Video Games Hangouts
EtcetEra Hangouts
Trending

It's fascinating to me how a gamer could believe in free will

BoJack

BoJack

Banned
Apr 4, 2018
2,716
Because all we do as gamers is controlling a character or something that has no power to control itself. We see countless worlds that were made by devs and we play in those worlds as creatures who - probably - are not aware of their situations at all, but we ignore the fact that we could also be in some kinda simulation that we're not aware of. We could be that dumb NPC who is so dumb that it can't understand how dumb and clueless it is. We could be Arthur Morgan and see the world as a protagonist and think things matter but they don't.

Look, it not a drunk or stoned or a simulation theory thread. It's just insane to me that most gamers are so sure of the world they're living in. And especially those pretentious and righteous ones. Those who are condescending to people that are participating in dumb things like console wars or even horrible things like racism and think they don't do that because they "wanted" to and they're are so good because they chose to and therefore have the rights to blame, and judge "bad" or "stupid" people. It's honestly weird how blindfolded humans could be, even if they see things all the time.
 
Magic Mushroom

Magic Mushroom

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,167
I find it weird that anybody could believe in free will to be fair, the whole concept doesn't make a lick of sense.
 
Mediking

Mediking

Member
Oct 25, 2017
16,195
St. Louis City, Missouri aka Persona 3's Dorm
BoJack said:
we ignore the fact that we could also be in some kinda simulation that we're not aware of. We could be that dumb NPC who is so dumb that it can't understand how dumb and clueless it is. We could be Arthur Morgan and see the world as a protagonist and think things matter but they don't.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
???? I’m confused... are you implying what I think you’re implying? Like we’re in the Matrix or controlled or something?
 
Azurik

Azurik

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
Banned
Nov 5, 2017
2,441
No, no. It's too early, or too late for the usual era weekend threads
 
Doc Kelso

Doc Kelso

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,917
NYC
BoJack said:
Look, it not a drunk or stoned or a simulation theory thread. It's just insane to me that most gamers are so sure of the world they're living in. And especially those pretentious and righteous ones. Those who are condescending to people that are participating in dumb things like console wars or even horrible things like racism and think they don't do that because they "wanted" to and they're are so good because they chose to and therefore have the rights to blame, and judge "bad" or "stupid" people. It's honestly weird how blindfolded humans could be, even if they see things all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Are you actually saying we shouldn't judge people for being racist because maybe they're programmed to be that way or something?
 
pikachief

pikachief

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,899
Are you implying that people who say racist things may not have chosen to say racist things but instead someone else made them say it?
 
ajido

ajido

Member
Dec 7, 2018
492
Sure, we *could* be in a game as npcs, but the only evidence I can go off of is the data I’m presented with every day. I see no evidence that I’m being controlled by someone. Do you have any?
 
jacktuar

jacktuar

One Winged Slayer
Member
Sep 19, 2020
2,929
As a gamer I feel like I’m pretty well placed to tell the difference between a game and reality.
 
lt519

lt519

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,809
BoJack said:
Those who are condescending to people that are participating in dumb things like console wars or even horrible things like racism and think they don't do that because they "wanted" to and they're are so good because they chose to and therefore have the rights to blame, and judge "bad" or "stupid" people.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
This sure is a take, holy hell. Let's not call-out racist people because they may not have free-will and it'd be condescending to do so?
 
PKrockin

PKrockin

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,628
I control characters that can use magic in video games a lot, so should I think magic exists? This doesn't follow. My lack of belief in free will has nothing to do with video games and everything to do with causality and the need for some rock solid evidence for some kind of supernatural causality-defying force better than "but I FEEL like..." before accepting it.
 
Rayman not Ray

Rayman not Ray

Member
Feb 27, 2018
1,350
Oh boy. Not sure it's worth engaging, but this post is so riddled with fallacies that I couldn't stay away.

First of all, video game AI is nowhere near the point where we should feel existentialist terrified about our own existence. Even if we are in a simulation, we are not a bunch of NPCs following incredibly simplistic routines.

Second, there is no reason to believe that, even in a deterministic universe, the idea of free will is incoherent, especially in regards to moral responsibility.

Third, it sounds like you're confusing whatever personal emotional experience you're having, that is valid, with some kind of coherent view of the universe. If I were you, I'd think about why you feel the way you do instead of jumping right into dumb fake ass philosophy.
 
Ferrio

Ferrio

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,177
Sorry I won't fault you for this horrible thread OP, you were always destined to make it.
 
OP
OP
BoJack

BoJack

Banned
Apr 4, 2018
2,716
pikachief said:
Are you implying that people who say racist things may not have chosen to say racist things but instead someone else made them say it?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Take the best human in history, and take the worst one too. All I'm saying is they had nothing to do with who they're. I'm not saying bad people are not bad.
 
Hexa

Hexa

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,102
I technically agree with you in general but I have no idea what you're getting at with the comparisons between real life and games.
 

MadeULook

Avenger
Oct 27, 2017
1,667
Washington State
You lost me at not judging people for being racist assholes. Your trying to tell me that people are racist because that is what they are programmed to be?

I hope I'm misunderstanding something here.
 
PKrockin

PKrockin

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,628
BoJack said:
No. I say bad people were just unlucky. You could be stupid or racist or harmful if you're unlucky.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Regardless, punishing someone for their behavior still works. It doesn't matter if they made a decision partially through a magical free will force. Their environment influences their decisions, and pressuring people to not be racist by creating a racism-unfriendly environment works to change their behavior.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.