[MUD-Dev] off-line pk

[Jon Lambert]

David Loeser wrote:

> Part I:

>   I'm not that old... 36, but it seems to me that the good old
>   days of a fist fight are long gone.  It's not enough to give
>   someone a black-eye any more, you have to kill them.  I'm not
>   sure why fistfights (or wrestling matches - as most of the
>   fights turned into) are passe, maybe kids/teens just don't want
>   to deal with mild pain and embarrassment... who knows.

"Zero tolerance" towards violence and institutional "self esteem"
programs come to mind.  IMO, authoritarian suppression of "normal"
violence leads to more explosive violence.  I'm only a few years
older and can remember that a good *ss kicking from a peer was
considered an acceptable method of problem resolution in many
situations and not a "deviant" response in all situations.  It is
also taught that bullies are deviants that cannot be tolerated (thus
it is acceptable to eliminate them - cf. Klebold and Harris actually
viewed themselves as heroic in eliminating bullies - wonder where
they got that notion?).  That's a recipe for explosive violence IMO.
Consider how players on a mud react when all forms of in game
retaliatory responses are suppressed by the code or by admins.
Stronger explosions.  I contend the emotional "pain" (or
explosiveness) is far less in games with full PvP action than in
"care bear" games.  The reason is that in non-PvP games PvP action
really does occur and can only be suppressed through admin
intervention.  Your average player has no ability to retaliate.  No
ability to retaliate or the feeling of "loss of control" is a far
worse state for a human to find themselves in and is more conducive
to explosive violence (or strong emotional outbursts).  If one is
lead to believe that one is in a happy safe environment, one's
response is more attentuated to negative PvP actions.

> Part II:

>   I'm wondering when game developers are going to unite, form a
>   P.A.C. and be represented on Capital Hill (or at the U.N.)?
>   Seriously, with all of the acts of violence that are being
>   associated (or more like blamed on/) with computer
>   entertainment, will, IMHO, have huge repercussions on the
>   industry and in particular; online gaming.

> As a participant in the development of a new breed of online game
> - I'm really worried (scared) that _witch_hunts_ are just around
> the corner.  The law-suit in Colorado is a glimpse of what is to
> come...

> Thoughts?

How much money is spent in the US on television advertising?
Hundreds of billions of dollars, maybe more?  Either the people
spending that money are total idiots, or they are correct in the
notion that their visual presentations influence behavior.  How can
advertising influence behavior and your game not influence behavior?

So maybe some of the witch hunts will find witches like that sadist
who posted the EverQuest child pornography.  Now if one wishes to
include that sort of material in a game and defend it on the basis
of free speech be prepared to be burnt at the stake for it.  Or to
put it more pragmatically, the majority will begin to regulate you
because you've offended its prurient tastes and sensibilities.  Too
bad.  Tough luck.

If one wants to explore material on the edge do it with adult
restrictions (it's called reponsibility) or be prepared to face
endless streams of litgation and disruptions from public watchdog
groups and increasing regulation from government.  It doesn't matter
that one can point fingers at TV or movies and say "well they're
doing it too" if you are the flavor of the month.

Yes it's my opinion that our games do influence behavior.  That said
I think we should take advantage of that.  If your targetting the
teen crowd (as most of you really are) you should include lots of
guns and gunplay, or swords and swordplay.  It should present much
more detailed information useful in real life.  Like when and how to
load a gun, switching the safety on and off how to fire a gun, and
tactics in using guns and storing them.  The same for other weapons.
As well as constantly reinforcing their inalienable right to possess
them and use them.  And above all and most importantly a more
responsible selection of targets enforced by positive and negative
goal feedback.  Instead of dwarven children, dwarven nobles.
Instead of elfin women, tax collectors or anything with a badge and
without a search warrant.  Instead of benign unarmed religious
leaders, communist orcs and socialist trolls.  We're building areas
that reflect our morality and view of good and evil.  As well you
should, but if your's isn't compatible, well see above. ;-)

--
--* Jon A. Lambert - TychoMUD        Email:jlsysinc at ix.netcom.com *--
--* Mud Server Developer's Page <http://tychomud.home.netcom.com> *--
--* If I had known it was harmless, I would have killed it myself.*--

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