BB45 – Have a Proper Gander
In a socially-driven game environment such as EVE Online’s, everyone has an agenda. CCP promotes its products and has an army of volunteers to do the same; corporations and alliances deliver entertaining recruitment drives, CSM election candidates solicit for voter favour, bloggers and podcasters opine to their audiences.
In this intricate web of communication, influence and control, what part does propaganda play in your game?
Hi All,
This has been a bit of a tangled one for me because, at the heart of it all, I really dislike being told what to think or how to feel. Television and, more to the point, advertising I find incredibly intrusive, so much so I have essentially stopped watching it.
BUY THIS! IT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PERSON AND YOU WILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF!
PURCHASE THAT! BE THE ENVY OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS (it will make you a better person and you will feel good about yourself…)!!!!
WHY BUY JUST WHAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU CAN BUY THE MAXIMUM HYPERBLASTER EXTRA SPECIAL MEGA SIZE NOW WITH 25% EXTRA – FREE (it will make you a better person….)!??!?!?!!!
Propaganda for me is not that dissimilar: WE ARE GREAT! LOG ON FOR EASY KILLS! FLY WITH YOUR FRIENDS!! LAUGH AT YOUR ENEMIES IN LOCAL AND BATHE IN THE ABUNDANT TEARS!!!
Yeah, no. Tell me the truth. Give me the facts and let me make my own decisions. So to the point, what does propaganda play in my game? Well, apart from helping to hone my bullshit detector, not much at all apart from trying to be aware of the depth of the spin, mis and disinformation.
For those that don’t what a gander is, it basically means take a look. Have a proper gander means taking a long hard look at something (and then a damn good think).
To quote a certain movie “Life is pain Highness. Anyone saying differently is selling something”.
FS
H
P.S – Cynical? Who, me…? 😛
Aggressive Logistics 
You? Cynical? Inconceivable!
I have developed a severe allergy to propaganda so its probably lucky for me that I can’t hear well enough to make normal television etc watchable. As far as EvE goes, much to my chagrin I actually said no to playing for several years despite X’s best efforts so I sincerely doubt anything else would have gotten me to try 😛
25th anniversary of PB last year oO
Shoulda joined when he started. But still, with your focus and a bit of guidance from us, you’re at least as effective as we more, shall we say, eclectic bods? 😛
X kept me in the game when I was damned tempted to give it away too, back right at the beginning… so you’re not the only one 🙂
yeah I know… how is that even possible? Was funny actually as I just watched it on the weekend for the first time in ages. Had to, found out K and his kids had never seen it! (or Firefly, Farscape, BSG etc etc) Slowly dragging them over to the geek way of life 🙂 though explaining my “huge tracts of land” t-shirt to a 7 year old was interesting.
I know I “should have” but since when did that factor in what I do? I do regret holding off but at least I got to benefit from all your mistakes…errr… wisdom 🙂 and back then UO had me firmly in its grasp. Need to organize another blow ’em up night SOON! I has things to celebrate and all and what better way than explosions?
Your countdown must be getting down to the wire yes?
Sounds like a plan 🙂
Three weeks to go on Weds…. >gulp!<
Even by using it as a BS filter, propaganda still serves a purpose for you, therefore making it an effective mechanism. Trust me. It will make you a better person.
Awww…. I dunno there Roc. I’ve kind of made peace with my quirks and foibles now. You get to a certain age and you become a lot more accepting.
Wiser? Perhaps. Better, well…. not quite so sure about that 🙂