Doesn't this challenge the very idea of "dissociative mechanics"?
You've just presented the argument that dissociation in mechanics is a matter of perspective, not the inherent character. It is no longer accurate to say that every mechanic is inherently associative or dissociative.
Glad to know I was able to contribute to the chaos.
And the serious problem lies exactly there: which "information the PCs should reasonably have access to."
Well, that and instilling a deep and fundamental paranoia into your players isn't necessarily the healthiest or most enjoyable gaming experience.
I disagree. The characters should be somewhat paranoid, thus giving the players a taste of that only makes sense.
Further: if everything really is against you then victories, when they come, are that much more special.
Question: If I write poetry for personal enjoyment, is it totally impossible to make sense of the idea that I want to improve my ability to do so? For example, increasing my vocabulary, reading example poems to see what other authors have done, or writing down interesting phrases I hear from others, would all seem examples of ways to improve my writing abilities, even though I do it purely because I enjoy it.
Great example for me personally, as I do just this and have done for decades.
My question, though, is one of intent: do you do those things - increase vocabulary, write down conversation snippets, etc. - with the
specific thought in mind of "Ooh, yes, this will improve my poetic skills"?
Or do you do it with the thought in mind of "Cool line, I'm going to use that sometime!" without regard as to skill improvement?
Me, I'm the latter. I'm not and never really have been specifically
trying to improve my skill. Instead I just keep banging them out and let any improvement come naturally through experience. And over time, I dare say, it has.
Intentioally putting effort specifically into skill improvement, above and beyond just doing it, is IMO taking it more seriously than just a hobby. Nothing wrong with that, but it's gone beyond casual hobby and into something else that maybe doesn't have a good term - unpaid work is the closest I can get, but that's not right either.