Roleplaying and politics.

[RangerWickett]

I know, I know. This thread is so gonna get closed. But I wanted to discuss whether you think roleplaying might aid a potential politician in understanding the goals and desires of others. If you play a character markedly different from yourself, or better yet, run a game where you have to imagine the different goals and beliefs of many characters, it would hopefully help you better understand people in the real world.

Right?

Basically, I think we need some gamer politicians. Not because I think there's a big gamer agenda that needs support, but because I'd hope that all our gaming would teach us to be good people. Foolishly optimistic, perhaps, but I do like to think that when I run games, I give myself and my players a chance to test themselves in ways the normal world wouldn't allow. Of course, it is highly disheartening for a person with this viewpoint when the characters make cruel or self-serving choices, but all the more gratifying when I see the players proud of their in-character heroism.

Anyone pursuing a career in politics?

 

[diaglo]

Al Gore is a 10th lvl ex_VP

 

[Pielorinho]

I know, I know. This thread is so gonna get closed.

[mod hat]
I don't think it has to, as long as everyone avoids discussing particular political systems or politicians. Let's be vewwy careful!
[/mod hat]

That said, I'm not so sure. On the one hand, gaming does give people a chance to get into the heads of different types of characters. On the other hand, in your typical D&D game, violence is the first resort for characters faced with a conflict. And characters spend a lot of time amassing personal power through increasing their wealth.

And those are not necessarily lessons I want politicians to take to heart .

Daniel

 

[billd91]

I know, I know. This thread is so gonna get closed. But I wanted to discuss whether you think roleplaying might aid a potential politician in understanding the goals and desires of others. If you play a character markedly different from yourself, or better yet, run a game where you have to imagine the different goals and beliefs of many characters, it would hopefully help you better understand people in the real world.

In one way or another, politicians are all role-players. In order to get the kind of popular support they need to get elected, they play up various roles as they stump for votes. Admittedly, they're all general variation on their main character (for the most part, unless they are especially cynical).

What I think you're really talking about above is that politicians should have empathy. You want them to be able to understand your own hopes and fears even if the pols don't come from the same backgrounds with the same experiences, so that they'll be passionate about pursuing the policies needed to effect your hopes and prevent your fears from happening.
And if role playing helps build empathy (I think it can), then it's a good thing whether it be within the bounds of an RPG or therapy or some other exercise.

 

[Mallus]

Basically, I think we need some gamer politicians...

...because US politics isn't ruthless and cynical enough?

I have yet to play in a game where coldblooded pragmatism didn't rule the day.

Besides, do we really want our politicians saying things like "Well, we're out of options. Break out the flaming oil and lets burn everything to the ground"?

 

[adwyn]

It's not quite roleplaying, but a few years ago I was in my state capital a weak before the gubenatorial election on a business trip. A couple of friends of mine and I decided to get a diplomacy game together. We needed six players so each of us said they new at least one other person who would play, and thus a game was set for that night back at the hotel. Everything was going well until the guest players started to arrive. One was running for lt. Govenor, another was the campaign manager of the other party. I was pleasantly amazed when they were able to sit down together and have fun despite the name calling that had gone on in the press for weeks.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Role-playing can be a useful tool for seeing things from another perspective.

 

[takyris]

I'd figure that it would help in the same way that acting would help -- you get better at consciously projecting the desired attitude.

But as far as gamer-oriented goals, I doubt it. Team sports and military service are also supposed to teach you things about striving and teamwork and compromise, and I don't see gamer-specific stuff as being much different. A good head for business would also give you much of the same life experience -- starting and successfully managing your own company, for example.

I'd be happy with a gamer politician in the same way that I'd be happy with a politician who'd been an athlete or served in the military or guided a major company through some tough times. Given the number of gamer flamewars, though, I wouldn't expect the gamer-pol to last very long:

"My political party is balanced and interested in a good experience for everyone. My opponent's political party is unbalanced and favors some people over others. My political party uses excellent mechanics to handle major business decisions, while my opponent's political party uses shoddy mechanics that put their own desires above logic or reason. My political party believes in trusting people's judgment, while my opponent's political party attempts to legislate every conceivable situation and clogs up the process of government. My political party has consistently improved itself over the past several decades, while most people agree that my opponent's political party has been steadily going downhill since their peak awhile back.

My hat for yor p0litikul parte know n0 l1m1t."

 

[diaglo]

Besides, do we really want our politicians saying things like "Well, we're out of options. Break out the flaming oil and lets burn everything to the ground"?

uhmmm...some of would say things are already like this.

 

[Mallus]

uhmmm...some of would say things are already like this.

Drat, out-cynicled again.... maybe I should try naive optimism for a change...