Re: How to explain "simulationism"

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:13:37 -0700, gleichman wrote:

> On Apr 14, 9:46 pm, psychohist <psychoh...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> Any suggestions on how to explain the issues here?

> Given how difficult it's been here and in other places online to to get
> people to understand Simulation, I think you may find the task near
> impossible. I wish the best for your wife.
> 
> If it were me, I'd make my best effort to explain things in simple non-
> jargon like terms. I think it may be worth taking not a simulation a
> PoV, but rather a game one- that the ball is played where it lies.
> That's more understandable I think and still gets the point across.

When it's hard to get a point across it's useful to try and see things 
from a PoV as close as possible to the person you are trying to convince. 
If that person looks at things in a story oriented way, then it might 
help to explain the benefits that simulation has on the narrative. This 
is not the same thing as explaining what simulation is, but I think it 
would help create understanding. 

The most obvious example that comes to mind, would be that you have 
trouble believing in a setting/story/character in the long run who keeps 
on experiencing events guided by story concern (and therefore turning out 
different from what would happen in a more simulation driven game). 
(verisimilitude). This group has much history on the subject. 

Another might be that, it helps to surprise the storyteller with 
unexpected twists to the plot thus making the story more exciting for 
him/her.

Just in case I'm stating the obvious I'll leave it at this. Good luck

Lynn.