Authoritarianism

Used to be addicted to Diablo II. Then quit. Then got back to it with the new patch 1.10. Quit again with the death of Troglodyte, my werebear-druid. Used to play Utopia for some time. I was wondering whether I should go back to it again. Seems though that even when I try to make this an unpolitical blog, annoying politics are everywhere. The game site had a big ad in the middle of the page, not even a discreet banner, leading to this anti-drug-fascists propaganda site, giving some "advices" for parents. Right.

• Monitor what your kids are watching on TV.
• Monitor their use of the Internet.
• Put restrictions on CDs they buy.
• Know where your kids are after school and during weekends.
• Be told the truth about your teenager's whereabouts.
• Be aware of your teenager's academic performance.
• Impose a curfew.
• Make it clear that you would be ''extremely upset'' if your teen used Marijuana.
• Eat dinner with your teen six or seven nights a week.
• Turn the TV off during dinner.
• Assign regular chores for your teen.
• Have an adult present when the teen comes home from school.

What we see here is exactly the same way of thinking that, applied to a state, is totalitarianism. The link between the two seems quite obvious. I have trouble imagining someone ready to play big brother on his kids but reluctant to make the state do the same. Furthermore, educating kids in an authoritarian way, rejecting personal responsibility, will eventually raise irresponsible citizens, who, once adults, without their parents telling them what to do anymore, will turn expectantly to the state.

Anyhow. Guess I won't be playing Utopia after all, if the game organizers are accomplices with those kind of people.

2004-05-01