[FUPQ-07] Be reflective when armed
Day 3,689, 19:40
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Published in USA 
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by
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by Pfenix Quinn
The Free University of Phoenix Quinn is a service of the Socialist Freedom Party, a slightly undignified and free-wheeling collective-internationalist rave and debating society based in e-USA
This is Lecture Number 7 of a 20-part series on Combating Tyranny. It's derived from Timothy Snyder's nifty little book ON TYRANNY, adapted to our New World context by yours truly. The lecturer is me, R.F. Williams, a mysterious gaming entity who contributes little to the game except for bloviating in a shy imitation of the inimitable Phoenix Quinn.
Encuentre traducciones al español de estas conferencias en VANGUARDIA SOCIALISTA.
Be reflective when armed.
If you must carry weapons on your person in real life, or need to go about "armed" with the virtual game “weapons” of rapier wit and spiffy come-backs (
🙂), but even more so, carrying the "weapons" of e-authority expressed via in-game wealth, veterancy, political clout, or connections, then, as you go about so armed, may you be blessed and keep well for all the e-days of your e-life.
And please remember that evil has a way of edging police personnel and soldiers (and, to a much less dire degree, of course, players) into doing irregular things.
Always be ready to say no.
Riot police disperse citizens who protest; they are tasked with quelling a mob. Secret state police, on the other hand, are sent out to murder dissenters. What is sometimes less well documented is the common inter-play between the former and the latter. When the state engages in mass murder of its political opponents, there is no way the secret police can do their dirty work without active assistance from regular police, civil servants, and legal professionals.
Massively mechanized death pits tend to have their origins in localized shooting pits. As such facts have continued to be uncovered, we’ve learned that it tends to be the less-well-reported, often undocumented "mundane" variety of atrocities that do the most damage.
Regular folks put into irregular situations can be convinced to do things they would never have intended to do. Anyone who serves under a murderous regime is guilty to one degree or another, of its crimes.
People use their weapons, including the "weapons" of their trade or skill, to kill or to assist in killing, just because they don’t want to stand out. Without such conformists, many atrocities would have been prevented.
In the game world, this comes across in the form of acquiescence with atrocious behavior, such as looking the other way at bullying, racism, sexism and so on, as well as not bothering to call out unfair play for fear of going against the tide.
At the end of this lecture series, super-cool certificates and various honorable degrees will be issued by Doctor Williams based on responses provided in the comment sections. Participation counts. Indicate attendance by leaving a comment or endorsing the article. Higher degrees are awarded according to the degree of critical thinking, mindfulness and humor exhibited by responders.
Examples of questions you might want to address in responses to this lecture:
* Is it smarter to find ways to endure while actively resisting evil, or to go along to get along in order to survive?
* What are the virtual equivalents to using “e-weapons” mindfully? Is there a peaceful way to play this game?
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* Is it smarter to find ways to endure while actively resisting evil, or to go along to get along in order to survive?
* What are the virtual equivalents to using “e-weapons” mindfully?
* Is there a "peaceful" way to play this game?
"My most lethal weapons are my words!"
~ Rosa Violet Carson
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How is after reading a thought provoking article as such, that the best you can come up with is self promoting yourself?
You are exactly the type that would lead us to the "death pits"
I would never put my trust behind a person like you.
I at least promote something, you just troll!
The "peaceful" way to play this (or any) game is to play with respect for all involved.
Well said.
V!!
best lecture yet
the Harriet Tubman quote is chilling because it is so true
V
When players use words as weapons, as a means of manipulating or intimidating others, it usually does not pay to fight back in kind, i.e., to feed the trolls. How we react, though, depends on a number of factors. The players who are less comfortable in their own "skin" may be tempted to follow along in order to avoid becoming a target or to be accepted, if only in a limited way. Bullies in RL may have sidekicks for similar reasons. It takes a strong, mature player to ignore the bullying and keep on playing as usual, hopefully with respect and kindness. Perhaps the best way to stand up to the bullies is to offer those who are vulnerable a safe place, in whatever way that can be provided, but being aware that removing the targets may bring down the wrath of the bullies on our own heads. What does not appear to work, at least in a game environment, is to talk back loudly, as any attention, even negative attention, is likely to be viewed as a win.
I agree with what you are saying MaryamQ.
But at what point is the breaking point?
How much is one willing to put up with, until you have no choice but to openly fight back against those that bring nothing but to destroy.
Maybe the real victory against them is to provide a safe place for those who are most vulnerable.
Thank you for your great insight as always.
Respect.
It is always hard to decide when it is our duty to speak up, or perhaps to act up. SFP has been struggling with these moral/ethical dilemmas for a long time. It is made even harder because our views of morality are so personal, even if they have universal roots. I believe, though, that great moral victories are always personal, not public, and the true heroes are often not the ones who fought but those who provided refuge for those who could not fight for themselves.
Let's talk moral! Here some of your friends in their own words:
Jimmy Cincinnati 10/23/2017, 2:25:40 PM
Protestants are just as homophobic as Catholics.
Ilene Dover 10/23/2017, 2:30:02 PM
Catholics have fun by molesting young boys, I think
Khorek 10/29/2017, 2:04:28 AM
No he's Hitler it's already been confirmed like 6 times
Khorek 10/29/2017, 2:36:39 AM
@Salty A black,a Jew,and a Mexican walk into a bar The bartender looks up and says"Get the f*** out."
Salty10/29/2017, 2:38:50 AM
Lol @Pink
Goddess 11/19/2017, 2:58:27 AM
But yeah trench coat with shotgun is totally legal
Goddess 11/19/2017, 2:58:31 AM
No license
Khorek 11/19/2017, 6:24:48 AM
Ni66ers don't exist.
Khorek 11/19/2017, 6:24:52 AM
I've never seen one
Khorek 11/19/2017, 6:24:54 AM
Only on TV
Goddess12/10/2017, 6:25:06 AM
As my Saudi friend always says countries that are run by Muslims always go to shit
Ilene Dover12/14/2017, 5:48:20 AM
I’m sorry, but you’re all f***ing retarded
Do you need some more?
Nice to see you apply "morals" only to your political opponents. That is what I call hypocrisy!
Rosa, since I was the one who brought up the word moral, I assume your comments are aimed at me. If you will reread what I said, I never applied "morals" to anyone, friends or not. Why? Because defining what is moral is not a simple matter of looking in a book for a clear set of rules. As an example from RL, I have friends who are professing conservative Christians who are quick to judge others on the basis of sexuality, or on the issue of abortion, among other things. Some of these people might excuse murders such as this one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnett_Slepian because they may prevent the taking of the lives of the unborn. To me, it is not so simple, especially if you also think it is okay to leave those children already born to grow up in an atmosphere of poverty and violence (and yes, they also support gun rights). They think people who are near and dear to me are going to burn in hell for eternity because they love the wrong people or because they don't believe in the correct God. I guess they must have read different Gospels from what I read.
As for your string of quotations, I will assume that they are all authentic because I am not going to go digging through Discord to verify them; however, they are also all taken out of context. I certainly do not agree with much of what is said there, but without context, I cannot jump to conclusions about what the intention was behind them.
What I can say is that I agree with Niemand that all people are worthy of kindness and respect; however, it is not surprising if human beings find it hard to remain kind and respectful when there are repeated ad hominem attacks launched at them, nor is it surprising if their friends - often people who have known them for years and observed the goodness in them - are sometimes lured into coming to their defense, despite the best of intentions.
Should I now go digging all the personal attacks against me I can find on the Discord?
None of these statements need any context, they speak for themselves.
You were allegedly one of the RC members who voted that I should be banned from the SFP forum. Did you evaluate any evidence, or were you just a "friend" who supports whatever is asked from you?
Why don't you raise your voice now, when max is deleting my shouts in the party feed?
Why don't you raise your voice when people are excluded from the party because having a different political stand?
Why didn't you raise your voice when I was disallowed to take part in our congressional primaries, when even the right to vote for other candidates was taken away from me?
Why don you raise your voice when people call me a cook, psychic ill, autistic, make fun of my sex-life, insult me behind my backs, mob me in order to leave the party, call me a retard...
All I hear is SILENCE!
I find it very difficult to respond. I promised myself and others to use silence as the best way to treat with the problem we have now in SFP to deal with chickenguys and Rosa. Normally I want to give all people a reply when they ask for it. However after several months I don't think responding to their questions isn't resolving the problem. The feud is inly become bigger. When people don't match, a divorce is painful but maybe the less worst solution. I agree with Rose that personal attacks shouldn't be made, that it is good to have a debate with arguments. Sadly I don't think in this case a debate will bring a solution. And I am one of the people that have said to ban chickenguys and Rose from all places that are under the leadership of SFP. The fight has been on to long, too many people leave our party and are lost. For me it is clear that majority of our party doesn't want chickenguys and Rose inside our party and it is with regret that I support that view. But I do support that totally, because as said before there is no other solution for me.
Niemand, this is the first time the SFP bans someone, and then you do it twice on the same day. Have you read our constitution?
What does it say about members that voice their opinion, that is different?
How many people left the party? One or two?
You speak about majority: a majority is not written in stone for all eternity. It can change from month to month. That's why we have elections and that's why they need to be democratic.
Your actions, the action of the RC is a disadvantage for me! You are isolating me in order that my "virus" of freedom doesn't spread among our members. How many are you in the party leadership? A dozen? Not even! And you dare to speak for the majority, after you have "arranged" votes coming outside of the party?
Who is the majority, Niemand?
You and your Discord friends?
The votes that I got were genuine, from party members that didn't join SFP a few days before the PP election!
And I got the support of more then 1/3 of our members.
Do you wanna deny that?
Be assure😛 I WILL NOT LEAVE THE SFP!
I care too much for this party to allow wanna-bes like Max or trolls like Shiloh to destroy it, change it into "just another" T5 party that doesn't stand for anything!
Just watch me!
Opponents are real human beings with their desires, fears and goals. Even when they lost your respect because what has happened it is best to write with respect. What is worthwhile is vulnerable. We cannot achieve a better world when lots of people are left out, or worse bullied or much worse slaughtered.
Every one has had some family and or friends. We must not make their lives miserable or full with regret.
Because we our humans we make mistakes. Nobody is perfect and nobody is only bad.
We can only try to make things better, for us for them for all! It would be nice when we achieve that, but trying and learning is already enough.
The trick here is that it takes a significant amount of self-esteem and self-mastery to be able to stand for the right in the face of violent attacks. Shiloh raises a necessary question about where the breaking point is. I think you are pointing to unconditional love as the goal, but being human, that is more aspirational than actual for most of us. Still, I think you are on the right track.
When she was young, Rosa Parks lived with her grandfather, who was former slave. He slept every night in a rocking chair, holding a shotgun in his arms, ready for when the Klan attacked his house. Rosa slept next to him, on a rug, fully dressed, so that she could run away quickly if need be.
When a biographer asked her why she didn't sleep in her bed instead of on a rug next to her grandfather, she sai😛 "I wanted to see him use that gun."
She was deeply committed to non-violent resistance against white supremacy, but was deeply cognizant of and respectful of the fact that there are breaking points.
In a political debate or fight you should use arguments. it is perfectly acceptable to attack the opponents political views, his platform, call out his actions or hold him responsible for his actions & deeds.
Unacceptable are personal attacks, like I have experienced & am experiencing even now! It's obvious who it does, always the same bunch of people, the SFP troll-brigade! They make references fake about my health & sanity, they discredit my personal life, they fabricate lies, slander me, talk trash behind my back (on Discord mainly) mobb me in order to leave the party & even leave the game. They censor me, delete my feeds, ban me from the forum, don't allow me to candidate myself, take away the freedom to vote in our primaries.
Here you all turn on a blind!
That's hypocrisy!
I gave my word that I won't call anyone an idiot anymore (despite this being not a violation of game rules) & I kept my word.
I'm at peace! are you?
*eye
o7
Is there a peaceful way to play this game? - At one point I might have said yes because years ago when I played this game I rarely fought in battles. I was an economic powerhouse, and employer. But really as this is a war game in the end most everything you do will either be a help or detriment to your ecountry in one way or another. In that fashion you are a part of the wars because you are contributing to the esociety even if you don't actually fight.
The Tubman quote was priceless.
I once avoided the military module, too, (and consider myself a pacifist in RL), but then it seemed necessary to engage more in the military part of the game in order to preserve the autonomy of the small communities I was engaged in. Nevertheless, if you broaden your definition of what is peaceful, I think it is still possible to play the game peacefully. You can play fair. You can treat others, even your "enemies", with respect. You can find joy in learning to know people who come from very different places and backgrounds. Yes, this is a war game, but peace is found within yourself.
I suppose you can associate "peaceful" with "fair". Running with that notion yes I completely agree. Fairness is something we do have control over.
I fight in battles a lot. I see my friends a lot of time on the other side of the battlefield, I have no problem with them. They fight fair for that side. I fight fair for my side. It isn't real life, it is a war game and we need opponents. However we should avoid any hatred and we should respect each other that fights fair.
I concur it is a game in the end, and the point generally to playing a game is for the fun and enjoyment. I learned quickly when I started playing 8 years ago you need to check RL at the door.
I had no intention of commenting on this article, until I saw everyone else doing it.
The only way to play this game peacefully is to not play....