07-11-2003, 02:21 AM
PKs and anti-PKs... never the twain shall meet. Each feels the other is wrong, and neither would ever consider the position proposed by the opposite.
PKing in an online Multiplayer game is virtual murder. It is done for reasons that only a PK can appreciate: that they find more amusement and fun in their virtual existence by targetting the avatar of someone, somewhere that really exists and disrupt their own virtual existence. It is the epitome of the underlying smallness in humanity given example in the virtual world of the internet. This is a parallel to bullying on the playground or vandalism on the street. It is done out of disrespect, lack of empathy... and a cry for attention. The problem is that both bullying and vandalism carry still penalties in Real Life... Player Killers just keep going.
Online combat is not a rarity. However, one cannot compare the actions of a Counter Strike player with those of a Diablo Player Killer. Counter Strike is, by its very nature, a combative game where the outcome is based solely on the ability for you to kill your opponents. Your opponents know this, and seek to kill you as well. The rules are set and the playing field agreed to upon your entry into the CS map.
Diablo, however, is not CounterStrike. Diablo is in essence a heroic fantasy, meaning that the players assume the roles of the heroes, seeking to bring about the downfall of the Antagonists, who are game generated opponents of coded strengths and weaknesses. When a group of players start a game of Diablo, they are entering a playing field where cooperation, not inter-conflict, is the rule and the set goal.
Now, if another player enters into this game and starts killing the previous players, s/he is not only ruining the game by pursuing his/her own personal jollies, he is in effect cheating... as he has altered the game to fit his rules without informing the existing players of this change. In fact, with the unilateral ability for a player to declare hostility within a preset "friendly" game... he has selfishly altered the very nature of the game by himself, over the designs and desires of the majority in the game, in order to pursue his own personal goal: grief for others.
This is not a crime. This is not Arson. This is, however, the equivalent of someone striding into the middle of a playground basketball game with a baseball bat, driving the bball over the far fence and then chasing the players around threatening them to get off his court. It is smallness in human nature. It is a reflection of a deficiency within a person's empathy and social skill. The offender could be a disgruntled teenager, battling the demons of hormones and emotional mismanagement... or he could be someone older who never really grew up inside to realize what it takes to exist in a society.
This has nothing to do with Dueling. Dueling, when done properly, has set rules and agreements before a COMMUNAL declaration of hostility. While I don't appreciate this aspect of the game, I can understand it's appeal. Dueling, once again, is done within parameters that are agreed to. PKing is not.
PKing is not role-playing. PKing is the basest form of antagonism within a virtual existence. Role-playing involves the changing of one's actions and reactions (emotional and physical) to be based on a way of thinking that the player would not normally adopt. If a person wished to role-play a mass-murderer, they should make others in their interaction aware of their intentions and reasons behind the role-playing of such a monstrosity. Those that accepted the risk of playing with such a role-player would then understand the nature of any moves they made... and in turn could role-play their own reactions based on the guise they adopted in the role-playing situation.
However, PKs don't do this. They intrude on the environments of others who have set a foundation of interaction for the session and destroy that foundation for their own "enjoyment". They don't seek the interaction of the other role-players within the game. They don't give a rat's ass if they're upset at the disruption of the other players fun.
Why? Because PKs aren't roleplaying... they're just killing other avatars to cause some grief. If they did want to role-play, they would need other role-players in order to actually role-play effectively.
"It's just a game". Yes, quite right... and you weren't invited. You certainly could have played if you followed the rules.
Please don't play Twister on our Monopoly board.
*tips helm to kandrathe*
Expressing how one feels on issues is the responsibility of a citizen of the world. We agree on that, and more. I also agree that this will not persuade those that already choose the course that we abhor. While we may feel strongly about the larger ramifications of such "trivial" injustices, they probably never will.
*shrugs* At least we can determine who's who.
PKing in an online Multiplayer game is virtual murder. It is done for reasons that only a PK can appreciate: that they find more amusement and fun in their virtual existence by targetting the avatar of someone, somewhere that really exists and disrupt their own virtual existence. It is the epitome of the underlying smallness in humanity given example in the virtual world of the internet. This is a parallel to bullying on the playground or vandalism on the street. It is done out of disrespect, lack of empathy... and a cry for attention. The problem is that both bullying and vandalism carry still penalties in Real Life... Player Killers just keep going.
Online combat is not a rarity. However, one cannot compare the actions of a Counter Strike player with those of a Diablo Player Killer. Counter Strike is, by its very nature, a combative game where the outcome is based solely on the ability for you to kill your opponents. Your opponents know this, and seek to kill you as well. The rules are set and the playing field agreed to upon your entry into the CS map.
Diablo, however, is not CounterStrike. Diablo is in essence a heroic fantasy, meaning that the players assume the roles of the heroes, seeking to bring about the downfall of the Antagonists, who are game generated opponents of coded strengths and weaknesses. When a group of players start a game of Diablo, they are entering a playing field where cooperation, not inter-conflict, is the rule and the set goal.
Now, if another player enters into this game and starts killing the previous players, s/he is not only ruining the game by pursuing his/her own personal jollies, he is in effect cheating... as he has altered the game to fit his rules without informing the existing players of this change. In fact, with the unilateral ability for a player to declare hostility within a preset "friendly" game... he has selfishly altered the very nature of the game by himself, over the designs and desires of the majority in the game, in order to pursue his own personal goal: grief for others.
This is not a crime. This is not Arson. This is, however, the equivalent of someone striding into the middle of a playground basketball game with a baseball bat, driving the bball over the far fence and then chasing the players around threatening them to get off his court. It is smallness in human nature. It is a reflection of a deficiency within a person's empathy and social skill. The offender could be a disgruntled teenager, battling the demons of hormones and emotional mismanagement... or he could be someone older who never really grew up inside to realize what it takes to exist in a society.
This has nothing to do with Dueling. Dueling, when done properly, has set rules and agreements before a COMMUNAL declaration of hostility. While I don't appreciate this aspect of the game, I can understand it's appeal. Dueling, once again, is done within parameters that are agreed to. PKing is not.
PKing is not role-playing. PKing is the basest form of antagonism within a virtual existence. Role-playing involves the changing of one's actions and reactions (emotional and physical) to be based on a way of thinking that the player would not normally adopt. If a person wished to role-play a mass-murderer, they should make others in their interaction aware of their intentions and reasons behind the role-playing of such a monstrosity. Those that accepted the risk of playing with such a role-player would then understand the nature of any moves they made... and in turn could role-play their own reactions based on the guise they adopted in the role-playing situation.
However, PKs don't do this. They intrude on the environments of others who have set a foundation of interaction for the session and destroy that foundation for their own "enjoyment". They don't seek the interaction of the other role-players within the game. They don't give a rat's ass if they're upset at the disruption of the other players fun.
Why? Because PKs aren't roleplaying... they're just killing other avatars to cause some grief. If they did want to role-play, they would need other role-players in order to actually role-play effectively.
"It's just a game". Yes, quite right... and you weren't invited. You certainly could have played if you followed the rules.
Please don't play Twister on our Monopoly board.
*tips helm to kandrathe*
Expressing how one feels on issues is the responsibility of a citizen of the world. We agree on that, and more. I also agree that this will not persuade those that already choose the course that we abhor. While we may feel strongly about the larger ramifications of such "trivial" injustices, they probably never will.
*shrugs* At least we can determine who's who.
Garnered Wisdom --
If it has more than four legs, kill it immediately.
Never hesitate to put another bullet into the skull of the movie's main villain; it'll save time on the denouement.
Eight hours per day of children's TV programming can reduce a grown man to tears -- PM me for details.
If it has more than four legs, kill it immediately.
Never hesitate to put another bullet into the skull of the movie's main villain; it'll save time on the denouement.
Eight hours per day of children's TV programming can reduce a grown man to tears -- PM me for details.