OT: Politics - Page 2

johnarryn · #1 May 11th, 2007, 10:27 PM

Umber Hulks are clearly thinly-disguised representations of Dick Cheney. Clear as day. Gygax is obviously part of an anti-Bush conspiracy.

MaxWilson · #2 May 11th, 2007, 10:38 PM

Gygax may not have been big on politics, but a sure sign of a Gygax reader is an encyclopedaic knowledge of polearms.

-Max

Teraswaerto · #3 May 12th, 2007, 05:35 AM

Quote:

UncleYee said:
If we are, why? Tolkien, who if I understand it denied that his writings had an overt political leanings, none the less painted a very simple black and white world. Though it had a much warmer heart, in a way LotR presents choices as simply as that 300 movie; war is the the choice of the valiant, talk of peace comes from traitors and fools. This is a very right-wing way to evaluate the world, and is still the message coming from our US President.

In Middle-earth Sauron is evil and the orcs are evil. When there are wars or killing between the free peoples (such as the civil war in Gondor, elven kinslayings during the First Age) those who want peace are not traitors or fools.

There are no orcs in the real world, and no Dark Lord. Some people may behave in bad ways, but they are still human. The same is true in Tolkien's writings, the men serving the Dark Lord (be it Sauron or Morgoth) have been coerced or deceived, the struggle is in part to free them from the darkness.

Dedas · #4 May 12th, 2007, 07:35 AM

The biggest burden is on the shoulders of every man; to throw down the ring of war into one's own fire where it once was created, not to use its power. As it is bound to corrupt and consume even the strongest mind, leading it on a path unintended; the killing of one's brother and ultimately the destruction of oneself.

Arralen · #5 May 12th, 2007, 08:46 AM

Well said.

Gandalf Parker · #6 May 12th, 2007, 02:21 PM

I agree. Nicely put.

Beorne · #7 May 12th, 2007, 02:32 PM

I think I contributed to this nice thread saying "US is a weird place" ... I'm not against US, but you have a strange set of values from european eyes. Only strange, that is like contradicting. We in Italy are very contradicting too, but in a different way. So you appear me very strange. Some examples? I dont want to be thrown off 'cause starting a flame war, and my english grasp is not enough good to argue in an abstract way.

RamsHead · #8 May 12th, 2007, 02:37 PM

When you are American, everyone is strange, especially your own countrymen.

TwoBits · #9 May 12th, 2007, 03:16 PM

What's the point of starting up something like this? Seems it's just gonna make folks angry for no good reason.

I mean, we've all got cultural differences, but I doubt a political thread in a game forum is the best way to understand them.

Heck, we're all strange, each in our own special way. Arguing about Iraq or global warming here ain't going to accomplish much but cause bad feelings.

I know, I don't need to post here, or read what's posted here. But maybe that should go for everybody. Viva la differance, or whatever it is the French say (those darn dirty Frogs - crap, see what happens when you start a political thread?).

HoneyBadger · #10 May 12th, 2007, 03:02 PM

I like that this kind of thread is showing up. Yes, the thought of politics mixing with our fantasy escape can be a bit depressing, but it's also a good sign that we're evolving as a community, not just in relation to the game, but in relation to ourselves.

Yes it does belong here, and I hope it stays. I'll contribute what I can to keep it a civil conversation with aspirations of enlightenment, but truly, this is an example of free speech and free will. Please try to understand that such things are in real danger in the times we live in (as they always have been).

Free speech isn't a right, it's a privelage, it's one of the benefits of 500 years of bloodshed and sacrifice, and the will and strength found in the weakest, poorest, most prosecuted of people to both stand against the entire world, and change the world. Good people, people you would have liked, died for it, in droves. It's really, *really* important, and it should be protected and held sacred as a big part of what makes life worth living.

The public domain of the world will never be exactly the way you or I want it to be, and that's beautiful. If you don't like it, have the willpower to either change the channel or change your mind. Freedom comes with those kinds of choices and the responsibility to make them.

The trade-off is that, here in the U.S. you have as good a chance as anywhere in the world of living your private life exactly the way you want to.