Revolution and reason

Day 2,665, 20:02 • Published in USA USA • by MaryamQ


About 5 years ago, when I was still an eBaby, puzzling over this strange new world my RL son had brought me into, I discovered that there really was more to the game than clicking a button a couple of times a day, that there were people who were willing to play their own way, to think for themselves and share their vision, and who were happy to invite others along for the ride. As I was thinking recently about people who have influenced me most in my game play, I decided to introduce you to some of them, to let you see what I think this game can and should be.



One of the earliest and most profound of my influences was Aldous Zamiatin, a young eBelgian who, although even eYounger than I was, had already made a mark on his community and the way others around him played. A recent look at his list of friends shows that I am on the 9th page, and only 3 others ahead of me are still eAlive, but his influence lingers, and it is international. Aldous was a bridge builder, a friend of young players who was always ready to give others a hand up, a pragmatic idealist who realized that it was all very well to fight for your belief, but that you are more likely to achieve something if you play nicely with others. It was he, more than anyone else, who got me involved in eBelgian politics, thus keeping me interested in the game, and it was through him that I started to meet other players who influenced me.



ThomasRed was another eBelgian who influenced the way I played. My first encounter with him was in a political disagreement over selling the CP medal in eBE, where in fact, my idealism clashed with his pragmatism. Over time, however, he taught me a lot, mentored me in politics and later in military matters, and gained my respect with his knowledge, drive, and ability to bring others to his point of view. When the division system and MUs were introduced, it was he who inspired me to work harder on that aspect of my game, and helped me get to know others who have also influenced me.



My time in eBelgium brought me many other friends who have influenced my play, including people like mittekemuis and Nohjis, both of whom have always put me in awe of their ability to take charge of their own eLives and to lead others to do the same, and both of whom have been my “partners in crime” with various international projects over the years.



Somewhere along the line, someone directed me to the writings of Phoenix Quinn (of whom I hope to write more at a later date), and through him, I met other influential free thinkers, such as Arjay Phoenician (whose “grandson” Arjay Phoenician III carried on his philosophy and became a valued friend in his own right), and Thedillpickl.



Each of these players has had his or her own unique view and style of playing, and each has developed a multinational network of friends and associates, many of whom, in turn have become influential friends to one another. What they have in common is that they have a vision of how they want the eWorld to be, and they are willing to stand up and fight for that vision while, for the most part, respecting other points of view. What they do NOT share is blind RL nationalism, unwillingness to give others a voice, or closed minds. Each has been a revolutionary of sorts, and they have all played that role with love for the various communities that have formed around them. Each has acted out that love by trying in some way to make the eWorld better for themselves and their communities.



With that, we come to the point of this article. It is not unusual in this game to see people arguing and trolling one another, but it seems to me that recently things have become particularly vitriolic. Instead of working together to solve the most recent set of problems presented in this game, citizens have been sniping at one another, undermining one another’s efforts, and tearing down rather than building. The public Congress threads have been practically devoid of useful content, being devoted to finger-pointing, general bickering, and more than a little just plain stupidity on both sides. The media has been little better, although there have been a few eloquent pleas for sanity. While there is right and wrong on both sides, it is hard to find the good points when the debate is destructive rather than constructive. If we want to change our community for the better, we need to do it with love, to be for something rather than just being against anything the other “side” presents.



It has been said, but let me add my voice to those begging for sanity in this insane mess we find ourselves in. We all love our communities, whether they be parties, MUs, countries, or just our particular circle of friends. Without them, this game is nothing.



Our communities are part of a vast interconnected web. Let’s not forget that, when we destroy others, we ultimately destroy ourselves.