nothing to see here
First Post
slight irony
It's great to see a topic ABOUT politics not denigrate into a closed down flamewar.
As somebody who works in a central political executive office in a (somewhat) sensitive capacity...I always felt the 'no politics' rule left me excluded on those threads talkin about" what do you do for a living" and such and such. Not that I'd spill the beans on who I work for anyway, but you get what I mean.
If game designers etc, posed their politics as largely positive representations of what they believe in -- it's quite tolerable. Blue Rose, for example, is one of the most strongly politically flavoured games I've seen, yet it goes great lengths to emphasize the positives of the political order it favours...while it has it's digs, it's politics are largely constructive.
A lot of what we're talking about however, is politics of a different kind.
I can't help but notice a reccuring theme among several posters expressing a certain "millitant cynicism" about politics in general.
There seems to be a bit of a crossover between gamers and conspiracy theorists (who, despite their outlandish views, actually embody the culture of millitant cynicism).
Of course "millitant cynicism" (they're all crooks, it's all about money, etc) is itself a political viewpoint...just not as readily self-identified as more traditional affiliations.
And watch out, millitant cynics are one of the most easily manipulated demographics in western societies. They are people just waiting for somebody new to hate. People like me get paid decent coin to ensure the people they hate are the right ones.
It's better to believe IN something than rail AGAINST something. However building a case for a cause you believe in is not nearly as cathartic as a good blog-based rant.
It's great to see a topic ABOUT politics not denigrate into a closed down flamewar.
As somebody who works in a central political executive office in a (somewhat) sensitive capacity...I always felt the 'no politics' rule left me excluded on those threads talkin about" what do you do for a living" and such and such. Not that I'd spill the beans on who I work for anyway, but you get what I mean.
If game designers etc, posed their politics as largely positive representations of what they believe in -- it's quite tolerable. Blue Rose, for example, is one of the most strongly politically flavoured games I've seen, yet it goes great lengths to emphasize the positives of the political order it favours...while it has it's digs, it's politics are largely constructive.
A lot of what we're talking about however, is politics of a different kind.
I can't help but notice a reccuring theme among several posters expressing a certain "millitant cynicism" about politics in general.
There seems to be a bit of a crossover between gamers and conspiracy theorists (who, despite their outlandish views, actually embody the culture of millitant cynicism).
Of course "millitant cynicism" (they're all crooks, it's all about money, etc) is itself a political viewpoint...just not as readily self-identified as more traditional affiliations.
And watch out, millitant cynics are one of the most easily manipulated demographics in western societies. They are people just waiting for somebody new to hate. People like me get paid decent coin to ensure the people they hate are the right ones.
It's better to believe IN something than rail AGAINST something. However building a case for a cause you believe in is not nearly as cathartic as a good blog-based rant.