Cruelty and virtual worlds

[cmdr_zoom]

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.

Comments

[twoflower.livejournal.com]

Dealing with griefing of this sort can be a pain, particularly if the administration either supports or turns a blind eye to it. Like principals of schools ignoring the "nerds" being mauled on a daily basis until the place ends up on the 5 o'clock news with a subtitle of "14 killed in shooting", people who have the power to stop this sort of meaningless aggression often let it slide.

We had a few griefing incidents in Second Life and Linden Labs didn't seem to care much after we filed abuse reports. Considering it's become a haven for SA goons and their ilk to show up and cause trouble Because They Can And We Can't Stop Them, as noted, it's getting a reputation as a breeding ground for these sorts of people. And that's terrible.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

While I agree with you re: school bullying, I am compelled to note (out of fairness, pessimism, or both) that there's not much that practically can be done about the fact that (some) people are, always have been, and (probably) always will be ****s. It's inherent to the species. Putting up barriers may discourage some, but motivates others.

[z-gryphon.livejournal.com]

Well, to be fair, if my real life were so blocky and indifferently animated, I'd feel a certain deep-seated need to be cruel to my fellow beings too.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

That's hardly unique to SL. I've just been considering Pocket D in the context of a villainous Origin, as half an hour there might provide ample evidence that humanity does not deserve continued existence.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

"You're a monster and you're going straight to Hell." (http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=122)

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

Now, a little more seriously: there's a difference there, IMO, because you aren't interacting (negatively) with your peers, but with computer-generated simulations which don't actually think or feel. Likewise, I feel no remorse (outside of the occasional bit of role-play) for defeating an icon that happens to look like an orc or a pirate or a gang member, and which exists solely for that purpose... but it's a different story when it comes to bothering (or being bothered by) an avatar under the control of another real person. I try to avoid that, even when I believe I have the upper hand. It's not what I play these games for.

[jadiana.livejournal.com]

A friend once was talking to me about his PVPing in games. See, he has a high pressure job RL, and it makes him feel better to go on a PVP spree in a game, ganking people. He also belonged to a PVP 'group' that actually went to play in Second Life with the sole goal of griefing people.

I didn't say anything at the time to him, but I just don't 'get' that sort of behavior. That's like...cutting people off in traffic and laughing at them because you had a bad day at work. Or crank calling on the phone.

It just seems like anti-social behavior.

And I will never, ever, understand why people think that their actions towards other people online do not matter.

I remember once hearing people (who were explaining why they could be rude online) on TOOMush explain that they felt that online didn't matter. And I didn't get that either.

People usually say, "Well it's the power of anonymous that make people think that they can get away with it." But I wonder, maybe, some people truly don't 'get' that there's another person there. Oh yeah, they know, but somehow their empathy response isn't there.

But then, I also believe that for the most part, an asshole is the last one to know that he's an asshole. Most people don't set out to be one, but rather, we all live behind layered veils of little white lies that we tell ourselves. I don't believe that there are people who go, "Bwahaha, I'll show them!" without some preamble of, "You know, they deserve this," in which the ass convinces himself that his actions are 'right'.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

They have no power in part of their lives, so they seek out a venue where (1) they do have power and (2) they can insulate themselves from the usual consequences, including their own empathetic limits.