Re: mechanics of surprise

On Mar 6, 8:08 am, John Morrow <mor...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Tue, 6 Mar 2007, Thomas Lindgren wrote:
> > In that case, I'd say it's by far better to point this out
> > ("sophistry" is a less incendiary term that still conveys your point,
> > by the way) and agree to disagree.  Godwinizing the discussion seldom
> > if ever helps.
>
> As I said in an earlier reply, I thought it was pretty clear that I
wasn't
> calling Neel a racist, nor do I think I was saying that his particular
> argument was racist (he was talking about PCs and NPCs).  Apparently
that
> distinction has been lost on just about everyone.  In retrospect, it was
> probably not an argument worth trying to make.

Not knowing John's mind on this, but looking at the exchange somewhat
dispassionately...

....the idea occurs that not all Godwinizing is undeserved. After all
to someone who takes the concept of NPC = PC to heart, the idea of
playing mind games with that relation****p as suggested may in fact
strike similar emotional chords.

After all, I've certainly had my game's use of Orcs and the like
called racist online before, and myself by extension directly so
labeled as well. Why not point out that a NPC <> PC distinction
strikes one as racist logic when it does so? Why is the former treated
with a degree of acceptance in most circles, while the latter is
dismissed as an unworthy attack?

A rather interesting question that.