[MUD-Dev] Trouble Makers or Regular Citizens

[Matthew Mihaly]

On Tue, 11 Apr 2000, Chris Lloyd wrote:

> In this example, the Almighty Emperor of Japan was seen much as a god, just
> as Napoleon was in some ways. Dictators like these, even today, are seen as
> divine and answerable only to the gods. To take a more modern example,
> Saddam Hussein is seen by his people as answerable only to God.

WWII Japan was considerably less diverse than modern Iraq or Napoloenic
france though. There was almost no dissent at all. It's quite an
impressive feat. I plan on working on becoming a God-dictator over the
next 30 years or so. You should all begin currying favour with me now
(donations accepted. The future Emperor needs a new car to ride about in.)

 
> But people rally behind dictators. The concept of dictatorship works, if the
> ruler is a good man. The English king, Richard the Lionheart is always said
> to have been a good man, and spent years fighting to free Jerusalem from
> Turkish rule. He is said to be a hero. But he was a dictator - He said
> 'jump', and people jumped. The difference between him and Attila the Hun is
> that he made what were seen to be 'good' decisions. He was seen to have
> honour.

Erm, seen by whom? Atilla the Hun was a fantastic leader. (I even have a
book somewhere called Leadership Secrets of Atilla The Hun) There's not
much difference between the two. Both were total bastards in how they
treated their enemy. Richard was seen to have honour by his friends, but
then, that's usually the case. Richard was most certainly NOT seen to have
honour by the Arabs, who he treated horridly.

 
> In an MMORPG situation, some leaders of clans and guilds can be seen as
> dictators. Even if some of them are voted in by the members, as long as he
> or she makes 'good' or decisions, the followers will often obey with little
> question, even if they do not know or understand the motives behind such an
> action.

Quite right. The cult of personality is powerful. Power is taken and held
largely by force of will.

--matt




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