants, I'll buy products from just about anyone. Otherwise, I might miss out on good products just because I think someone is an ass in real life.

Kane

 

[Jonny Nexus]

That is not the point. No one here has said that they would not buy a product just because someone either a member of a specific party. People are saying that they will not buy a product from someone who has shown themselves to be a rabid extremist member of a political party.

But what is a "rabid extremist member" of a (presumably) non-extremist party?

I can see how someone can be a member of an extremist party (such as the Nazis). But I'm not sure how you can be extreme in your membership of a non-extremist party. I can see how you can be an enthusiastic member of a party, or a committed member, but not extemist.

The danger would seem to me to be that you might have a situation where it's okay for someone to say that they vote Democrat or Republican, and perhaps even admit to being a non-active member of one of those two parties - but where it's not okay for them to admit to being an active or enthusiastic member.

I'm not saying that's what you think, just that some people in the US appear to be drawing a pretty tight line as to how actively people can support non-extremist politics before those people become regarded as extremists.

And personally, I think enthusiasm in politics is good and to be applauded.

 

[Storm Raven]

In short, propriety is not a moral defense, and the use of "should" in this context is deeply mistaken. Private organizations and people *may* do anything they like, but this does not mean they *ought* to make any decision they like. In the US, you may put up idiotic racist content on your website, but it's still dumb. You may direct your corporation to use its leverage against certain points of view with its media properties, but your ownership does not magically translate into moral absolution.

Wrong. Private individuals should do what they believe is appropriate in such a situation. Otherwise, there is no point in having freedom of speech. The right to put forward things that other people believe is wrong headed nonsense is a critical element of a free society,

 

[John Morrow]

Wrong. Private individuals should do what they believe is appropriate in such a situation. Otherwise, there is no point in having freedom of speech. The right to put forward things that other people believe is wrong headed nonsense is a critical element of a free society,

I get the impression that your enumerated list of things that are included in that claim was taken as a list of things that you thought should always be done.

 

[Storm Raven]

I get the impression that your enumerated list of things that are included in that claim was taken as a list of things that you thought should always be done.

I believe that private individuals should do such things if they believe it is appropriate. After all, what good is it having rights if you don't excercise them?

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Then you must not have been exit polled. But even if you weren't polling still identifies trends in the general population, some of which are strong and some of which are not. Elementary social sciences, really.

You mean trends like, "Kerry won!"

Exit polling is a freakin' joke. A complete and utter failure.

 

[drothgery]

I can see how someone can be a member of an extremist party (such as the Nazis). But I'm not sure how you can be extreme in your membership of a non-extremist party. I can see how you can be an enthusiastic member of a party, or a committed member, but not extemist.

The major political parties in the US are far broader coallitions than are typically seen elsewhere (because the political system strongly encourages two major parties). To UK-ize things ... suppose the LibDems and Labour were both in the same party, and so were the Greens. Then figure any even remotely respectable party of the Right as part of the Tories. And then given them about equal membership nationally, with solid regional strongholds.

Does that help?

 

[drothgery]

You mean trends like, "Kerry won!"

Exit polling is a freakin' joke. A complete and utter failure.

No it's not. Using early exit polling to predict the results of a close race is a joke. But that's hardly the only use for exit polling.