Toy Soldiering
What's true for children is still true for adults: Playing soldier is fun.
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What's true for children is still true for adults: Playing soldier is fun.
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Toy Soldiering
- Thread starter Nick Halme
- Start date
Let's see what war ostensibly offers the young male:
- Camraderie with other like-minded young men
- Clear goals and a sense that what they do has an effect on the world
- A clear sense of "us" versus "them"
- The ability to dominate others in the most blantant and visible way (by killing them)
- The chance to show off and advance (via promotions through the ranks) through physical and mental exertion
Honestly, is it any surprise that the whole thing appeals to young men? It's like we're mentally built for fighting.
- Camraderie with other like-minded young men
- Clear goals and a sense that what they do has an effect on the world
- A clear sense of "us" versus "them"
- The ability to dominate others in the most blantant and visible way (by killing them)
- The chance to show off and advance (via promotions through the ranks) through physical and mental exertion
Honestly, is it any surprise that the whole thing appeals to young men? It's like we're mentally built for fighting.
Rogue Wolf: Excellent points, all of them. Human nature centers largely around social standing and appropriating power, of which war is the primary instrument. It could easily be argued that these are the only reasons war exists.
If we assume that these desires are an inherent part of us, then we should be applauded for finding a harmless medium like a videogame to live out these experiences, rather than taking actual human lives.
If we assume that these desires are an inherent part of us, then we should be applauded for finding a harmless medium like a videogame to live out these experiences, rather than taking actual human lives.
Being military myself, (Mustering out in August) I can understand the writer at what he's getting at. But I joined out of a sense of honor and duty to my country. But yeah, BMTS sucked.
Hell yes we do.WanderFreak said:
Even before humans were sophisticated enough for wars, there was still plenty of man-on-man killing going on. Some of the earliest humans skeletons show evidence that they were <a href='http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1030_031030_icemandeath.html' target=self> murdered by other humans. I have read least one <a href='http://www.amazon.com/Murderer-Next-Door-Mind-Designed/dp/1594200432' target=self>book that describes the different evolutionary adaptations humans have for killing each other, and by extension, going to war.
This aspect of human nature is nearly always ignored or unknown to proponents of "video games cause violence" theories. Humans were murdering, raping, and beating the tar out of each other long before anyone invented Chess, much less video games.The Rogue Wolf said:
Now that I think about it, Chess is really just an abstract war game. <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaS2bRGS86c' target=self>We like war!
Good little piece. Well made shooters can be brilliant games, excitement, camaraderie in team matches, and if you win victory and acclaim amongst friends. Some of my most exciting moments have been in shooters, that and martial arts. I find, once you really get into a shooter, reactions of course go up, but you can find yourself trying almost anything to get the edge. Apparent suicide? Don't worry, I have a plan.
Any shooter with traps also adds to the fun. Judging from his shots outside, is he in this room or is there a bomb behind the door? Is it both? Proceed with caution young make-believe soldier.
Any shooter with traps also adds to the fun. Judging from his shots outside, is he in this room or is there a bomb behind the door? Is it both? Proceed with caution young make-believe soldier.