Role-Playing Environments

Up to about an hour ago, i was looking forward to getting on-line eventually and taking part in the upcoming Marvel superhero MMORPG. I wanted to be a part of that well-built and distinct 'universe' that comprises Marvel and its creations. But now, an hour later, I am thinking I will probably look at it, but remain with City of Heroes. Why the change of apparent heart?

It comes down to that marvelously rich and distinct 'universe' that comprises Marvel and its creations. The world is so definitively crafted, that instead of being part, and feeling like a major part in the ongoing storylines, I cannot see myself as being anything other than a background for the established Marvel superheros and villains. The world is already so well established that although Marvel may make room for me, I am not certain that I would ever feel a part of anything within their game other than a background piece.

City of Heroes on the other hand, is a very loosely defined place where the heroes, at least to this point, are what makes the tapestry, not the established heroes. Those heroes that are here are well hidden away from the me that I feel as if my actions do constitute a lynch-pin on which certain adventures swivel on. Here, because of the vagueness of the world, I do feel as part of the front line.

I am uncertain how Marvel can address this, but we will see when their universe goes on-line.

And the World changed

September 11, 2001 is one of those days that everyone whom it touched will remember exactly where they were when they got word about what happened. I had just come out of the shower and flipped on the radio, when the news sounded out from it. I think I stood there for a good 30 seconds trying to imagine what was going on before I dressed quickly and went to turn on the television, and saw the twin towers on fire, and their eventual collapse.

That collapse also brought down the notion that security was an individual choice. In rapid and, to my mind at least, hysterical reaction to the tragedy, the Patriot act was passed and the office of Homeland Security established. We declared war on Al-Qaiada, and invaded their stronghold in afghanistan, and righteously kicked ass and took names. It seemed the war against Al-Qaiada was working. Then Iraq became a target, based upon the sketchy evidence that Iraq had nukes and there was the impression that they were willing to use them, or, sell them to Al-Qaiada who would use them on us.

So that you can make your own informed opinion, here is a site weighing pros and cons.

patriot act - pros and cons




We went to war with Iraq and again righteously kicked ass. But what abou Afghanistan? We were still there, but now the supplies needed were split between two objectives, seemingly a two-front war. If Hitler taught us anything, it is that you fight one war at at time, and FINISH IT. There has to be a priority, and now the question to me became, was Iraq a legitimate step in that war, or Bush Jr. wanting to fix Bush Sr. mistake in Iraq. and save family face at the expense of the war against terrorism? I honestly think it was the latter, and our war became a personal vendetta vs. a true attempt at finishing Al-Qaiada. The war needs to be done. No other option in my mind. You kill civilians, you ARE a terrorist, and you should be hunted down like a rabid animal and put down with extreme prejudice. That is what needs to be done. However, we have committed to this two-front situation, and they are needed to be resolved.

I think Bush was truly either an idiot for steping into Iraq BEFORE finishing Afghanistan, or terribly misinformed and his cabinet then blew the call with their terribly mistaken judgment. But we are there now and second-guessing does not change the world back to the way it was. Here in America, the office of homeland security is constantly monitoring internet traffic trying to catch terrorists before they can cause more pain. The patriot act gives the government more ability to tell us what's good for us, whether we like it or not, and slowly I am seeing a police-state mentality beginning to form where honest discourse and argument is treated as a threat to the government.

This is something that Al-Qaiada has given us, and this, in my mind is the worst thing. America was founded on the idea of democracy and that the individual was responsible for his own welfare. We support the government as our collective voice, but we are more and more it seems, being told what to say and how to say it. I may be wrong, and I will gladly apologize for my stand if there is evidence and data proffered that proves my suspicions and accusations false. But until then, I have said what I feel and what I believe.