Sephira Galamore
Evolution of the Mind
Luna Sanguinem
2
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Posted - 2011.11.15 16:32:00 -
[1] - Quote
I think I know a pretty nice comparison (sorry if someone else already posted that)...
Let's say Eve Online is not only a tiny sandbox but a huge beach.
On a beach, the sand and the water belong to no one and are near infinite resources.
Now say, some ppl build sand castles, some even create some amazing art (eg. http://writinginsand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/sandartbeach1.jpg).
Those people know that their creations won't last forever, some unexpected wave might carry it away or the beach cleaning staff might flatten it in the morning.
Yet, there is still a certain degree of attachment. You put effort and time into it, created something nice. Maybe other people will enjoy it aswell, while it lasts.
Now the beach might get crowded, and ppl want to use the space for their towels, or other artists want to use the space. So they destroy it. This is not done with the intent to cause grief, merely for some actual - maybe egoistic but quite valid - reason and not just to be a jerk.
Others might run into it by accident or unwillingly throw their frisbee into it. **** happens.
But then there comes some idiot and just lashes his surfboard onto the sand castle, laughs at your dissapointed face and walks off into the water.
Now back to Eve..
If you kill/pod/scam/.. someone just for the sake of causing grief and sorrow, then you are no different than the jerk at the beach. Yes it is allowed, yes it's just pixels/sand, but still, it was uncalled for and showed your true character.
There is no difference between 'ingame morale' and RL morale. You are you, and just because the rules allow you to do certain things, it is still you who has to make the decision to actually do it.
While overattachment to virtual internet spaceships aswell as fragile sand castles isn't exactly wise, it happens frequently. Griefer/Bullies/whatever you call it make use of this fact to satisfy their sadistic/sociophobic urges. Or why else would they, even - or rather especially - when they know someone is overattached, do the deed?
And just as a disclaimed kinda, in case the comparsion above wasn't clear on that:
All other kinds of PvP.. for ISK gain, political gain, sov gain, or whatsnot are totally reasonable, just like killing someone in CS or slaying a queen in chess.
If your goal is to become wealthy or influential, alright, there's nothing inherently imoral about that. But if your goal in Eve is to cause other players grief, then there is.
Some now might say that the intention doen't matter, the deed is still the same. But that is quite wrong. If I get killed because someone was interested in some faction module of mine, or something in my cargohold, I would indeed feel better than if he just laughed his ass of as my ship vanishs in an explosion. That e.g. is why I also feel ambivalent regarding the Ice Interdiction. I actually wonder what the actual goal is, as I really doubt it's just the 'lols'. Also I'm curious where it's gonna lead. So, no complaints there, Goons :p |