Cruelty and virtual worlds

I define cruelty as the knowing and deliberate infliction of unnecessary harm. In my experience, this is often done to feel satisfaction at the possession and exercise of power over another. I believe that bullying and other, much worse crimes all derive ultimately from the same ugly place in the human psyche: the part that gloats, "because I can, and you can't stop me."

It is possible, in theory, to construct settings where survival is not at issue and harming others is not necessary for success - worlds which, through intelligent design, are "fairer" and "nicer" than reality can be. The unfortunate fact, however, is that people are still people and some of them will still act this way even if they don't have to, because they enjoy it.

To those who might be wondering, this isn't about any one game in particular. I still cling generally and stubbornly to the notion that people (including and especially me) should be better than they actually are. As the current administration has amply demonstrated, however, wishing for something does not make it so. This counterfactual belief also makes me the natural enemy, in all venues, of those who zealously defend their freedom to be jerks. Confronting them is a guilty pleasure that gives only brief satisfaction, soon giving way to disappointment in the world, the human race, and myself for not living up to my unrealistic standards.

In a truly perfect world, I would be too.