tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49664763117607322982023-11-16T02:54:45.855-08:00The ramblings of a mad man.My thoughts, opinions and angry rants on whatever takes my fancy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-56393954353569907182016-06-23T23:23:00.000-07:002016-06-23T23:23:45.442-07:00The Brexit.<div data-contents="true">
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="88vpd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="88vpd-0-0"><span data-text="true">Just a short post of my thoughts right now. </span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="88vpd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="88vpd-0-0"><span data-text="true"> </span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="88vpd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="88vpd-0-0"><span data-text="true">Referendum over and both sides are still EQUALLY insufferable.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="68qek-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="68qek-0-0"><span data-text="true">I'm a political guy. I like policy, I like debate, I like *argument*</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1pgng-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1pgng-0-0"><span data-text="true">What I don't like is the vicious vitriol and bigotry of both damn sides.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b8iu1-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="b8iu1-0-0"><span data-text="true">We were choosing which kind of turd to have in our sandwich, not between superman and superhitler.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dh7f3-0-0">
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eghiv-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="eghiv-0-0"><span data-text="true">The fact that one of the evils was picked over the other doesn't make half of the country racists.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3bbl8-0-0">
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dk012-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dk012-0-0"><span data-text="true">The fact one side got 52% of the vote does not magically invalidate the opinion of the 48% (this is literally within a statistical margin of error, it's not a landslide, it's not a mandate)</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d2dng-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d2dng-0-0"><span data-text="true">Nor the spoiled ballots or fence sitters. (turnout was very good, but still only 70%+)</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="285ng-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="285ng-0-0"><span data-text="true">We've taken a leap as a nation.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1igsj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1igsj-0-0"><span data-text="true">It could go badly.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dlciu-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dlciu-0-0"><span data-text="true">It might not.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="84n10-0-0">
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="mb9c-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="mb9c-0-0"><span data-text="true">Staying in the EU is more safe, absolutely.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="80fai-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="80fai-0-0"><span data-text="true">Safety may not always be an appropriate motive.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6p31k-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cvv9h-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cvv9h-0-0"><span data-text="true">Lets just have some more humanity people.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d7f2h-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d7f2h-0-0"><span data-text="true">The world hasn't ended, we've not magically shifted away from Europe geographically.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3jjn5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3jjn5-0-0"><span data-text="true">Even if you think another person was wrong, quit assuming malice!</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="mbdu-0-0"><span data-text="true">/rant</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-82543549022867351212016-06-02T07:41:00.002-07:002016-06-02T07:50:34.021-07:00Free speech is a left wing, liberal AND conservative ideal. Anything else is a betrayal of those values.<span class="displaytext">How can this be so? How can a position fought over so constantly be something that politics across the spectrum agrees on?</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">I would suggest, rather easily.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="displaytext">Too often there are hypocrites that wish freedom for their own thoughts, belief and expression that do not extend those rights to others.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">Too often people are willing to compromise rights they make no use of for comforts that do not need.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">This is not a partisan behaviour, because awful (or ignorant) people will justify these positions with whatever rhetoric is preferred within their ideological bubble.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">The Right will talk of patriotism, security, traditional values, protection of children and appeals to authority or tradition.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">The Left will talk of safety, of compassion and progress. Lately they will talk about the protection of women and minorities (even above that of children)</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">You can not justify abandoning principle by invoking a motive. If you abandon your principles, you no longer hold those principles. Your motive does not matter.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext"><br /></span>
<span class="displaytext">We often hear of how the regressive left is stifling free expression and suppressing conservative thought so I won't detail that. It is easily found just about anywhere rationality is promoted.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">I will however suggest that the right has not suddenly abandoned its history of similar behaviour. Fox News was FOUNDED on this kind of propagandist thinking and still prospers.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="displaytext">In discussions about how bad SJWs are you will find people unironically calling to limit, censor or ban left wing ideas as a whole or in part.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">Most telling here is the notion that money equals speech. A brand new "conservative principle" that likely has historical Republicans (and other conservatives) spinning in their graves.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">We have free speech campaigners that themselves engage in the rhetoric and practice of suppressing opposition when it comes to criticism of the modern system.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="displaytext">In short, it is my belief that repression of speech and rampant income inequality are simply two branches from the tree of despair our culture seems to have found shade beneath. Each branch, sprout twig and leaf declares itself the lesser evil, even as they all feed the same trunk.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">We see speech restricted gleefully on behalf of "progressives" by private and government interests that broadly oppose left wing values.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">Why would this be?</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">Because they are trading nothing of value to achieve an end they prefer. They make no concessions, the blame is placed with their "political opponents" and they prosper as any genuine political opposition is usurped by identity politics fauxgressivism.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="displaytext">I do not think their prosperity will last, just as I think regressives will keep haemorrhaging support. Both sides seem intent on attacking the public with various justification.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">I would call to mind this quote;</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="displaytext"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="displaytext">"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable" - JFK</span></div>
<span class="displaytext"><br /></span>
<span class="displaytext">This goes for both sides.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">The left continues to attack everyone for not being pure enough. Pure enough what? Well, with identity politics there is no metric. You must be what you are needed to be at this moment, or you fail. Once you fail, you can never be redeemed.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">The right continues to suggest any deviation from their economic dogma is treason. That economic dogma is pretty much; do what donors want, lower taxes on the rich and cut public spending, except on military contracts. (that's always what is meant with military spending, the soldiers and veterans are never the focus)</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">Eventually something will give. I can only hope both sides get BTFO.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext"><br /></span>
<span class="displaytext">I surely hope that my brothers and sisters across party lines and political affiliation can come to recognise the problems as universal, rather than playing the game of "who is worse"</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">In that game I just point to the fact no right wingers are in prison for their beliefs and remind everyone that McCarthyism is alive and well in some (many) political circles. When "socialism" and "liberalism" can be discussed without vitriol in America, then the damage will have been undone. Until then, regressives are amateurs by comparison.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext"><br /></span>
<span class="displaytext">Do not let your disagreements cloud your judgement on issues.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">When you agree on an issue, then agree to unite in that cause.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">Only then can we accomplish anything.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext">Partisan posturing and dogmatic rhetoric serve no purpose but to undermine a cause. Just look at the Occupy movement.</span><br />
<span class="displaytext"><br /></span>
<span class="displaytext">I just wanted to end with another left wing message, another quote, this one from Teddy Roosevelt</span><i><b> </b></i>(you know, the Republican. Because they used to be the left wing in America, for the MANY Americans that are politically illiterate and wilfully ignorant)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="displaytext">"We heartily approve of the prosperity, no matter how great, of any man if it comes from his rendering service to the community." - Teddy Roosevelt</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="displaytext"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="displaytext">The political wings often differ in design and policy. Not intent.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="displaytext">Socialists and other left wingers want to ensure individual liberty, freedom and achievement by merit.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="displaytext">The same or similar values as those on the right and in the centre.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="displaytext">We just think those things can only be ensured by different methods than you prefer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="displaytext">When it comes to free speech and expression, I would hope that is one method we can all agree upon.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-43776258898391174112016-05-29T23:56:00.000-07:002016-05-29T23:56:00.514-07:00Everyone hates me therefore I'm right!<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Is an utterly retarded position I see more and more people adopting.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">You are not a special snowflake.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Your beliefs, however unique, still fall loosely within a category that can be easily defined for political discussion.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">If you do not understand this, it is not the fault of political philosophy. It is a fault of your personal ignorance.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">First understand; There is no right and wrong.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Sensible people can and do disagree. We each have our own set of experiences, upbringing and education that informs our imperfect, incomplete perception of reality.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">You can have a perfectly valid, justified and functional world view predicated broadly on left wing values or right wing values. There is a wealth of variety on both sides too.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">You can even be centrist.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Centrist does not mean you disagree with both sides, so much as you cherry pick positions from both sides and are moderate. If you strongly disagree with both sides, you aren't a centrist, you're a cunt. And possibly a hipster.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Being PROUD that you are hated by everyone for public statements you make is not a sign of your independence.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">It is a sign of a lack of convictions.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">If people on both sides hate what you say, examine your arguments.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Ensure you are consistent.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Ensure that you are factual.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Do not use disagreement as proof of validity.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">With that said, I should admit that I
piss everyone off.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">I'm a socialist that spends most his time arguing
against the regressive left (and have done for YEARS before that term
came around, I preferred my own "fauxgressives" :<)<br />The right hate me just for existing and not letting them get away with constant hypocrisy.<br />Too often I'm engaged in fights on the left that are gleefully join by right wing commenters that are every bit as guilty as those they criticise.<br /><br />The thing is, I don't LIKE pissing anyone off.<br />I'm basically a fucking hippy.<br />I
want everyone to get along, I think we all share more common ground
than most appreciate and most of all, I think people that "like to piss
both sides off" make everything worse.<br />This
is literally the definition of a troll, and yet I hear it claimed as
proof of some moral high ground, as if it is proof of being correct.<br />The last is even more galling.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">I do not gauge the value of my ideas by the response they receive. Negative or positive, the ideas exist irrespective of opinions made about them.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">If I am unable to defend my ideas, then I have bad arguments. I must either find better arguments or abandon the idea as untenable.<br />That is the path to being right.<br />Not simply declaring oneself the arbiter of truth. Not clinging to dogma.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Only by examining our beliefs and abandoning those we cant adequately defend do we ever arrive at truth.<br /><br />Too often I find people excusing or justifying their opinions with the bad reactions they inspire.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">If they are demonstrably incorrect, but are insulted in response, they simply cling more firmly to the self delusion. They focus on offence, rather than examining arguments.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">I get it, the left are sometimes reactionary and blind to their own faults. Left wing advocacy can often include base manipulation of emotional responses. I'm a sucker for it, but I know it's happening. <br />The right tend to be insular and attack any deviation in thought (this has become endemic on the left VERY recently with regressives, who have apparently abandoned the lessons taken from the communist regimes as criticised by Orwell)</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">So yes. Both sides DO engage in ridiculous behaviour in response to being questioned or criticised.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">It doesn't automatically invalidate what they're saying though.<br />Sometimes people can both be correct AND utter arseholes.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Totally possible.<br /><br />I most often see this crap invoked by political centrists that have allied themselves with regressives in the media (who I firmly believe are also political centrists)</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">The "far left" and "far right" are blamed for the consequences of rhetoric and activism pushed most often by cliques of neoliberals for their own benefit.<br />They will claim to oppose the behaviour and cite the "extremists" as their opponents, but will generally not provide examples. Mostly because that would reveal massive hypocrisy, ignorance and most amusingly, that the culprits are their ideological peers. Not the "extremes"</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">I think the most clear example of this is with feminism.<br />Many feminists in the media and activism consider themselves moderate, centrist and reasonable.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">They fail to display any of these qualities in detectable amounts. <br />They blame extremists for the bad name feminism has gained (both within feminism, and opponents of feminism)<br />Meanwhile, they engage in or excuse all of the worst behaviour, rhetoric and activism that is supposed be the fault of those extremists.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">They then fall back on the classic argument of "I'm right because everyone hates me"<br /><br />Now before a reader mistakes my contempt here with hate or intolerance; I routinely declare that there is
nothing WRONG with any particular position. Spent the first part of this post saying as much.<br />Disagreements are not only inevitable, they're absolutely necessary.<br />More than that, people should be ALLOWED to be wrong.<br />The only thing that should matter is conduct.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">If there is no abuse, no violence and no call to violence, we should tolerate it.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">If there are shared values, those should be celebrated.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">If there is (morally sound) compromise to be reached, it should be embraced.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-90319670132984445852016-05-27T01:29:00.001-07:002018-05-25T08:33:27.079-07:00WTF is Socialism. (a ramble)Socialism.<br />
That most controversial of subjects.... in the US.<br /><br />
Outside of the US and ex-Soviet nations (which is at least understandable) socialism is perfectly ordinary.<br />
People still disagree, criticise and object. Some of that is ignorant, some is sensible, but at the VERY least there is not the knee jerk response of suggesting socialism is an extremist position.<br /><br />
It saddens me that a nation that calls itself the land of the free has essentially attempted an embargo on ideas for nearly 5 decades. A suppression of a valid political philosophy that has resulted in an alternative reliance on identity politics and the dominance of regressive, hypocritical and often nonsensical positions by "progressives"<br /><br />It's a shameful state of affairs no "freedom loving" individual should tolerate.<br />
I for one believe in political pluralism. All ideas MUST be represented, MUST be heard.<br />Any other option is intellectually dishonest.<br />
This means hearing from nationalists, isolationists, abolitionists, republicans, conservatives, libertarians and more. And yes, it also means hearing from liberals, socialists and even, shock horror, communists.<br />
Only by shining a light on ideas can we demonstrate which are good and which are bad. Which work, and which are reliant on a monopoly to function.<br />
<br />
But with all this said, what <b>is </b>socialism?<br />
The answer is both very simple and ridiculously complicated.<br />
<br />
Socialism arose with the Industrial Revolution.<br />
As agrarian lifestyles were uprooted by modernisation and workers moved into cities to find work, employers were able to leverage an essentially captive workforce. This is the irrefutable nature of capitalism and I do not know how modern conservatives cant admit as much as they desperately try to unshackle business and openly praise this market force.<br />
Workers were mistreated, underpaid, overworked and yes even oppressed. They were paid precisely what the market allowed for, which was a wage depressed by desperation, population and lack of (but growing) demand.<br />
And so socialists objected. They saw this degradation and could not justify it morally.<br />
Many of these early socialists were committed Christians and driven by their faith; by the sure belief in the nobility of man, especially the working man. A sentiment routinely expressed by todays conservatives.<br />
<br />
But people must always bear in mind historical context.<br />
These socialists were not protesting against modern capitalism with its convenience, its service industry, its worker compensation.<br />
They lived in a world without these things.<br />
A world without an upper limit on mandated work hours (Sunday was reserved for church, but otherwise work days were long with no holidays, even unpaid)<br />The wages were low. Subsistence level. Some employers would even pay in vouchers only redeemable from the company store.<br />
There was no welfare, no pension (or retirement), hazardous child labour and no health and safety. Unions were unheard of and collective bargaining ruthlessly suppressed both by law & with violence.<br />
The population also could not vote, in many nations men were subject to conscription and there was little legal protection for the general public (the first professional police force was founded in 1822)<br />
It was a time before telecommunications (of any kind), no commercial cars, no aeroplanes. Even electrical lighting was a fanciful new invention and didn't see widespread use until the late 1800s.<br /><br />
Can you HONESTLY imagine this world? As a real place, not a fiction?<br />
If you cant, why are you judging the writing of men from this time by contemporary standards?<br />
If you <b>can</b>, the same question STILL applies...<br />
Socialism, as it was first expressed, was a response to THAT world. A world that no longer exists.<br />
<br />If we focus on Marx (the most famous socialist thinker) we see that he certainly acknowledged and admired the transformative potential of capitalism.<br />
He was not, unfortunately, clairvoyant.<br />
His conclusions were faulty, and some of his suggestions. His criticisms though remain valid to this day and we see the cycles he broadly predicted continue with alarming regularity.<br /><br />
He however could not envision that those in power would ever compromise with those they govern. It was unimaginable from his perspective. History could suggest no alternative. Those in power would attempt to hold it, wield it and eventually be overthrown.<br />A pattern repeated through time immemorial.<br />
He could not have foreseen the success JUST of socialist activism in moderating the emerging liberal elite, nor could he envision a state of universal suffrage.<br />
And so, he assumed the only end to capitalist excess would be revolution.<br />
If we have seen anything from the attempts at socialist revolution it is that they are disastrous.<br />
Populists seize power, suppress "the proletariat" they claim to champion and become the humans they deposed (to allude to Orwell's Animal Farm)<br />An alternative to that was seen with the Spanish civil war, where a populist socialist revolution was ruthlessly put down & infighting "on the left" doomed the experiment. An interesting period of history that really does outline JUST how complicated politics can be and how woefully inadequate "right vs left" can be.<br />
<br />
The socialist response to all this?<br />
The democratic socialism we see today.<br />
Tame and shackle the beast of capitalism to limit its power to exploit and damage the public, but allow it to serve the functions it serves so efficiently. A compromise that has seen success time and again when either extreme (state capitalism or deregulated capitalism) leads only to disaster.<br />
<br />But how can socialists justify abandoning their proposed solution? Certainly the presence of a free markets means it CAN'T be "real socialism," right?<br />
Because the core tenet of socialism does not refer to ownership, does not allude to state authority, and makes no demands of method or policy.<br />
It is limited to one principle, a core tenet that serves as the root of the movement.<br />
The workers that produce the value should have a share in the fruit of their labour.<br />
<br />Doesn't sound so bad, but it really is what drives the whole machine of ACTUAL left wing politics.<br />It's hardly a dystopian concept, and one that really does have absolutely nothing to do with capitalism, despite protestations. It's not that it has no place in capitalism. The whole point, and this comes from the economists that BUILT the capitalism model, is that morality and direction needs to be asserted from OUTSIDE of the capitalist system. Morality isn't a market force. Capitalism is exclusively about ownership and wealth, NOT about work or merit.<br /><br />
Anything which rewards a worker equitably for their efforts is conducive with socialism. Anything that exploits workers or suppresses their freedom is not.<br />No matter what justification is used.<br /><br />
If you own and operate a small business, work hard and employ others in your community that you reward according to their contribution? You're practising socialism.<br />The word doesn't matter, and it is not <b>exclusive</b> to socialism, but a rose by any other name smells just as sweet.<br />
<br />
Many have trouble with this because of widespread socialist opposition to "private property"<br />
The problem being that definitions have become jargon and people talk past each other.<br />
To a socialist, the acquisition of property without expending effort is just... bad. You didn't work for it, didn't build it and don't maintain it. You just own it. When this results in obscene wealth, THEN it has become a problem. This is what socialists are criticising.<br />The proposal to end private property is a solution, but it's not universally shared.<br />
The criticism of such hoarding of wealth is not unique to socialism either. Notable economists, liberals and capitalists recognised the flaw too. Smith talked of government being required to preserve property (to my great amusement, considering the amount of "hate the state" libertarians) and also of Christian values being needed to limit the influence of the profit motive over business. Locke considered the waste of resources to be deeply immoral, mostly in explaining the superiority of capitalist systems to reduce such waste through trade and currency, but he acknowledged the growth of wealth as a potential concern.<br />
<br />
But with wealth distribution a factor in all sensible economic thinking I must admit, I have always been rather enamoured with a Marx quote many find very scary.<br /><br />
<i>"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs"</i><br />
<i></i><br />Many see this as taking from the rich and giving to the lazy.<br />
An intolerably uncharitable interpretation, devoid of context or understanding.<br />
<br />
The proposal in this quote is that we will reach a point when resources are abundant and competition becomes counter productive (in many areas, this is already true, with competition manufactured through false scarcity precisely in order to manipulate markets. Planned obsolescence is an example of this)<br /><br />
At such a time (and even on <b>principle</b> at all times) people should be afforded the opportunity to contribute to the best of their abilities.<br />
This is not a demand, nor oppressive.<br />
It is an ideal. People do not generally like feeling useless and with perfect freedom most of us ENJOY finding ways to contribute.<br /><br />
In order to contribute their best, people must receive what they need.<br />Needs are individual and vary based on circumstance but also on activity. It is not against this quote to suggest that those contributing the most require more in return.<br />
To motivate them, to reward them or even just to ensure they remain capable.<br />
It is a thing called pragmatism and many could do with adopting and assuming in rational thinkers.<br />
<br />
Perhaps my interpretation is generous, but it is what I believe the intent to be.<br />
Remember the core tenet.<br />
A worker should be entitled to an equitable share of the value they produce.<br />
That is not referring to the welfare recipient that requires help. It refers to those that contribute.<br /><br />
I find it ironic that those constantly talking about hard work defend so fiercely a form of modern aristocracy enabled by inheritance.<br />
If the state provides in a time of need, you are an evil parasite and should work, because work is moral.<br />
If your only virtue and the only work you have accomplished is being propelled out of the correct vagina, you are an upstanding citizen that EARNED that money with the sweat of your daddy's nutsack. Your "work" is managing your capital!<br /><br />
Hypocrisy. (and hypocrisy which I don't actually share despite my venom above. I don't oppose inheritance, only practices that preserve obscene wealth <b>at the expense</b> of workers)<br />
<br />
But onwards my thoughts flee, until we rest on a common concern I have today. <br />
We have arrived at a situation where the right wing will dismiss the existence of the moderate socialists of Europe. The socialists that have compromised on policy for generations, attempting but sometimes failing to stay true to the core tenets of their ideology.<br />
They dismiss this sensible, popular political philosophy in order to render the conversation into rhetorical sparring.<br />A dogmatic clusterfuck of half truths, obfuscation and outright lie.<br />
<br />
Socialism (and the broader left wing, including liberalism to many) is lumped in with Stalin, Mao and even Hitler. The right suggests that the exclusive and only accurate definition for socialism is a game of Chinese whispers played over the course of more than 100 years. From Marx theories and conclusions, to Lenin's adaptation of Marxism, to Stalin's adaptation of Lenin. From his works describing social and economic class, to modern applications of his theories to areas increasingly insane and inappropriate.<br />
None of the plurality of socialism reached through hundreds of years of argument, debate and compromise. The only socialism that exists is from failed states that demonstrably refused to apply socialist philosophy. Regimes that justify their actions as the means to an end that never arrives, as many in power justify their abuses with a convenient ideology.<br />
<br />
Marx is held accountable for the actions and beliefs of men that came to power decades after his death, in the irony of ironies from a political dogma that accuses others of collectivist guilt by association.<br />
Marx becomes the only valid socialist, and to blame for all the world's ills. Despite being an impoverished academic, journalist and critic of capitalism that they constantly accuse of incompetence. Despite being a toddler when the socialist movement was also in its infancy. Despite not being the only socialist philosopher of his time period, let alone over the course of the ideology, and despite his many critics from WITHIN socialism.<br />
Yup, this one man is responsible for everything done in his name and with his works, and making that accusation is nothing like the insanity from fundamentalists and regressives. Totally different... Absolutely...<br />
<br />
Hell, in the case of Hitler being socialist the insinuation is even an outright lie. To believe otherwise is to suggest that North Korea really is a democratic republic. It said it was, right?<br />
<br />
I write this in full knowledge few will read it. Fewer still with an open mind.<br />
I write it understanding that people prefer to live in ignorance, comforted by an echo chamber. Politically illiterate, wilfully ignorant and convinced of their own moral high ground.<br />
Perhaps I'll revisit this piece to rewrite it, as the subject is important and complicated enough that I have written thousands of words on the subject in comments all over the internet, for years.<br />
It is a worthy subject that I cant hope to do justice with one rant made during a sleepless night (and briefly updated 2 years later :P)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-67589947983569555822016-05-22T11:30:00.004-07:002016-05-22T11:34:37.344-07:000% unemployment. Utopia, dystopia or just common sense?FDR once talked about the concept of full employment.<br />
It is my firm belief that he isn't just correct, but such a thing is the ideal and the pragmatic solution.<br />
<br />
There exists more than enough work for all people. With population growth simply creating greater demand, I do not foresee stagnation. Even if we discount all of the
bullshit makework employees are forced to do to justify their jobs, essential services alone over burden just a few.<br />
<br />
It
has become something of established wisdom that the capitalist struggle
is somehow mandatory, that this burden on the few to provide for the many is inevitable and so rewards greater wealth as a balance.<br />
In reality?<br />
It is simply a system that works fairly well and is an adequate improvement on the systems of privilege and service that came before.<br />
<br />
Just for a second, imagine a world where everyone worked, but people
had to commit less time to work.<br />
Where every employer was "over staffed"
and so their employees could choose when to work.<br />
If people can think beyond "more work = more money = better life" it's fairly easy.<br />
We don't need to discard the idea that more work should generate more income, but rather that a base income is afforded to all for their participation in society.<br />
A 30 hour work week, 20 hour, 10 hour. There are 7+ billion of us, we do not need to fill most of our lives with work to generate the wealth needed to provide for all.<br />
<br />
We know that there is MORE than enough food to feed everyone in the world. So much is wasted that this is just indisputable.<br />
We know that there is MORE than enough shelter to house everyone. How many vacant lots and abandoned buildings are you aware of? John Locke once suggested that the system of capital worked because it reduced waste. People could trade what they could not use to gain value while providing another with something of value that would otherwise be worthless, spoiled.<br />
In his view waste was immoral.<br />
To me, the hoarding of unused property is just as big a waste and every bit as immoral.<br />
If private owners were compelled to use their property or lose it, there would be far more affordable housing. (this isn't an unusual responsibility to include in ownership of assets. If intellectual property is not used & defended it is lost, for instance)<br />
<br />
With the two absolute necessities accounted for this leaves fuelling our free time.<br />
Leisure industries generate <i><b>significant </b></i>wealth.<br />
From tourism to television, from sports to gaming, entertainment is absolutely a viable area for mass employment.<br />
We can see a system for this already widely used and enjoyed: youtube.<br />
Free,
or cheap, entertainment is being made on mass by people that love to
make it, that are (sometimes) able to live on the proceeds.<br />
Imagine if everyone had the freedom to put their efforts into content creation, social interaction or public service (such as participation in the democratic process or political discourse)<br />
<br />
If we can grant that food and shelter are manageable to make available to all, that simply leaves luxuries.<br />
I do not see why a luxury market wouldn't thrive in a world with few work hours.<br />
How could it not?<br />
<br />
Sadly, this is inconceivable in the current world, but I think it
is certainly within the bounds of reason to suggest it is possible, to suggest it is preferable, to suggest, perhaps, that it is superior.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-49591763491863377912016-05-20T00:21:00.002-07:002016-05-20T00:21:38.917-07:00Some thoughts on Libertarianism; schizophrenia for the embarassed conservative.My major problem with libertarians (right wing, "fiscal
conservatives") is the thinking that equality can be achieved by removing
constraints. That somehow just letting everyone do as they please has
the net result of greater liberty.<br />
"it's the difference between equality of outcome and of opportunity!" I hear.<br />
No. It's not.<br />
This is conflating two VERY DIFFERENT conversations in order to avoid addressing the argument. Understandable, given the domination of the regressive left on the "equality issue," but declaring that everyone has all available opportunities by virtue of living within the same system is simply dishonest.<br />
<br />
The idea that only personal liberty can ensure or enshrine equality (any definition of it, call it "fairness" if you like) is asinine. We ALL place limitations on individual freedom, the difference is only where the line is drawn. <br />
This to me "bootstraps" thinking is the suggestion that "Darwinism" is a GREAT social strategy.<br />
Survival of the fittest, right?<br />
People will find their level, and to the winner goes the spoils.<br />
<br />
Just... no!<br />
Nature is fucking HORRIFYING.<br />
Natural selection is just what
happens, it's not a metric for moral and ethical living. It is CERTAINLY not what we should aim for as a society.<br />
The superpower of our species, the things that has let us dominate a planet filled with animals that can individually out compete us, is cooperation. We rose above the limitations of "nature"<br />
The sacrifice we make is to sign on to this unwritten social contract. We give up some of our personal freedom in order to benefit from the collective. I don't murder you and take your things, you don't murder me and take my things and now there are two of us to work together.<br />
<br />
If somebody only has the "freedom" to do a thing that they have no
conceivable method of ACTUALLY achieving, then they do not have that freedom. <br />
Pretending they do is so faulty as to be utterly retarded.<br />
There are no laws against you jumping to the moon, but you can not DO it. Such a freedom is utterly irrelevant.<br />
<br />
With this said, affirmative action or government programs to try to ensure equality
of opportunity MAY NOT be the best solution.<br />
They certainly are not in all
instances.<br />
<br />The pretence that there would be anything resembling equality without ANY
intervention is delusional to the point of insanity. Might makes right. We can either choose to make that "might" accountable to the greater community, or make the community accountable to a mighty individual.<br />
Discarding a system of accountability because it is not perfect and subject to corruption is not a solution.<br />
This thinking stems from the mistaken belief that capitalism is equipped with a
morality, that it can self govern and self correct.<br />
That was NEVER an argument made by the original economists, and it is an
issue that is run from in terror by economic conservatives who rush
instead to blame all ills on "the state."<br />
<br />
In order to ensure the greatest liberty to the most people you can not
simply declare that everyone has access to the same opportunities
because there are no laws AGAINST them taking the opportunities.<br />
That is a silly statement, but it is one taken without thought by many conservatives.<br />
<br />
To me, this "negative liberty" mindset is just a demand for the
authority of wealth.<br />
If you're rich, do as you please; if you're poor, do as you're told.<br />
It *literally* does work like that, historically and wherever there is no social accountability.<br />
<br />
Rich people are free to spend
their resources as they please, poor people are NOT allowed to spend their resources. If they spend resources on things their employers do not agree with, the Pinkerton's may come along to break some skulls.<br />
Poor people used their
resources, ie: their time and bodies, to lobby for things they wanted.<br />
According to the "individual liberty" crowd this is evil statism, apparently.<br />
I've yet to hear a libertarian
that supports Unions, but I've also yet to hear a libertarian suggest
that wealth should be restricted in its uses, even when it comes to
lobbying.<br />
A clear double standard that places wealth above other resources. You can spend wealth to do whatever you want, but if you DARE use your time, effort or voice in an attempt to "purchase" something you desire... well. That's evil! But only when poor people do it.<br />
<br />
Speaking of wealth as a tool for political influence;<br />It is ALWAYS the state at fault, never the "capitalist"
bribing them.<br />Crony capitalism is apparently socialism these days,
because who gives a fuck about what words mean? Socialism just means government wasting money, right? If it's giving that money to private institutions against the very nature and definition of socialism? Doesn't matter, still socialism!<br />
<br />
I mean, libertarians can perfectly understand the flaws inherent in
communist thinking.<br />
Perhaps they generalise too much given that humans practice "communism" on the small scale almost universally, but as a political philosophy I tend to agree with "conservative" criticism.<br />
The idea that we're all unique individuals that can pull ourselves up by
the bootstraps is every bit as flawed and ignorant of human nature though. Communism may be too idealistic as a societal practice, but to dismiss it as evil is just... dishonest. Evil is done in the NAME of the ideology. A lesson we should all learn from and apply broadly to all ideology.<br />
<br />
When will libertarians examine their own principles in the same light? They identify communism as too idealistic, utopian and unreasonable but rarely do I see any self awareness when identical ideas about "volunteerism" are proposed.<br />
Lets just deregulate, right?<br />
Humans will ALWAYS do the
responsible thing! And if they don't, somehow it will all self correct
because that's a reasonable argument! The markets will fix it!<br />
<br />
The double standards and inconsistencies gall me constantly.<br />
If a person receives help from the government it is evil. It oppresses everyone because tax is theft, people should EARN their own damn money! Getting money you don't earn (even if it's so you can eat) is immoral, it makes you lazy and is actually unfair because it traps people in poverty!<br />
If a person receives help from their parents it is TOTALLY fair! It's an even playing field because everyone has parents! They EARNED that inheritance, and the golden standard; "it was already taxed once!"<br />
Can nobody else see the hypocrisy?<br />
<br />
I personally choose a more nuanced approach.<br />
I don't think the regressives are correct in attacking the wealthy because of "privilege" (though I share a lot of the fire, as a socialist) and I don't think "fiscal conservatives" are correct in their contempt for the poor, nor their idea that "charity does it better"<br />
If charity "did it better" then Africa would not have faced starvation in a generation (it has had billions in charitable aid) and we wouldn't constantly hear of mismanagement, corruption and incompetence.<br />
<br />
My take? The government has an OBLIGATION to provide some services to its citizens. This is none negotiable.<br />
Universal education WORKS.<br />
Without it you would not be sitting in a modern western nation.<br />
You'd be sitting in a slum.<br />
What, you don't oppose universal ("free") education? Well, then you're a communist!<br />
What, it's an exception? Then why must we talk in absolutes all the damn time! <br />
If libertarians make SOME exceptions for state run utilities (police, military, emergency services, education, public service) then why pretend these things are INHERENTLY evil?<br />
I never seem to get an answer to that. Just excuses as to why it doesn't count and having a different line drawn as to what services the government should provide suddenly turns you from a free thinking libertarian into a statist monster akin to Stalin, Mao and Hitler.<br />
I'm sorry, I think a public option for healthcare works. I'm sad that makes me into Satan-Hitler.<br />
<br />
And if you seriously do not agree with government as a concept?<br />
Move to Somalia. Stop making excuses. Go to
somewhere without a state to interfere with your life, for better or
worse. Stop being a parasite. If you enjoy the benefits of a civil society so much, quit trying to destroy it or demonise those that don't share your ideology.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-4183430158623131442016-05-18T18:00:00.000-07:002016-05-18T11:36:18.826-07:00Racism: the uniquely American problemI find the subject of racism very difficult to discuss within an American context.<br />
In the UK things can get heated, misconceptions can be made and misunderstanding can drive mutual hate. Even so it can still be discussed sensibly between most individuals. I've shared my opinions openly and candidly with people from all over Europe from varying backgrounds.<br />
I once discussed this most sensitive of subjects with two Caribbean matriarchs when we were stuck in a weeks long course. (awesome ladies, I think even I'd have put on weight if I worked with them regularly, all the sweets I got offered :P)<br />
The only time I'm called a racist is online by "activist" types, though I genuinely think most racists aren't evil and can be reformed. (a controversial opinion, it seems)<br />
<br />
America seems an entirely different story.<br />
They spend money with slave owners on.<br />
They are protected by a constitution which LITERALLY described black slaves as less than a full human, written by slave owners,
in a nation built on slavery.<br />
They even learn about how awesome those slave
owners were in school and celebrate these men regularly.<br />
<br />
This is why when I hear "confederates were evil racists" from Americans it is
almost comical.<br />
It's an easy argument.<br />
"People in the past did shitty stuff based on false morality"<br />
History just isn't that cut and dry.<br />
<br />
The example I prefer to use is General Lee.<br />
He was widely celebrated during
and after the civil war and publicly denounced racism, racist crimes and
encouraged the inclusion of Black Americans in public life. I'd say that qualifies him as a moral man... of his time. Imperfect, subject to the whims, laws and attitudes of his culture and ruled by a moral system we find misguided if not outright evil.<br />
Yet in the
modern world he's often tarnished by the outright hateful racism shown by Jubal
Early and some other confederates.<br />
<br />
Racism in the "north" is likewise lessened or
dismissed. Whitewashed from history in favour of this self congratulatory
"mission accomplished" posturing even by the best of Americans.<br />
People need to put things into historical context.<br />
Not all slave owners were evil people, many sincerely believes they were
custodians of a "lesser race."<br />
It's daft, misguided and racist, but not hateful.<br />
I'm with the esteemed Morgan Freeman when he suggests racism won't get
better until we stop talking about race so much. When "the sins of the father" are taken off the table maybe we can achieve something constructive.<br />
<br />
To make a point with a tangent; my nation (England) is directly responsible for the end of the
historical slave trade.<br />
Without the embargoes on Africa carried out by the royal navy, without
the blood and treasure of the Empire spilled on the principle that all
men should be free, slavery would still be as ubiquitous now as it was
then. (though slavery does remain a global problem, it is now in the
shadows, for better or worse as some choose to turn a blind eye)<br />
<br />
You will not hear this invoked to lend moral authority to the British
though.<br />
Instead we are taught our history warts and all.<br />
We learn the positives with the negatives, we learn NUANCE.<br />
<br />
We ended the global slave trade, but it was not done for altruism alone.<br />
The document used to justify employing the Royal Navy this way was written by men desperate to preserve the rights of the privileged from the excesses of the King. It entered the British Zeitgeist as a personal ideal.<br />
All men are free.<br />
That individualism propelled us far as a nation and as a culture.<br />
<br />
Another reason was political expedience. Our rival nations were profiting greatly from the slave trade.<br />
By placing an embargo on Africa we were undermining the economic competition.<br />
<br />
I'm sure there was also a great deal of arrogance and colonial thinking involved too. The Brits (the aristocrats at least) of the time saw themselves as superior. It was their responsibility to interfere and better other people.<br />
<br />
So, any attempt to cast the British role in ending the transatlantic slave trade as romantic would be a lie based on a grain of truth,<br />
It is certainly something to be proud of, but only a fool with delude himself with a beautiful untruth.<br />
<br />
This ability seems sadly lacking from American education, even amongst scholars.<br />
I think this is part of what fuels the identity politics of the nation, which is everybody's business because it seems to be a major export.<br />
America's racism is unique to America, but it doesn't seem to be staying that way. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-23033981254389369892016-05-09T22:08:00.000-07:002016-05-18T11:04:31.759-07:00Starcraft Legacy of the void ending. SPOILER.So, yes. This is a spoiler warning. The game came out months ago the franchise is niche and enthusiasts that would care already know, but there it is :P<br />
<br />
So, the end of SC2. Tying up loose ends, giving us a climax for the conflict.<br />
Honestly, I have mixed feelings.<br />
The game is solid. Each expansion has had an enjoyable campaign, well worth the price even discounting the multiplayer.<br />
The best of the three remains Wing of Liberty, which was somewhat inferior to the original and Brood War, but the series has not been without merit.<br />
<br />
While I feel too much was added to the Protoss to flesh them out, I cant really fault Blizzard. They are addicted to retcon, but that's not always a bad thing.<br />
<br />
The Tal'Darim as a third faction with an entirely different culture was a bit of a miss for me (I preferred the inferences of them as religious zealots within the wider Protoss society, rather than Dark Templar MKII)<br />
Alarak was probably the best addition to the cast though. I just wish that moral ambiguity and the reality of Protoss being both noble and savage, tolerant yet xenophobic, peaceful yet absolutely deadly had been preserved.<br />
<br />
Much of the "new" diversity of the race felt shoehorned in, rather than built from the existing lore, and that is a missed opportunity.<br />
It did however allow the devs to explore some cool themes with Fenix and the nature of sentience or the exploration of Protoss heritage, the Khala and even themes of racism through the preservers with Rohana.<br />
<br />
I even found the end satisfying.<br />
Redemption, sacrifice and yet room for growth of the story.<br />
Many people were unhappy with it, and not entirely without cause. It was all too convenient, the ending too happy and the consequences for the series primary antagonist (Kerrigan) nil, with the reunion at the end after her ascension. <br />
Personally my own interpretation was a little more bittersweet.<br />
<br />
Kerrigan ascended into what amounts to godhood, the sector is at peace and the factions are separated.<br />
<br />
The Brood still lives though, and with a new, decidedly less empathetic Queen.<br />
The zerg are likely not to remain united either. The Overmind and Kerrigan could not dominate the swarm completely. What hope another? Add in the other Zerg characters and we have a recipe for some mayhem.<br />
<br />
The Terran are united under a new, improved Emperor. I personally want to see that treated with some optimism.<br />
That said, Koprulu is hardly a tame place and the survivor's of the war are likely the most tough, independent sons of bitches possible.<br />
The UED is also out there, and what could such an empire have accomplished while the Terran we know from the Dominion have been so isolated.<br />
So much to explore.<br />
<br />
And the Protoss themselves?<br />
The end of the Khala, the new beginning as a unified race and the awakening of the purifiers, a machine intelligence.<br />
Blizzard added so much that the campaign really only introduced these elements.<br />
With so much possible tension I cant help but to think how many stories could be told.<br />
<br />
So while loose ends were tied perhaps too quickly and too neatly, I don't think the doors are closed on building the franchise further.<br />
<br />
The one element that caused the most argument though was Jim's final sequence.<br />
In the bar on Mar Sara once more, throwing down his badge and disappearing. Presumably with Kerrigan.<br />
Personally, my interpretation is probably a little too bitter for most, though not without hope.<br />
<br />
Kerrigan's ascension left Jim in a world he didn't belong.<br />
A bad man that has done bad things being given a chance to build a new, better world from the ashes. Just as he'd told Horner, this just isn't his fight.<br />
So, after decades of fighting what had he left? He fought the law as a criminal. Fought the criminals as the law. Fought the government as a rebel. Fought the Zerg as a saviour. Fought the Dominion as a traitor.<br />
He fought for love, for revenge and for redemption, and he saved the world.<br />
But he lost Kerrigan.<br />
What's a man to do?<br />
<br />
Kerrigan is a Godess, and Raynor has nothing left to live for.<br />
So yup. The vision at the end and the disappearance of Jim?<br />
I think he killed himself to join the woman he loved.<br />
<br />
Does death mean the end though, or would it just be a new beginning?<br />
Bitter sweet, dear reader.<br />
Bitter sweet and a question humans have asked for the lifetime of civilisation and will continue to ask as there can be no answer.<br />
<br />
Was Raynor's vision the dream of a dying man as he faded into the abyss? Was it just hope manifest only in the mind?<br />
Or has he finally joined the woman he loved, hated, forgave and redeemed?<br />
A worthy ending. Whatever its imperfections.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-44719349040470436262016-05-08T06:46:00.004-07:002016-05-09T01:08:10.795-07:00Socialist rantThe constant hypocrisy, double standards and disingenuous arguments I see surround economic and political discussion are astounding.<br />
Good people discard nuance in favour of rhetoric and discussion in favour of what amounts to chanting obscenities to the opponents at a professional sporting arena. <br />
<br />
As a socialist, the focus of my anger is often the "fiscal conservative" with a fetish for free markets. The idea that free markets are able to self govern and are the only path to liberty.<br />
What they fail to appreciate or admit is that capitalism infringes on "personal rights" constantly...<br />
I don't *get* how proponents of capitalism can be so obtuse to it's perils.<br />
It's always some excuse as to how the state is at fault, or that some kinds of capitalism don't count because "real capitalism" is altruistic and everyone is filled with love, sunshine and rainbows.<br />
<br />
Socialism is not about dictating to or limiting people, any more than capitalism is about stealing. It happens within those "systems" and it happens independently of them too.<br />
Its foundation, the CORE PRINCIPLE from which all others stem is that a worker should share in the fruits of his labour.<br />
Early socialists dealt with capitalism that: used slaves, used child labour, had shit working conditions with low pay, no breaks/holidays/pensions. The working class also could not vote, did not have much access to education, could be imprisoned and forced to work for accruing debt etc etc etc.<br />
<br />
Socialism was a reaction to inequity that not even the most fact immune anarcho capitalist could describe such circumstances as "empowering" or "freedom"<br />
Socialists and the wider left won MANY of these battles. They were not granted by benevolent capitalists/aristocrats. They were fought and paid for, often with blood.<br />
Now we have gained those victories, it does not erase how the rights were gained or remove the danger posed to individual rights by those with power. Power is not something limited to the state.<br />
Capitalism is not evil, it is not good. It is just an economic tool. One of surpassing utility not through a higher power or moral imperitive, but because SOME form of accountability it built into the system.<br />
Accountability is what allows capitalism to function so well, but the form of accountability means that "success" for a private business may not always be in the public interest.<br />
<br />
What socialists realised and most socialists believe today is that some things do not benefit from the profit motive. Some things do not benefit from "capitalism" or free markets.<br />
In fact, even none socialists know this shit. Want to privatise the courts? The police? The fire service?<br />
Things don't go well when that happens.<br />
Socialists just draw a different line in the sand.<br />
<br />
Healthcare, welfare, education, utilities, infrastructure, emergency services, military and the courts should be publicly operated. Accountable to the public.<br />
How is this bad?<br />
How is it totalitarian?<br />
You might disagree, but disagree on merit, not on some strawman built from whole cloth.<br />
Propose an alternative, justify it and do not pretend that the state is some evil perpetrated on innocent citizens. <br />
<br />
Socialists aren't coming to take your income. They don't want to limit your personal freedom or make everyone earn the same. They simply propose that capitalism does not need to be the solution to every problem and maybe, just maybe, there are better alternatives.<br />
Not every problem is a nail, so stop trying to solve every problem with the same hammer just because the hammer is pretty awesome. <br />
Collectivist, cooperative or public run institutions already operate within the capitalist system just fine, they aren't inherently evil any more than a privately owned and run company is inherently evil.<br />
It's all about how we make people with power, either wealth or legislative, accountable for the consequences of their actions. <br />
You do not have to abandon capitalism to embrace some form of socialism, as any politically literate European can tell you. Socialism is alive and well in Europe, but the biggest influence on policy even in the "socialist dystopias" like Sweden and Denmark are still corporations.<br />
<br />
Rant end.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-28496609613988403882016-05-07T09:05:00.001-07:002016-05-07T09:05:05.779-07:00Why the social justice "left" is not "extreme left wing"<div class="post-message " data-role="message" dir="auto">
Social justice is somewhat rampant on the left.<br />
Now, this isn't explicitly bad. It's just an opinion man.<br />
The problem comes with advocacy for "social justice" because empty virtue signalling and attacking anyone that doesn't agree hard enough.<br />
<br />
Now, it's not so much that "the left" isn't "at fault" with this, it's that this just HAPPENS to be dominant on the left.<br />
I
see so many right wingers that will happily eat the asshole out of
people on the right that are INDISTINGUISHABLE from SJW in tactics,
conduct and sometimes even goals (differing only in justification) and
still somehow think they're superior because they aren't "on the left"
(which is the only metric that can make people "wrong" in a shocking irony of DOING EXACTLY WHAT SJW DO towards anyone on the right)<br />
This
culture war is largely a civil war on the left, with sympathetic people
from the right standing with "us" in solidarity and other (dogmatic)
right wingers just joyous that their "enemies" are getting a beating.<br />
<br />
I
will maintain that "fauxgressives" that are considered "far left" atm
(even by many liberals/lefties fighting them) are nothing of the kind.<br />
They are people with set values and dogma that are willing to coopt left wing politics for their own ends.<br />
<br />
You
get feminists decrying the white male patriarchy claiming "capitalism"
is evil, but their big solution is just to have more people at the top
of that pyramid own vaginas. Everyone knows that all of the social, economic and systemic problems that the left has largely been attempting to counter are caused by the penis!<br />
Marx MUST have written that, considering how often his name is invoked by everyone... <br />
<br />
Every time an actual left winger with
some credentials in left wing politics comes along, they are not judged
on policy, but on identity.<br />
When these so called "left wing
extremists" are saying quite openly that the only right choice for the
left is to vote for a woman regardless of her politics, I simply can
not credit such arguments. I cant accept that this is an honest argument from "the extreme left"<br />
They're certainly on "the left" in as much as they're against tradcon values.<br />
<br />
Personally, I lay the blame at liberalism, not "leftism"<br />
What
happened was the parties all drifted towards centrist liberalism, with
focus on personal liberty and capitalism, which left little room for
parties to distinguish themselves.<br />
The right has its identity politics baked in.<br />
Religion, family values, nationalism (both rational and racist) and class.<br />
<br />
The
left embraced "social liberalism" (which is not necessary in the wider
context of liberalism) and the overton window took over. Pushing the
accepted thinking into retarded places in an effort for candidates to "out do"
each other in competition to be the most pure.<br />
<br />
We have milk toast centrists happy to concede to right
wing demands on all manner of social policy that fiercely contend over
identity politics. Why? Because such a focus does not actually require ANYTHING to function.
It's ambiguous nonsense that "sounds good" to certain audiences.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile,
the ACTUAL left wing candidates have long histories of being on the
correct side of issues ALL ALONG.<br />
Not through political expedience or to
prove how progressive they are, but simply through rational application
of the values of their own political philosophy.<br />
<br />
We've seen time and again in recent years.<br />
The "left wing establishment" favours liberal, centrist (or even outright conservative) candidates based on identity politics and empty virtue signalling.<br />
Bernie Sanders is too white, too male and too old. He's unelectable, because the democratic base is split on him. Just ignore that unaffiliated that overwhelmingly seem to support him...<br />
Corbyn is unelectable! He's far left! If labour don't elect a female leader they're sexist!<br />
<br />Can anyone actually argue that such thinking fits into the ideals that those in left wing parties profess?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-88035563221268229512015-09-11T16:21:00.002-07:002015-09-19T04:02:33.710-07:00The hypocrisy of social justice.<div class="usertext-body may-blank-within md-container ">
<div class="md">
The<a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/09/11/leading-gamergate-critic-sarah-nyberg-claimed-to-be-a-pedophile-apologised-for-white-nationalism/"> recent Breitbart article on Sarah Butts </a>has shown in stark relief how little the social justice world cares about justice, social or otherwise. It shows how little they care even about their own crusades (which are simply a self righteous excuse to attack other people)<br />
<br />
For
years the social justice hate mob has attacked people on zero grounds
(from Tim Hunt joking to an appreciative audience of female peers, to
Matt Taylor's shirt, to various politicians, CEOs and public figures
holding beliefs in the past that are no longer popular)<br />
<br />
This self same movement declares we must listen and believe.<br />
We must
condemn those accused by any woman that feels she's been wronged in any
way, even if the allegations are false or vindictive.<br />
<br />
This hate mob does not even argue against these charges of malicious
conduct.<br />
They CELEBRATE them as necessary "collateral damage." As
evidence that their ideology has power.<br />
They measure their influence in
the damage they are able to inflict to innocent and guilty alike.<br />
<br />
The victim (fake or genuine, accused or accuser) does not matter. Only media attention on their political hot button.<br />
<br />
I think any claims they are on the side of justice are now officially over.<br />
<br />
The only necessity to be "guiltless" is to be aligned with them.<br />
The only thing that can make one guilty is to disagree.<br />
If you disagree, but are otherwise faultless, then you bear the guilt of others, real or imagined.<br />
<br />
To any fellow left wing bleeding heart that stumbled upon this I'd ask one thing.<br />
Do not take for granted who the enemy is and who the friend.<br />
The history of the left is littered by the betrayal of leaders, substituting their authority and their agenda for the cause they were supposed to champion.<br />
Do not allow history to repeat by allowing that Trojan horse through your walls.<br />
Beware those who claim to support the values you hold dear, but display them so rarely. Hold them accountable for their deeds, just as you would an avowed enemy.<br />
<br />
This sickness on the left (laughable, considering the agenda they push. Corporatism in lipstick) must be expunged.<br />
It serves no purpose except to hand victory to the political right.<br />
When people are driven away from idealism by identity politics, when divisiveness is promoted as a cure for social ills, the status quo wins.<br />
Institutions are by nature conservative (they must be to function) when you allow these hypocritical bigots to dominate the discourse and fix the agenda, there can be no challenge mounted against the nature of the system.<br />
<br />
Do not be fooled by calls that telling the truth is harassment, or that disagreement is abusive.<br />
I personally wish to see all those who hold these hypocritical and tribalistic attitudes burn to the ground, and the earth salted.<br />
When such extreme, immoral behaviour can be excused and dismissed without pause while others are condemned for no action they have taken, my reason abandons me for the passionate rage I feel against injustice.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-27117054901844543462015-06-26T03:53:00.002-07:002015-07-19T16:29:28.343-07:00The confederate flag controversy.The new craze sweeping "progressive" circles is anger at the use of a confederate flag because sometimes unsavoury people use it.<br />
The fact a mass shooter is a fan of the old confederacy is irrelevant. <br />
This to me drives home a very important point; these are people that DO NOT CARE about real issues.<br />
They care about political point scoring.<br />
The confederacy lost the civil war, and the victor writes the history. We however are not seeing the historical revisionism of a victor in war.<br />
We are seeing the historical revisionism of a generation one hundred and fifty years removed.<br />
<br />
Slavery in the south and historical racism of southerners is being invoked to generalise and demonise people long dead, many of whom do not deserve such treatment.<br />
Now, moral relativism shouldn't be used to excused or justify current behaviour, but it can and should be applied historically.<br />
To do any less is to disregard context, which is disastrous when trying to understand history.<br />
This is made even more galling by the whitewashing of American national history at convenience.<br />
The star spangled banner is soaked in the blood of slaves, natives and "tyrants" (you know, the British government pre revolution that was more popular than the current US congress and whose other holdings don't seem to be all that dystopian. Worst tyrants ever. This is said understanding the historical context that there were no moral sides and the revolution itself probably contributed to the later dismantling of the Empire. It's just funny that the tyrants spoken of by Americans abolished global slavery 50 years before Americans even started)<br />
We are talking about a nation which celebrates past presidents that PROUDLY owned slaves, thought it indeed their moral duty to "educate the Negro" and whom in modern thinking might also have been rapists (having sex with a slave. I'd call that rape, even if consensual. A slave's consent seems rather ineffectual even if we recognise that not all slavery is the same level of evil)<br />
<br />
The past crimes of the North are ignored or disregarded because "the confederacy" are the bad guys.<br />
Only they weren't.<br />
Just as during the revolution there were good, moral people on both sides.<br />
War is messy and no side has a monopoly on evil. (yes, this applies to my revolutionary rant. The British are well aware of how big a bastard our nation could/can be. We teach our own history warts and all)<br />
The confederacy had many racists. There were slave owners, and those who would kill a man just for wishing to escape slavery. The North had racists too.<br />
The South did not lack celebrated generals and politicians though.<br />
I will focus on the man most associated with the confederate flag. <br />
<br />
Robert E Lee is renowned for his role in extending the war and causing no end of trouble for the North.<br />
He was also a deeply compassionate man, who believed the moral teachings of his time and culture.<br />
Not that slavery was cool bro, but that slavery damaged the white man more than the black man, pointing to the state of Africa (large swathes of which remain not overly pleasant to live in. I expect Africa to emerge as a global power within the next century myself, but much like the middle east internecine war holds back many nations) and that slaves benefited from their slavery.<br />
Perhaps that is a little short sighted of him, but the Christian teachings of the time were exactly that.<br />
These were people convinced beyond all doubt that slavery was the will of God.<br />
To me, this is not an argument that the people were evil, but that religion makes people do things that they would otherwise not do. <br />
His conduct after the war and statements made before and during proved the man one of discipline, duty and honour. Not malice. He was still a slave owner. Still oversaw punishments and captures of escaped slaves, but did so because those were the moral teachings of the time. Not because he hated them.<br />
<br />
When Lee became president of Washington college he vehemently opposed violence against the Federal government and black Americans, to the point of expelling students for attacking a local.<br />
He did oppose the vote for free black Americans, but argued not from hatred, but from the opinion that they lacked the education to vote intelligently.<br />
He would have preferred mass emigration of ex slaves to their homelands, a cause championed by his wife and daughter.<br />
He was also a leader in establishing state schools for black pupils.<br />
A complicated man who by today's standards would be fairly racist (but not violently so) but in context of his culture was fairly progressive.<br />
<br />
I believe that when the confederacy is thrown under the bus the only thing served is a political elite with no interest in solving problems, but only in whitewashing history, finding scapegoats and escaping the responsibility to do anything meaningful.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-62400371023478260592015-06-24T09:07:00.000-07:002015-06-24T09:07:00.061-07:00MulticulturalismI am a great believer in multiculturalism.<br />
The joys of shared experience become magnified when you appreciate the divides between people.<br />
Also, for the curry.<br />
<br />
Sadly, when cultures share a space there will inevitably be a clash. Tension. Bigotry.<br />
Human nature is inherent in us, no amount of education will remove it entirely.<br />
So, why promote something that results in so much harm?<br />
Simply, the benefits, the joys, the growth; it outweighs the negatives.<br />
Without the mass immigration after World War II the UK would not have recovered so far or so well.<br />
The deaths of a generation of young men could not be ignored. Those men, those heroes, could not be replaced but their sacrifice had to be justified.<br />
<br />
However, multiculturalism does not mean simply inviting unique cultures in to sit at their place, isolated from wider society, so they can be marveled at like an animal in a zoo.<br />
Integration is an essential part of the process.<br />
Not a loss of our unique qualities, but a willingness to engage beyond ourselves.<br />
To do otherwise is to remain an alien, to isolate and disenfranchise. To be nothing more than a token to be used by ideologues claiming to represent you.<br />
This has been done time and again in my beloved nation.<br />
Immigrants from all over the old empire, the common wealth coming together with a shared history, a heritage of shared sorrows and blood.<br />
<br />
The cultural isolation offered by modern identity politics proponents eliminates or diminishes the benefits while exasperating the negatives.<br />
It writes out differences in stark relief, condemns integration as cultural genocide (much like the racists they are supposed to oppose) and describes the enjoyment of other cultures as "appropriation."<br />
To me "cultural appropriation" does nothing but attempt to shame people into self segregation. Negroes and Whites need to have their own fountains, because social justice. It's no different. <br />
It is a sickness that raises the fever of a nation, breeding discontent in every demographic and serving only to isolate us from one another.<br />
It is anathema to real multicultural values.<br />
<br />
Identity politics is not the only culprit in the growing tensions between native citizens and migrants.<br />
The loss of social housing has resulted in private tenancy servicing most people.<br />
In many areas landlords show a marked preference for specific immigrant populations.<br />
Understandable, on a personal level, as being close to those with a shared culture is comforting. As a strategy within a civil society, it is disastrous.<br />
Cultural ghettos form with members of these communities isolated from the wider population. Such homogeneity results only in tensions between "outsiders" and these small communities and a lack of integration which I find essential for immigration and multiculturalism to operate effectively.<br />
<br />
I often find that issues such as these are avoided by mainstream thinking.<br />
Honestly, I believe the blame once again resides on identity politics and the liberal elite that manufactures it.<br />
An appreciation of diversity and acknowledging the power of inclusion to improve society becomes corrupted by the guilt of "the majority"<br />
Many sincerely believe they are simply "checking their privilege" but in actual fact they are merely reinvented "white man's burden"<br />
The motivation behind much social justice thinking in the modern West is no different than that of the historical Christians that just wanted to bring civilisation to the Barbarians. (that means people of colour, mostly, if you were wondering)<br />
It is very much a form of racism. It advocates judging people on their physical identity, while also claiming physical identity is a social construct.<br />
Insanity.<br />
Moral relativism based on race, gender and ethnicity.<br />
<br />
We need to work to break this fever.<br />
Celebrate our differences. Celebrate EACH OTHER.<br />
Equality should not mean moral relativism.<br />
Multiculturalism should not mean cultural segregation.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-48123543114350331322015-06-22T06:41:00.000-07:002015-06-22T06:41:00.077-07:00"Colour blind" does not mean "ignorant of experiences"I see "colour blind" referenced by the social justice mob in a dismissive manner.<br />
Identity politics demands we are hyper aware of ethnicity, in some hope that this will make up for whatever historic slight is percieved.<br />
I believe that these people do not even begin to understand what those of us that will declare ourselves "colour blind" are saying.<br />
We are not Stephen Colbert in full on satire mode mocking the desperation of Republicans to be taken seriously.<br />
The strawman this displays is a notion so silly only an idiot bases their opinion on it.<br />
So; what does it ACTUALLY mean.<br />
In essence, it is taking on faith the words of Martin Luther King.<br />
That a man should not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.<br />
How this has become an unpopular position I do not know, considering how well regarded the man is in politics of every stripe.<br />If you try to judge people on their actions, on their personality and on their merit, you are in essence being "colour blind" in the context of a culture that might otherwise discriminate.<br />
<br />
What it does not mean is that you must become ignorant of the experiences of those with a different background.<br />
I can treat a man as an equal and disregard our cultural differences in terms of judgement while still being aware of them.<br />
I can welcome a Jew or a Muslim into my home, afford them every courtesy I would extend to anyone else and be aware that offering a bacon sandwich might not be sensitive.<br />
Equal does not need to mean "identical" especially in a social context.<br />
I can understand that a black guy might have experienced that are really shitty without resorting to treating him differently.<br />
<br />
Indeed, I can empathise directly and am told that it "doesn't count" because it "wasn't racism" and "wasn't institutional"<br />
Amusingly, the group that calls for empathy because of identity politics lacks any empathy.<br />
How did I experience things I would deem similar?<br />
I was a poor ginger kid, goofy and nerdy. I was scrawny and unpopular.<br />
Typical loser nerd sob story, indeed.<br />
What treatment did I receive?<br />
I was mocked for my appearance, my intelligence and my lack of social competence.<br />
I was regularly assaulted in the streets, in the schoolyard, in the halls and classrooms. By groups and individuals.<br />
When defending myself I was punished equally to those that attacked me. This might sound reasonable, but compare a grade A pupil being threatened with expulsion to identical threats made to an F student that barely attends classes anyway.<br />
I had my property damaged or stolen, at least once I has a window on my parents house smashed and I would routinely have stones thrown at me.<br />
Yup. All this happened to a young white man in a fairly mixed race council estate in the UK.<br />
I was bullied badly enough that my own classmates "adopted" me and would quite fiercely defend me if "outsiders" attacked me.<br />
So, I know something about being treated as a social pariah and target of abuse.<br />
<br />
Does this new awareness make you percieve me differently?<br />
Does it justify treating me differently?<br />
Are you less willing to disagree with me, less willing to call out improper behaviour from me?<br />
The answer to all of these should be NO.<br />
You can offer me empathy without treating me differently.<br />
That is the point.<br />
<br />
Colour blindness does not mean losing our diversity or our appreciation of it.<br />
It does not mean ignoring the experiences of our brothers and sisters in this world.<br />
It just means that you judge each individual on their merits as an individual.<br />
This is something I hope everyone will eventually come to understand and champion.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-43524579518360012632015-06-19T10:32:00.000-07:002015-06-19T10:32:00.424-07:00Joss Wheden: Everything both right and wrong with feminism.Feminism, whether you believe it right or wrong, has earned itself a bad reputation.<br />
Many proponents argue that the "bad" feminists are not real feminists, or do not/should not reflect on the wider feminist movement.<br />
Others pretend that there is no problem at all, or that it's actually an elaborate conspiracy to discredit equality by a nefarious patriarchy.<br />
I would make the case that feminism is complicated.<br />
It has good elements and it has bad elements.<br />
I believe that Joss Wheden, oft celebrated as a positive feminist role model, is the perfect reflection of both sides of this.<br />
<br />
His work, at first blush, contains all manner of empowered women and feminist themes.<br />
He's unafraid of nuance, of showing female vulnerability or flaws and displays remarkable empathy for his subjects.<br />
Yup, you guessed it, I am a Whedon fanboi.<br />
<br />
He also shows a similarly remarkable capacity for wilful blindness and an assumption of ill intent in others that he refuses to accept when levelled at him by other feminists, dismissing them as radicals even as he parrots them to target others.<br />
An apologist in every sense. Willing to join a chorus with those he dismisses as "fringe" or "not real" feminists and cashing in these brownie points to justify his position when criticised by these same people.<br />
Any vitriol, venom or outright harassment is deemed "just a normal part of feminism" and ignored, while criticising similar, identical or even less extreme behaviour from those falling outside of the feminist umbrella.<br />
The stark relief of his repeated defamation of those that make
PRECISELY the same points he occasionally makes about the worst excesses of feminism but declaring themselves against it show a hypocrisy I find distasteful in a man I respect for his works.<br />
For all that feminists protest that "Not all feminists are like that"
even the most populist and popular feminists are ready to dismiss any
criticism as an attack on all of feminism. <br />
<br />
Amusingly his work encompasses many of the criticisms of modern feminism and societal perception of women as well as all the best aspects of empowerment, including the right to be flawed, broken or wrong.<br />
One of my favourite Wheden characters was the unapologetically villainous Saffron.<br />
Introduced to the audience as a victim she uses gender stereotypes to her advantage to manipulate the crew of Serenity and hide her intent. She uses Mal's altruism against him and remains critical of him when he shows very human flaws.<br />
How a man can be so aware of this pattern of behaviour to create a well rounded, deep character but lack any awareness of it being abused in real life I do not know.<br />
<br />
Some might say that I am leaving out the evils of radical feminism or the misguided idiocy of feminist ideology, but I don't see these things as the real problem.<br />
Being wrong is an important step to take on the road to being right, so feminism being based on flawed principles is something that can be fixed.<br />
Likewise, radicals, extremists and morons will be involved in every large scale human endeavour, so cant really be credited with "ruining" anything by themselves.<br />
<br />
No, the real problems remain the lack of integrity, self awareness and self criticism of those that are widely championed. The self styled moderates that allow extremism to flourish and refuse to condemn it, that refuse to engage in criticism of their own ideals or acknowledge when they are at fault.<br />
To me, Wheden reflects this in abundance, no matter how true his devotion to equality.<br />
He truly encompasses everything that is good about feminism as well as everything that is bad.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-53847950225844570572015-06-17T09:04:00.000-07:002015-06-17T09:04:00.541-07:00Toxic masculinity: a symptom of a wider problem.We often here the cry of Toxic Masculinity in recent years.<br />
If not those exact words, it will be some variation of how men are to blame for a cultural or social problem.<br />
Teach men not to rape.<br />
Mansplaining.<br />
Manspreading.<br />
Wearing inappropriate t-shirts (because people should not have the right to wear what they want to, right ladies?)<br />
<br />
I think this is all a symptom of an aspect of human nature we could do with acknowledging, addressing and hopefully fixing.<br />
Misandry.<br />
The fear, distrust or hatred of men.<br />
Sounds a bit far out there, doesn't it. A conspiracy theory about how the poor white man is oppressed?<br />
It really isn't. It's not about systematic or cultural oppression, repression or suppression.<br />
It's just a way of describing how society at large treats men.<br />
<br />
First we must acknowledge the thing that prevents discussion of the subject.<br />
The thing that has people scoff and laugh and mock.<br />
That is, perhaps oxymoronically, most people (including those feminists we see deriding men and masculinity so often) love men.<br />
They love the men that they personally know.<br />
As a society we celebrate the men that touch our lives personally. We love our sons, our brothers, our fathers and uncles. We love to hold up heroes and point out the virtues of "good men."<br />
How can we talk about societal neglect of men, cultural hatred of men, when this is true?<br />
And that's the point. We love OUR men.<br />
<br />
It is "other men" that are the problem. <br />
Men we don't know are a danger.<br />
Men we don't know are suspect.<br />
Men we don't know could do us harm.<br />
Simply put this is a bias that only effects men. It especially effects men from certain minorities, ethnic or racial. <br />
Women simply don't have this bias against them.<br />
A woman will rarely experience another human being frightened by their mere proximity. They will never need to worry about how they might be perceived by a stranger, or by a police officer, or by parents and staff at their children school.<br />
<br />
None of this is because we're evil, or hateful, or because men deserve it.<br />
It is not "because culture"<br />
It is
because we're animals.<br />
It's an understandable principle both bred and
socialised into us because it has been a FANTASTIC survival strategy for
the entire history of our species and in many others.<br />
The thing is, we're smart animals, so we should be able to learn to do fucking better.<br />
<br />
When we tolerate the sort of open and explicit misandry done in the name of "equality" we are manipulating people with the most base of our emotions.<br />
It devalues those it is attempting to protect as well as those it maligns.<br />
Remember, those men you do not know do belong to somebody.<br />
That stranger in the street is somebody's father.<br />
The man in the playground is a doting uncle.<br />
The man arrested for manspreading is somebody's son.<br />
Not all men are good people, so of course caution is understandable and necessary, but we should be careful that caution doesn't become bigotry.<br />
The monsters in the world are a small minority and they are not effected by posters telling them to be less monstrous.<br />
Don't judge all men by the actions of the monsters.<br />
Try to judge them as you would judge the men you love.<br />
Then we might take the first step to overcoming the stigma that masculinity is often stuck with.<br />
<br />
To those reading that wish to cry misogyny, or declare one more important than the other.<br />
You are the monsters in this world.<br />
Misogyny is awful, equality of opportunity and universal human rights are a great thing.<br />
Misogyny is simply not a serious problem in the West, nor in many other places. We already seek to redress sexism targeting women, and that's a great thing. You however condone sexism against men and declare it either less important or even nonexistant.<br />
Your equality is supremacy wearing lipstick.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-133519374764157182015-06-15T09:05:00.000-07:002015-06-15T09:05:00.656-07:00Gun ownershipThe classic American debate.<br />
Wherever you fall on the debate, the truth will remain that Pandora's box is already opened. There can be no gun free USA.<br />
The argument however remains divisive and lacks any sense, especially from the pro-gun advocates.<br />
<br />
First up, it's extremely naive to believe an armed population is somehow going to stop tyranny.<br />
It's an argument I see constantly, and yet those most vocal about it never DO shit about their own corrupt and abusive government.<br />
Congress is (and has been for a while) less popular than the British during colonial rule.<br />
Where's the revolution, boys and girls?<br />
<br />
Why not look to other nations with mass gun ownership. I don't see much democracy and free association going on.<br />
Plenty of civil unrest, war and violence though. <br />
<br />
This is not an argument for gun control.<br />
It's an argument against bullshit justifications for gun ownership.<br />
Banning guns in the US will never work, stop pretending that is the end goal for gun control.<br />
Banning guns may not ever be the correct response to gun crime, but regulations and restrictions are not the same as a ban.<br />
There is no need to parrot meaningless rhetoric as your argument to keep your precious guns. <br />
<br />
Gun ownership doesn't make any individual bad, and obviously those that legally own a firearm are not the criminals, but widely available guns certainly incentivise their use and make them more accessible<br />
If you like to hunt or sport shoot, that's awesome. If you like to collect? Great.<br />
<br />
If you think owning a gun makes you safer? You are an idiot.<br />
I get the idea of self defence, but it's largely an illusion. There really is no such thing as safety.<br />
We live in a world of 7+ billion people.<br />
Even the most well armed and skilled individual can be overcome with numbers, and numbers the human race has in abundance.<br />
Using a gun as a safety blanket strikes me as silly.<br />
<br />
For every instance where gun ownership makes you more safe, there are many in which it makes you less safe.<br />
<br />
A reasonable and rational person will weigh these risks and decide, and that I can respect.<br />
Anybody
that imagines their sidearm is going to prevent government corruption,
or their arrest (lawful or otherwise) is frankly delusional.<br />
<br />
Anybody that thinks good guys with guns are a necessary counter to bad guys with guns really does not know how life works.<br />
The fantasy of being a hero and shooting the bad guy is a great one.<br />
It's understandable.<br />
Hell, I even admit to it myself, and I think "death by cop" is absolutely justifiable (even if we remove the cop. I think criminals forfeit the right to their safety even though I'm a bleeding heart. A criminal is not as deserving of respect or empathy as a non criminal, though bloodshed is always best avoided)<br />
Perhaps home or personal defence really do justify gun ownership and I'm simply a cynic, but what I do know is that an untrained individual with a gun that is stored unsafely and poorly maintained is not a person I would trust to use it properly.<br />
<br />
Gun ownership and gun control are complex issues.<br />
When politicians declare arbitrary kinds of guns illegal they do a disservice to the conversation every bit as much as the nuts that think a rifle will end tyranny.<br />
I only hope that sensible voices win out in the long run.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-51466454129240644402015-06-12T14:20:00.000-07:002015-06-12T14:20:00.500-07:00Self made fortune: How wealth is a colloboration, no matter how hard an individual works, even alone.As in the previous post, I wanted to discuss the idea of wealth and how only society has enabled individuals to amass and protect it.<br />
In most instances this is FAR too complex to even approach an explanation of in short form. The dependence of everyone on the systems we have developed over the vast expanse of human history if a marvel to an inquiring mind.<br />
I will choose to pick my favourite example, as it is simple in the extreme and inarguably those that gain success with it have done all the work themselves.<br />
I am talking, of course, of writing.<br />
A best selling author will probably only make a modest sum, but occasionally a writer will hit the jackpot, finding fame and fortune.<br />
The thing they sell to the masses is an idea. Perhaps an idea in long form, but it has no other value.<br />
Now, this author that has achieved such success has earned it. They did the work and deserve the credit, but even still they rely on a system so heavily that whatever price they pay in tax is a small price for what they gained.<br />
Let us begin with the direct help a writer will receive and likely pay for directly with a share of the "profit" or as a service.<br />
<ul>
<li>The professional editing of the manuscript</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The physical printing of the book </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The promotion of the book</li>
</ul>
I don't think anyone will argue that the publishing houses are an integral part of a professional writer's success.<br />
Now, some take a significant portion of the proceeds from selling books, but I do not imagine a single instance of self publishing working better in terms of audience reach (perhaps crowd funding would be more financially rewarding for many aspiring authors, but with less possibility for commercial success)<br />
The book is a physical object, the production of it is reliant on so much infrastructure, labour and human invention that books were an object of immense value for most of human history; not something to jot down a yarn on for the general public. From growing the raw materials to making the paper and ink, to the manufacture of machinery need for this and for the printing... No one person could accomplish all of this, no matter how awesome their book. <br />
<br />
But this is only the beginning. <br />
It would take a very long time for a writer to deliver copies of their book to every buyer and so we have.<br />
<ul>
<li>Transport of the books to retailers</li>
<li>The infrastructure allowing this transport</li>
<li>Safe storage of the books</li>
<li>Retail outlets that stock the book</li>
<li>advertisement of the book (related to the above promotion of the book, but not limited to it)</li>
</ul>
So, now this author, who is selling their raw intellectual property is reliant on all this in order to have made their fortune.<br />
Except there is more.<br />
Who exactly is the audience for this? It is almost certainly not written in a language created entirely by our hypothetical author? How is the author even receiving value for this idea of theirs? Did they emerge from the womb with such ideas fully formed as if by divine inspiration?<br />
<ul>
<li>The education system (without which, there would be no audience)</li>
<li>Human culture (without which, the ideas would have no context)</li>
<li>Language (who would understand it if it didn't use some form of shared lexicon)</li>
<li>Communications networks (without this, the idea wouldn't spread to become popular)</li>
<li>Currency (how you get paid)</li>
<li>Law enforcement (how your stuff doesn't get nicked)</li>
<li>The courts (how you enforce contracts and ensure fair play)</li>
</ul>
In a very real sense without the systems in which we all live, the ideas of our author would have zero value. They would be worthless or nearly worthless.<br />
Even this one VERY limited example is of such complexity that my short explanations barely do it justice. I'm shining a beam torch in a cavern.<br />
Imagine how much more reliant on our systems other endeavours might be.<br />
<br />
Always keep in mind that no man is an island.<br />
Without society, without our communities, shared culture and even (*cue dramatic music*) the state, there would be no support to hold up the successful.<br />
If the world operated best on "enlightened self interest" (an oft invoked excuse for selfishness) as the only way forward, why are the most dominant species ALWAYS communal? Why indeed do humans find the best success in groups? Could it be that cooperation and the altruism required to make it work is... pragmatic?<br />
Put away the childish objectivist or self serving attitudes.<br />
Realise that meritocracy, liberty and personal success are not antithetical to the principles of community, but that community serves those principles (or damn well should do)<br />
Remember, those decrying the state and the payment of taxes are in a very real sense the most reliant on the things those taxes pay for.<br />
Without "the state" a poor person remains poor; a rich person *becomes* poor.<br />
Who should have the largest incentive, the largest responsibility, the largest share of the burden to preserve these systems?<br />
History reveals that throughout all times until recently those with the greatest wealth realised they had the most to lose.<i> Noblesse oblige</i> was about true "enlightened self interest" as much as it was a moral imperative for those in power not to abuse their status.<br />
In short, those that benefit most from the system should be footing the fucking bill, not finding excuses to put that burden on others.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-45106071627604457792015-06-10T13:44:00.000-07:002015-08-31T05:43:03.478-07:00A political allegory: The chairmaker.Politics is a harsh mistress, and misunderstandings are responsible for much of the bad blood.<br />
I hope to alleviate some of the ignorance with a story.<br />
<br />
A man makes the best chairs in his community.<br />
Everybody can make a place to sit, or sit on the floor, but the chairs this individual produces are better than any other.<br />
Now, in order to make a chair he must secure and mature the wood, assemble the chair and either use it, or find somebody that will exchange something of value for it. (amongst many other tasks)<br />
Operating on his own, only a small amount of his time is taken producing the thing he is best at. Much of his chair producing time is taken up by tasks he is perfectly capable of, but perhaps not the best at or which anybody could do.<br />
And so, our intrepid chair maker asks another to chop down trees to produce the lumber he needs. He allows others to do the less skilled tasks involved in the production of the chair itself, he allows another to sell the final product.<br />
He is now a job creator. An entrepreneur. He found a market for chairs and he fulfilled that need.<br />
Perhaps he expands his business by training others in his methods so that he has skilled help. Perhaps he patents his ideas and allows others to use his ingenuity.<br />
<br />
To me, this chairmaker represents the ideals most people want to support, whatever politics they choose. I do not think I would hear disagreement from conservative, libertarian, liberal or socialist on this matter.<br />
The man is entitled to the fruits of his labour, and he got there through merit.<br />
What I will suggest is that many believe they are supporting the chairmaker against the evils of those workers perhaps jealous of his success, or of the state body overseeing the lives of all, but they are not.<br />
The man who owns the land the trees are grown on, the building the chairmaker works in , the home he lives in. That is the person supported by populist policies on the right, that is the kind of person most usually claiming the title of "job creator"<br />
Not a person that makes, produces or envisions. Just a person that owns things.<br />
<br />
A socialist, on the other hand, believes that work has value, ownership does not.<br />
Should the chairmaker exploit those helping him produce his chairs, he makes an enemy of socialist ideology, but he is not inherently so.<br />
I'd suggest that such a "business" as I have outlined is *entirely* in keeping with socialism. Each contributes, each is afforded a share of the fruits of their labours.<br />
As much as the chair maker here is responsible for the livelihoods of many, without those helping him he would not have achieved so much. The point being is that large endeavours require cooperation and inter-reliance.<br />
Any billionaire or multimillionaire that declares themselves "self made" is entirely delusional. (the caveat being that many are aware of the reality and are simply being poetic, which is awesome)<br />
They were reliant on the system they made their fortune in and on the work of those they employed. No man is an island.<br />
<br />
If you personally believe that capital (the wealth one possesses) is more important than the work one does, then you do not support the chair maker. You do not support those that create the wealth.<br />
You support the parasites that add no value to the system.<br />
I often hear admonishments that capital gains tax is essentially taxing a person twice, as they already earned the money.<br />
I think this is laughable and makes no sense to a rational mind.<br />
What these people are suggesting is that money which is earned by your money is worth more than money you earn through work.<br />
In a very real sense they are suggesting that the ownership of wealth has more value than the production of wealth.<br />
<br />
Now, does this mean investment is evil or worthless?<br />
Of course not!<br />
But due consideration much be made as to the value of investment over work.<br />
Should buying the labour of others be worth more than the labour itself?<br />
We live in a capitalist world, and capitalism has proven to be a very successful tool that works well in many situations.<br />
Socialism aspires to build a better mousetrap, but social democracies prove that socialists have always been willing to embrace the ideas that work.<br />
Bear that in mind when you hear from political ideologues how compromise is evil.<br />
Who would you trust? A political philosophy willing to embrace what works, or one which demonises all opposition at all times?<br />
<br />
Regardless of your preferred politics, support the chair maker. Don't blindly support rhetoric on claims of how much it will help those intrepid chair makers of tomorrow.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-80512035951817506622015-06-08T05:03:00.000-07:002015-06-08T05:03:00.746-07:00Fanfic, the final.<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Unknown Paladin</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Part Three</span></h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Steel
clashed and the mightiest spells of our assembled host shot towards
the gargantuan Gronn. His sons had done little to prepare me for the
sight of him, barely contained by the vaulting cavern of his home.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
mighty giant, the bone protrusions erupting from his flesh enhanced
his fearsome appearance, muscles and sinew thickly knotted limbs as
large as several Tauren, measured hoof to horn. Viscously curved
claws tipped fingers thicker than a stout leg. Teeth, broken and
jagged but undoubtedly deadly jutted from his massive jaws, glinting
in the torch light and dripping saliva.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Truly
a God and King above Kings in these sundered lands.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
fury of the bestial God-King seemed boundless, as did his vitality. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No
wound or searing flame, nor fierce touch of elements seemed to weaken
the creature. Instead, in the brief moments since the fight had been
joined in earnest, he had appeared to grow, unfolding his massive
bulk to meet the threat of an army.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
my blessings and the constant succour of my healing the brawlers kept
their feet, nearing death only to be restored by a fist of glorious
magics.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
glint in Gruul’s eye was not fear; such would be unknowable to the
monster. Rather he seemed to delight at the invaders, gleeful to vent
his wrath at such puny foes. Energy coursing through a body ancient
and wasted by repose, stirring power long untapped and unchallenged
since vanquishing the Black flight.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
hideous laugh echoed through the cavern, raining down sweeping blows
as the desperate bear fought to keep the giant’s attention. A
slightly built cadaver, a scout of questionable abilities danced
around the thrashing fists as glancing blows crushed the unwary.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How
the forsaken fool hoped to harm a god with tiny, poking envenomed
blades I would never guess, but the desperate flurries were just as
effective as anything else. Not very effective at all.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blood
flowed freely from dozens of gashes on Gruul’s legs, arms and
torso. They did little to trouble the fiend. His growth was now
clearly visible, and his strength multiplied with it.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
massive rumple took me off my feet, disturbing my tenacious grasp over
the Naaru’s power. Looking around as I struggled to my feet I saw
the less capable of my fellows prone or running from similar quakes,
as Gruul shook his home with tremors.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Throwing
a shock of potent healing magics at the tiring bear I too ran from
the quake. Mid step the world froze in an instant. A surge of power
flooded the room, filling my entire being.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
sweet taste washed away the bitterness of the twisted Naaru’s
magic.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not
arcane, nor fel. Not even the dilute tang of elements harnessed by
the Shaman. This was pure, more so even than the Sunwell.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
smile touched my lips at that blasphemy.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
wall of sound broke the moment as I was thrown towards the
stalactites hanging far above.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nausea
rose and was conquered as the natural order of things resumed. The
sweet taste left and the swell of the light filled my being once
more.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
distaste another shock of the foul stuff left my fist, this time
directed inwards. The fall had not been pleasant.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Casting
an eye around, the room darkened imperceptibly. Gruul towered above,
seeming to throw his fist through syrup.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
world darkened.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
step took me out of the monster’s shadow.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
world darkened.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Throwing
all my weight forward in a terrific leap...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
world darkened.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...
I came crashing into the troll priest, hastily shielding herself with
a hushed word.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Again
a moment in time extended onwards, Gruul bellowed a full throated
laugh as he stamped a massive foot.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
world shattered.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
last seconds rushed through my mind, no longer slowed by Gruul’s
trick.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beyond
the troll I could see the shadowy mass of a forsaken. One I
recognized. That incompetent fool mage, still bursting with his
stolen magic. The petrification Gruul had effortlessly cast on an
army, he had just as easily smashed. The force of each shattering
extending outwards wreaking terrible destruction through the forces arrayed against him.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
would not run so hastily again, being so close to the troll maiden
had nearly ended me and the touch of her shielding magics around me
did little but vex me with my own foolish haste.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gruul
now towered, forced to stoop beneath the cavern ceiling and breaking
stalactites with every move.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
chaos of falling rock went largely unnoticed with the constant
tremors and the desperation to bring the beast down before the whole
of the mountain range fell upon us all.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
festering buffoon had followed me, grinning as he called for my
blessings even as he sent a bolt of flame from a flailed hand.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessing
bestowed, I glowered briefly at him, turning my attention back to the
viscous melee. More had fallen as Gruul gained in size and strength,
crushing those unfortunate enough to be caught beneath his
indiscriminate strikes.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
soundless explosion reverberated through the cavern, and silence
reigned. The magic burned in my hands for release, but no words could
issue forth. No sounds of the carnage, nor the wails of the injured.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
magic flared as sound rushed once more into the world.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But
too late.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
one staggering blow the bear was floored, Gruul raised a foot to
finish the dazed druid. Tugging at the power of the Naaru, ripping
power through the ether into me I extended my hands, palm out. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
laying of hands would once have drained a paladin of every ounce of
strength and life, but Kael had taught our people well that a
desperate act could hold untold rewards.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ripping
at my belt pouch a cool bottle came immediately to hand.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
tiny vial of blue liquid.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
the back streets of Silvermoon, or in the ruins where the Wretched
fought for their meagre, warped existence in decrepit slums, a single
drop from this vial could buy the head of any elf in the city.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bitter
magic, foul and plain. But it infused me, reinvigorating after the
exhausting spell.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
bear had regained his senses, and my mighty effort had given the
others time to react. Bellowing a challenging roar the druid seemed
to enrage, growing in size and sweeping his massive paws in a berserk
effort to mangle a foe so far beyond his capabilities that the blows
may as well have been swats at flies.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gruul’s
amusement seemed to wane. Perhaps the efforts of our motley army were
finally having an effect, though the Gronn seemed to grow still more
massive.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
roar again echoed through the cavern, and I braced, quickly throwing
flashes of healing magic as I waited for the inevitable.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Glancing
around, I could see the less stupid of my fellows bracing themselves.
As one we flew in arcs towards the hanging stalactites.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hitting
the floor in a roll, I was ready.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
world darkened.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Luck
favours the wary and a dark alcove awaited me a short run away.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
world darkened.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Throwing
myself again in a marvellous leap I rolled forward. Momentum threw me
forward faster than my legs would now carry me as I...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
world darkened.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...
crashed into the dank stone of the cavern wall.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
world shattered.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
could hear cries behind me as I quickly closed a fresh gash on my
cheek.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
torch light showed the cavern floor was littered with bodies. Few
were still conscious, crawling to their feet to continue the battle.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gruul
paused briefly, possibly according some measure of honour to the bear
once more prone before him. A foot viscously stamping the life from
the druid ended any conveyance.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Turning
his fierce regard from the melee Gruul eyed the rotting moron of a
mage, gleefully bending to pluck the unfortunate from half a room
away.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
end had come. These puppets had failed at the last hurdle.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
taste of Gruul’s power only magnified the torment of my defeat.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
left only one course of action, a slim chance that something could be
salvaged yet.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Running
forward I shrouded myself in a divine shield, wrapping the trapped
Naaru’s considerable power around myself.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gruul
turned his attention from me to hurriedly maim and kill the last of
the invaders.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Falling
to my knees before the Gronn God I knew I must beseech him for
whatever mercy he might have. I would not be an ineffective servant,
and perhaps I could win the power I sought under a new master. Not the end I wished, with the captive giant humbled before the assembled people of Silvermoon, ready to crown a new champion. A new regent. But service could have rewards.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<span style="font-size: small;">My
King. Spare me that I might serve.” With a swallow I saw that I had
the entirety of his gruesome attention, and the magic protecting me
would not last long. “Your court is dead, your bastion in ruins. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<span style="font-size: small;">You
could make good use of my power. The Naaru’s Light bends to my
will, and with me as emissary there are worlds beyond this you could
crush under heel!”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gruul
considered my words well, a smile touching that monstrous
countenance.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">His
laugh once again echoed through his home.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<span style="font-size: small;">Gruul
not need unworthy runt. Die!”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raising
a fist the Gronn kept his gaze fixed to mine. The faintly glowing
bubble of divine energy surrounding me did not feel too invulnerable.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
blow shattered the already failing barrier with ease.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
ends here. Not glory, not the pleasures of the arcane. Just death.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
shade of the unknown paladin retreated from the mouth of Gruul’s
cave, the crunch of bones echoing throughout Blades Edge, a warning
to any who would invade the home of the Dragonkiller.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-8241751043549145892015-06-05T04:43:00.000-07:002015-06-05T04:43:00.359-07:00Fanfic, continued.<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Unknown Paladin</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Part Two</span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An
argument seemed to rage amongst the colossal ogres.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such a vulgar
language, but thankfully easy to decipher.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laughably simplistic
actually. How such a force that dwelled within could waste time with
the disparate tribes of its brethren in these accursed mountains was
a mystery. The Dragonkiller could walk out into the world and bring
armies to their knees, with or without his sons. Instead his puppet
King raged at rebellion and the strange whispers of a new ogre power
rising.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soon
those problems would be meaningless to them all. Death held all the
answers they would ever need.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
scouts we had sent forward returned. We would have to take down the
council to get to their master. Just as I had predicted. Still, the
news that more ogre sentries also lay beyond was fresh. I doubted the
foolish creatures would give us any trouble, even if they heard the
massacre of their King.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our
fighters split, a small team of healers staying with a single warrior
at the mouth of the tunnel into the wider cavern. The foolish mage,
recovered from his most recent end thanks to one of my fellow
healers, advanced on the council of ogres. Still oblivious to their
impending doom they did not notice the suspicious shadows invading
their stronghold. Our scouting party had confirmed our strategy. The
bear-commander had scried out our course true, somehow. The inferior
races often had their uses and this shape-addled creature knew well
enough how to fight.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not so unlike the ogres before us, and seemingly
as easily manipulated.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
mage’s hands burst into flame as he readied a massive ball of
flame. The first attack, and our signal.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
conflagration grew in size as it travelled, soon warning our quarry
of our presence.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Too
late for them.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More
parties thrust forward from the flanks, each drawing a single
opponent.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Divide
and conquer.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Simple and hopefully effective. The king rushed towards
the mage, roaring his fury as his own magus threw torrents of flame
at the hapless wizard. Laughing, a towering Tauren took aim through a
massive gun and fired a round into the King's face.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Through
no magic I could detect the King's rage was instantly redirected...
at the warrior standing nearby my group of healing specialists.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Light surged through me as I bent it to my will, shaping its holy
energies to help the foolish shield bearer weather such an onslaught.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not
even my mastery of the Light could accomplish this alone. The troll
priest and a walking corpse of the same caste stood at my shoulders.
Aiding my endeavours with their own paltry magics. Vessels for a
power beyond them, begging for the guidance of that which I
controlled. Pitiful light-lovers unable to see that they worshipped a power that should be at under their heel.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Still,
they achieved their purpose; to bolster my own masterful efforts.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
warrior could not lock horns with his opponent. The King of the ogres
was no paltry foe, for all his servitude to a greater power. He
towered above us, horns of his own sprouting from flesh in a grim imitation of the Gronn he served. Instead the beast-man thrust forward
his shield, striking the towering monster with mocking blows even as he fended off
attacks. It did little to trouble the thing, but such a massive body
held a small mind, easily distracted from those he might destroy with
little more than a glance.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
gargantuan Felhunter could be heard baying further inside.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A weakness
overcame me as its very presence began to drain the arcane flows of
power from around it, such an abomination should not be loose.
Fortunately we had practitioners of the fel arts amongst us. That
they were inept was an unfortunate consequence of their inferior
ancestry, but even as my resolve began to falter the feelings
receded. Finally the hounds of the legion were contained.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shouts
sounded from further inside the cavern. Even with a span of rock to
conceal it, I could feel the magic. Such magic. One of the creatures
had erected an ethereal barrier, and even still had strength left to
bend it’s crude powers into a healing spell more potent than any I
could call, save perhaps at the expense of my very life.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
willed the spell to its end, the thought of such arcane might
coursing through the air came as a thrill, intoxicating, almost able
to satisfy the lust that burned within. But the barrier fell to a
massive onslaught as my allies redoubled their efforts. A startled
cry cut through the sounds of fighting instead, satisfying enough in
its own way. A wail soon after told of the fate of the unfortunate
ogre.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such
a pity it could not have been crippled but left alive. Silvermoon
would have feasted for weeks on such vigour.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For a price.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
the first member of the ogre council defeated even such dull
creatures as these balked, seeing their own doom. The High King let
out a booming roar.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<span style="font-size: small;">You
not kill the next one so easy!”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
bluster sounded hollow even to my ears, standing bare feet away from
his deafening shout.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soon, two resonant thuds told of two more of his
followers joining their friend in oblivion, almost in tandem. The
cadaverous mage had done well keeping the ogre magi occupied, the
buzz of energy told of the great struggle. The repeated theft of the
ogre’s spells had come in useful, though I might wish the festering
bastard would choke on them. Under other circumstances I might have
fed the ogre its tormentor, for its enslavement would have been a
prize above almost any other.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entry to its master’s den could further
my cause more.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
needs of others could not deter me in this.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
mass of my savage companions mobbing the last of the council quickly
overcame its defences. Only the King remained to thwart my designs.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
massive ogre paused at this, seemingly defeated, before his shoulders
once more squared in defiance.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<span style="font-size: small;">You
will not defeat the Hand of Gruul!” The glint of madness in his eye
hinted at what was to come as a berserker rage descended.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lifting
his hammer high he swung it wildly, soon blurring into a maelstrom of
destruction. The brawler of a Tauren held his shield to its best
effect, struggling to keep the vast ogre’s attention. Blood pooled
and the ground became slick, but still the brute raged until his
maddened state seemed to make him glow.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
a bellow far more bestial than even an ogre's usual grunts he paused his
mad whirlwind, throwing aside his immense hammer he charged into the
heart of the raiders to rend his enemies bare handed. Limbs struck my
fellows as one unfortunate was torn apart in seconds. Even could I
tell apart the barbarous races at a glance, never would I hope to
identify the victim; such was the devastation.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
the might of the Naaru bent to my will I fought to counter the
assault, others of the healing arts following my example. Even Kael
himself would marvel at the efforts of my allies as they continued to
attack the crazed giant, worthy tools for my goals.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Summoning
forth holy energies to assault the beast I cast them forth, hoping to
add a final shock, ending him. The effort was sadly wasted as his
death rattle sounded. But one last curse could he voice before the
light faded from his eyes, barely a whisper, but heard by all.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<span style="font-size: small;">Gruul
will... Crush you!”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
monster’s threat could not be easily ignored.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Dragonkiller awaited and the combined might of the ogre nation lived
and died on his whim.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-75273578550842483992015-06-03T04:39:00.000-07:002015-06-03T04:39:00.435-07:00Fanfic: yup, I am that much of a nerd.<h3 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Unknown Paladin</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part One. </span></span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
maw of the cavern stood before us, the corpses of the fallen ogres
beneath our boots smelled sickly sweet with spilled blood and charred
flesh. Soon decay would transform these hills into a fetid wasteland.
Would Draenor, the promised land of my people, ever find surcease
from ruin?</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
companions called out for my blessings. Little did they know the
power that I bent to my will, striving against the might of the
captive Naaru, twisting the Light to do my bidding.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
felt the invigoration of divine magics course through me as the
priests wove their spells across the party. A nearby Troll smiled
serenely as she called forth the light. Had she abandoned her
heritage simply to beg the light for its gifts? Savages and blood
enemies they may be, but pride in her race should come before
obeisance to an illusory ideal. My thoughts left me as other magics
joined the electric surge through my body, fuelling arcane lusts I
could not control.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
power was magnificent. Why else would I align myself with the feral
brutes and treacherous former humans? And as for my sin'dorei
peers... They mattered only as far as I could use them. Kael'thas,
who would be King of a ruined people, has taught us even in his
betrayal; use those with power enough to aid you, they can be
discarded at will.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our
commander, a towering Tauren too often taking the form of a
massive bear roared for silence, our numbers a veritable army at his command. Those within knew we were coming,
undoubtedly, but in their arrogance they could be defeated. Orders
were given quickly and quietly in the hush. The ogres inside were no
easy targets. If they would only mount a true defence of their
stronghold few forces in this world or those beyond could hope to overcome them.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fortunately,
they were fools.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
bestial face turned to the intruding light as we entered. Even in
those inhuman features I could see the recognition flare. Intruders.
As many of its kind, the warrior classes, it charged towards us.
Before it could reach the fragile magic users the bear-Tauren
distracted it with a sweep of his massive paw. Cruel claws kept the
creature's attention focused away from its doom, as I forced the
Light to seal the bear's wounds.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A figure of the doomed ogre's brethren loomed nearer as its
corpse hit the cold stones. A priest wreathed in shadows looked on,
oblivious to our wounded as he prepared a fresh barrage for this new threat. His Light-loving fellows and a druid,
taking a bastardized treeform in homage to the World-tree, Nordrassil, wove their
spells. Beyond, a paladin long out of Silvermoon twisted his power to
the same ends, aided by a haggard shaman. Who knew the trials he had
faced in this realm of sundered elements, what bargains he struck to invigorate our army and keep them whole.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
bear charged, followed by weapon waving lunatics that called themselves warriors. The shadows held more surprises
for the ogre as rogues plied their skills, blackened blades never
glinting in the poor torch-light as they went to their grisly work.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Intelligence
bordering on reason showed in the bestial face as it bellowed for help from
the denizens residing further within before narrowing it's eyes in concentration, raising meaty fists in the air.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
could smell the magic coursing through it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I longed to drink deep
from that well of power.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadly, my duties would not allow it and those duties promised the reward of greater magic to come. This morsel of
the arcane would do my corpse no good when my distraction cost us our lives. Every healer present focused
on the bear, to do less would ensure his death and risk my own. The
air was so filled with the aroma of magic I could barely resist as the ogre
healed itself with a potent spell. An undead mage cast forth his own
arcane weaving... And the spell was his.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There
could be no true God to allow an abomination such glorious energies.
Sweeping my eyes across my companions I saw these thoughts mirrored
in my Blood Knight brother's visage.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pummelled,
kicked and bashed the ogre succumb, crashing to the floor, denied the help it
had so desperately called for, as it was deprived of its healing magic.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
far more pleasant smells of a campfire and strong ale came to me
through the all pervading sweat and blood. Two of the massive ogres.
Not on guard, for we had dealt with the two sentries. Caught unaware, they would still
not go down easily.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even from this distance I could see we were dealing with the brutes. No
spark of intellect showed as they stood warming themselves, oblivious
to the small army that assailed them.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
Tauren warrior stepped forth hefting a large shield onto his forearm.
Shoulder to shoulder with the bear they advanced, and then burst into
action, separating the ogres away from each other and our main group.
Fire and ice arced through the air, fierce strikes from arrow, bullet
and blade pierced flesh as we healers struggled to keep our brawlers
on their feet.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
a sudden roar an ogre turned, charging into our ranks. One blow from
its vicious axe cleaved a mage in two. The same mage who had been
bathed in the ogre's potent restorative magics minutes before.
Perhaps a God was directing things, I thought, a wry smile touching
my lips. Another of our number was felled before our bestial
commander once more took charge of the errant ogre. As it was lead
away from our clustered position its companion gave a last bellow of
pain and slumped to the ground. Alone it faced us, unswerving in its
bravery... or stupidity, before it joined the others.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Creeping
forward we could see the High King himself, his full council
assembled on some unfathomable whim. They dwarfed those we had
bested.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.3cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
would be fun.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-46170811074735188542015-06-01T17:54:00.000-07:002016-05-08T06:27:56.978-07:00The Holy Trinity (of MMOs) Part Two: Diversity over Inclusivity.MMOs have tried to become more and more inclusive.<br />
The more inclusive an MMO is, developers reason, the more subscriptions are attracted and perhaps you'll have a hope of recovering the investment.<br />
Considering the expense of developing an MMO, this is completely understandable.<br />
It is entirely incorrect though.<br />
World of Warcraft has it's massive share of the market not because it is so easy to play, not because everything can be done by everybody.<br />
It is so big because it changed the nature of MMOs. It required communities to develop in order to see large parts of the game. Those communities attract more interest and increase subs.<br />
It is the community behind the game that powers Warcraft's massive popularity, and those communities were built when the game was not inclusive at all.<br />
As inclusivity had increased, communities have suffered, as Blizzard can attest with a decline in server populations as people migrate to greener pastures and whole servers die, all the while the subscriber base remains high.<br />
<br />
I believe whole heartedly that what needs to be offered is diversity of play, rather than inclusivity.<br />
Many ways in which to play the game, not an ambiguous crap heap than anyone can dive into and "complete" with little effort.<br />
That is where the trinity comes in.<br />
<br />
For the last several expansions Tanking has become more simple and far easier.<br />
Anyone arguing with this point is an idiot, I'm sorry.<br />
Blizzard themselves have admitted as much and with sound reason.<br />
The Looking For Group tool requires FAR more tanking players than any raid team can provide.<br />
1 tank and 1 healer for each 3 dps. Fine if every guild is a 10man, but in the modern 20, outdated 25 and archaic 40man, that ratio is impossible to maintain.<br />
And so, tanking was made easier to attract more players to the faster queues, lowering queue time for everyone. As anybody using the LFG tool can attest, the queues are still not friendly for a damage class.<br />
Their design philosophy also wants player experiences to be fairly short. 20 minutes in a dungeon, not the 2-3 hours of vanilla, or 1hour+ of burning crusade.<br />
The old requirements of Crowd Control classes meant Blizzard addressed this by giving most classes a CC ability, and then removing any need to use them in almost all content. Only a limited selection of classes could use Area of Effect abilities to clear a lot of monsters quickly, so all classes were given access to AoE. Players then dedicated their play time to finding ways to make all encounters reliant on these new damage abilities, as the raw damage output was exponentially higher.<br />
All of this served to kill the diversity of classes and options for players, replacing it with being inclusive.<br />
<br />
It might be fun in the moment to see big numbers, but people become bored very quickly of doing the same things again time after time.<br />
Blizzard does an exceptional job of designing Boss encounters that remain engaging and challenging, but this in and of itself is self defeating. As a long time raid and guild leader, players are trained to play poorly by the game outside of high end raiding and expect to compete immediately without effort. Newer players are simply not made ready for endgame with the tools provided by blizzard, but must be plunged directly into the fire to be tempered. A frustrating proposition for all involved.<br />
Add to this the latest tool for finding a raid, and for many joining a community is simply not worth it.<br />
<br />
So, how to "fix" the problem and build content that is engaging and encourages communities to flourish.<br />
<ul>
<li>Remove ubiquitous aoe</li>
</ul>
Players should need to target the thing they need to attack, not just point in the right direction.<br />
At the moment we have MMOs build around players spraying and praying in the general direction of danger. When they are finally required to target monsters tactically, it becomes an exercise in herding cats.<br />
<ul>
<li>Restoring the Trinity</li>
</ul>
Design specialisations around their job in the raid.<br />
Tank specs should be designed around controlling the behaviour of monsters, damage reduction and raid utility. If a tank is required to track a complicated rotation and many dps ability cooldowns in order to be effective they are not playing a tank, they are playing a glorified dps.<br />
Healing is largely unfuckupable, though I think more hybrid roles are awesome (this is the one area I think Blizzard has done remarkably well, with healers able to switch to fairly substantial damage on the fly)<br />
Damage classes should specialise and vary. Build classes that can do certain jobs very well, and put content in that makes them useful. Kiting, Crowd Control, debuffing, AoE. This should be that persons role in any encounter. Make some classes/specs more difficult to get right, some easier. Give people options in playstyle and don't stress perfect balance or the fact a VERY limited part of the player base will exploit.<br />
<ul>
<li>Crowd Control is FUN and USEFUL</li>
</ul>
Making Crowd Control ubiquitous was somewhat necessary for Blizzard, as mages were essentially mandatory in even 5man content.<br />
Unfortunately, at the same time they gave everyone (including tanks) easy AoE and made crowd control entirely redundant. Players then refused to CC in order to see big numbers and "increase speed" and complained when content was too difficult, which saw it nerfed repeatedly over every expansion since.<br />
CC was not broken.<br />
People still played and ENJOYED burning crusade 5man content for the WHOLE EXPANSION.<br />
That has not been true since.<br />
Making groups play strategically gives a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.<br />
<ul>
<li>Attunements are not a bad thing.</li>
</ul>
Perhaps a little controversial, but attunements don't make people groan, they provide a structure so people know what they should be doing. Now, developers keep making the mistake of making attunements a PUNISHMENT, but they do not need to be.<br />
Wildstar screwed up by making it's attunement so time intensive, and forcing players to play through the same content when they had already done it all because of an arbitrary restriction. (seriously, having to go and repeat scenarios for the 5th or 6th time in order to advance a quest is frustrating. Attunement should direct play, not dictate it)<br />
<br />
Burning Crusade was onerous in the extreme.<br />
Having to run dungeons to Revered reputation to get a key to enter heroic... it was a bit much after doing it on your main.<br />
It did however ensure that people were committed and new what to do (generally)<br />
Later in the expansion attunements were relaxed and a perfect medium was reached (imo)<br />
Rep grind and familiarisation on a main character and that unlocks the content for your whole account.<br />
Great!<br />
Scrapping the attunement for the later raids?<br />
Perfect!<br />
<br />
Then we hit The Frozen Throne and it is all thrown out of the window and we see the start of the decline of group play.<br />
Developers need to keep in mind two things when planning endgame content.<br />
First, attunements can be used to direct players to the content you built for their exact level of gear. This limits the frustration your playerbase feels at failure and more importantly, having the deal with those unprepared for the content you find yourself in.<br />
Second, it gives a sense of achievement. It advances your character in a very real sense. Think of it more as just another item they can equip; it's the whole point of the game!<br />
Don't use attunement as a stick to beat people. Use it to funnel players to where they are able to play well. Make it about personal accomplishment and skill, not a time sink (or in the case of the long term "legendary quests" Blizzard has been doing, please allow players to catch up when new content is released. It is endlessly frustrating to have people behind and unable to catch up because the content isn't regularly cleared any more)<br />
<ul>
<li>Encourage community play.</li>
</ul>
MMOs live and die on their community.<br />
Give people incentives to play in and be active with a guild (whatever it may be called)<br />
This one is tough, but I think it is entirely possible.<br />
Of course there should be options for solo play (I actually enjoy it, strangely enough) but emphasise group play, especially ad-hoc, if you can manage it. Public Quests were a great idea, and they work very well. Prompting people to join together automatically is a very good concept I wish was used more (even allow people to flag themselves as potential "leaders")<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>All content should be endgame content.</li>
</ul>
The fact that content becomes obsolete is so strange to me.<br />
It does not need to be this way.<br />
In my opinion, the best game to demonstrate what I mean is Eve Online.<br />
You enter the game and despite being able to do very little, everything you do can be used by the most jaded veteran towards their goals.<br />
The most easily obtained crafting material remains relevant to everyone, meaning no content becomes obsolete and new players can engage with whomever they wish and accomplish shared goals.<br />
<br />
Another principle to consider is level adjustment.<br />
Allow players of wildly different levels to play the same content.<br />
If you can allow the high level player to receive loot relevant to them, great (Neverwinter does this) but regardless it will serve to bring people together, which again is the core of building a real audience in an MMO.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
These are just the ramblings of a mad man, but they are the conclusions I arrive to after 15+ years of playing.<br />
"Inclusion" has been poison to MMOs because it demeans everyone. Diversity (of available playing options) will serve the same end, without needed to dumb anything down in an attempt to expand the target audience.<br />
I live in hope we see this in future franchises, and I wait with baited breath for my appetite to be whetted by a truly engaging MMO.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-74842958953574583922015-05-29T16:52:00.000-07:002016-05-08T06:25:29.108-07:00The Holy Trinity (of MMOs) Part One: An introduction to my MMO experiences.This is my bugbear.<br />
But perhaps an introduction is in order; <br />
I've been playing MMO's since I was 16~ which is around 15 years of experience.<br />
While players come and go, I can usually rely on the same crowd returning to "try out" any new MMO on the market, and some for the latest World of Warcraft expansion.<br />
To say I have wasted countless days of my life playing games that are little more than a pretty <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operant_conditioning_chamber">skinner box </a>is probably an apt description.<br />
<br />
I will say that my addiction to online gaming has almost certainly saved my sanity, if not my life.<br />
It has kept me in touch with my friends and made me many more that I'd never have come across (how many normal people can boast a sofa to sleep on in almost every country in Europe and some places beyond?) It has broadened my horizons, and dispelled many misconceptions of my fellow man.<br />
Perhaps not entirely wasted time. <br />
<br />
But there remains a large part of me that is continually disappointed at potential wasted (often squandered) by continual pandering to even wider audiences.<br />
My first days online as a teenager (late to the party, amongst the last of my peers to get a PC) saw me thrown into a roleplay game like no other.<br />
I speak of Ultima Online.<br />
It's <a href="https://uo.com/">still going</a> though I left is long ago.<br />
For those unaware, it is a true MMORPG.<br />
Players are able to build a unique character from a variety of skills to achieve whatever end they wish, mastering some skills completely, leaving others intentionally stunted. You could be a crafter, with no combat skills at all, or a thief (in the old days you really could steal anything not literally nailed down, including from other players houses and inventory)<br />
Perhaps you'd like to tame a Dragon to do your fighting for you?<br />
Of course certain builds were popularised as very effective but in those early days building a character was truly a feat of perseverance, as you slowly navigated a completely open world to discover which challenges you could overcome, and which would end your life.<br />
In this game, there was no trinity. Each player had to be somewhat self sufficient, with cooperative play leading to feats of achievement that still satisfy me today as memories.<br />
<br />
That all changed when I was finally enticed to Warcraft scant months before the release of the burning crusade.<br />
Questing was entirely new to me, as was levelling (in an MMO)<br />
Always before I had gone where I was able to kill the toughest monsters I could to train skills and earn money.<br />
WoW was an entirely different beast.<br />
A game on rails, directing your play and segregating it's population based on their advancement.<br />
It has it's merits as well as pitfalls, the major downside being my complete isolation from those that encouraged me to play in the first place.<br />
The role play was sidelined too, replaced by what amounted to participation in a story.<br />
No more did I see roving bands of players posing as Orcs or Undead to kill other players, nor the casual acquaintances of those farming the same spots I preferred (or the enmity of those that would come to kill me)<br />
Then came the Holy Trinity, and it was a revelation.<br />
<br />
I had always preferred playing rough and tumble characters, able to take a hit and shrug it off.<br />
Warcraft took that concept a step further with the Tanking role.<br />
My first outing as a tank was amusingly naive.<br />
I knew my job, I'd had a brief go in a dungeon when levelling a friend's mage, I had all the skills and went to it with gusto.<br />
About 3/4 through gnomeregon a member of my party complain that I never taunted when I did lose aggro or we had adds incoming.<br />
My reply.... "that's a cooldown!"<br />
I had misread the tooltip and thought the very concept of taunting was powerful enough to warrant a minutes long cooldown (Shield Wall being the ability in question, the genuinely powerful 40% damage reduction)<br />
Only after the instance did I see my error, and in one of the more annoying 5 man dungeons.<br />
Still, it cemented my adoration for the role. The strategy of planning a pull, the high pressure and constant attention required, the pure sweat and adrenaline and the genuine appreciation shown my groups (when nothing went wrong)<br />
Tanking, for those of you new to the game, is not what it used to be. <br />
<br />
Healing remained a mystery to me for a long time, until months into The Burning Crusade I had finally deemed myself ready after rerolling to a Paladin, levelling as protection because I am insane, and started looking for a raiding guild.<br />
The jackpot was struck with an invite to my first Guild (in any game, I am something of a loner and in any case I'd never been logged in for longer than a few minutes without being recruited into a group on my warrior)<br />
Karazan. There is a reason the place remains a fond memory for WoW players, despite its flaws.<br />
The snag? I had to heal.<br />
Now, I'm never one to shy away from a challenge, and I am exactly arrogant enough to believe I can accomplish just about anything. With the spec I'd never played, in the odds and sods items I'd kept for offspec duty.<br />
Raid Frames? What are raid frames?<br />
What do you mean dispel, how do I do that?<br />
Needless to say, my new friends were not impressed, but they were very patient and helpful.<br />
After initial disasters mostly resting on my novice shoulders we managed to clear the place.<br />
I still have fond memories of my first raid team, my first guild (still in touch with a few faces after all this time) and I even stooped to writing fanfic about our epic Gruul run (gathering 25 players for content is a feat a lot of people take for granted all on its own)<br />
<br />
To this day I have never played a damage dealer to any high level of play.<br />
While I do enjoy the concept, I am unable to abandon the more essential duties above. I am more than capable of the role though (good old personal arrogance) and being acknowledged is always satisfying.<br />
Sadly, Warcraft, and many MMOs since, seem to have committed to making the last aspect of the holy trinity all about numbers. Even Wildstar, touted as upping the difficulty, doubled down on ending strategic play and control in favour of aRPG elements and cleaving the universe to death.<br />
For those that lived through the various iterations, this is a corruption of the old term, as the last of the trinity was about crowd control and general utility (buffing/debuffing/kiting)<br />
Along the way something very cool and worth investing in was discarded because lazy players did not want to make that effort and so were not given the same precedence in building a team.<br />
<br />
So ends the introduction; tune in for Part 2: Diversity over Inclusivity.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966476311760732298.post-54168009965037473322015-05-27T09:26:00.000-07:002015-05-27T09:26:00.342-07:00Who benefits most from society?This is a big topic.<br />
Without a doubt, civilisation DOES benefit those living in it.<br />
Now, there are sociological arguments that isolation and barbarism (for want of a better term) are not bad, but I for one enjoy the benefits of the modern world which would be impossible without our sprawling and interconnected cultures.<br />
<br />
Many would suggest that the greatest benefits of civil society are enjoyed by the poor through welfare and charity.<br />
These are certainly advantages bought about through our social contracts, and a great argument for our nature as nurturing and empathetic creatures.<br />
I would argue that whatever the advantages enjoyed by the poor and disadvantaged in society, they are dwarfed by the advantages garnered by the wealth classes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/distribution-of-us-wealth-2009.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/distribution-of-us-wealth-2009.png" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This shows who is getting the most out of society in a very real & direct way</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Two thirds of the wealth is owned by the top 5%</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Their tax burden is not 2/3rds of tax revenue.</i></div>
<br />
Take a look at the world and examine the lives of its peoples.<br />
Many argue that greater freedom results in increased wealth and less reliance on state.<br />
Observation should inform people otherwise.<br />
Freedom comes with costs.<br />
Absolute freedom results in chaos, poverty, crime and war.<br />
Every nation without a strong governing body is rife with conflict and poverty, regardless of natural wealth. Even areas within advanced nations without a welcome and positive police presence are more dangerous.<br />
So, when society places restrictions on people (which it must) what we see is often greater personal freedom for the majority.<br />
We can argue where limits should be placed and what constitutes an attack on personal liberty, but I do not believe that anyone supports absolute freedom, as such a position is self defeating.<br />
<br />
Tax pays for the structure of society, and we are told that the rich are overburdened because they pay more than the poor. The poor make use of lots of government resources, so the burden to pay for these services should rest on those that use them.<br />
To me, this is fallacious.<br />
Who benefits the most from education?<br />
The individual pupil?<br />
I do not think you would find many that would agree.<br />
No, society as a whole benefits from an educated population, and the wealth classes leverage this population for their endeavours. An educated worker is more useful than an uneducated one. This is irrefutable.<br />
This is not exploitation on either side, when done well, but a partnership.<br />
Without the expenditure by the government through tax, employers would not have skilled people to employ. An illiterate and innumerate population would produce far less value, to say nothing of advanced education.<br />
This thinking extends to everything.<br />
Who benefits from roads?<br />
The individual motorist can get to work, absolutely, but the company he works for relies on the roads for ALL of their staff to arrive. The drivers themselves use the roads, but others indirectly benefit from that infrastructure.<br />
<br />
If you look at wealth distribution, you see that the richest people in the world make their money in the markets of societies in which they complain about paying too much tax.<br />
They believe their contributions to society are unfair, despite their wealth being ENTIRELY RELIANT on that society.<br />
To me, this is a simple, self explanatory concept. <br />
They are riding the horse, but refuse to pay for its feed, stable and grooming.<br />
Just because they do not benefit directly from a state handout does not mean they are not utterly reliant on the system they rail against.<br />
Largely that last sentence is untrue anyway, as the burden felt by business and the independently wealthy is often massively alleviated by tax breaks, refunds and subsidies.<br />
The misleading idea that marginal tax rates are the rate of tax an individual or institution pays is responsible for much of the support for lowering taxes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Effects_of_tax_and_benefits_on_household_income_in_the_UK_2011_-_2012.png/220px-Effects_of_tax_and_benefits_on_household_income_in_the_UK_2011_-_2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Effects_of_tax_and_benefits_on_household_income_in_the_UK_2011_-_2012.png/220px-Effects_of_tax_and_benefits_on_household_income_in_the_UK_2011_-_2012.png" height="320" width="156" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This shows the effective rates of tax on individuals</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>It can be applies generally with some caveats</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLuSc-tT1JaDIKfxJ0lC9U9eIsMiShO_kZy3QOx8yRIxHWaXOFZsb2_PV-XhxNH-dUN_K8YqH3dXXw1u1EYR-BHj7AjzOL3rurBzVDKxvtpximVIoJk6E7GhSKkoUp1rNpcPC14TNu_A/s640/Corporate-tax-color-e1303130022237.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLuSc-tT1JaDIKfxJ0lC9U9eIsMiShO_kZy3QOx8yRIxHWaXOFZsb2_PV-XhxNH-dUN_K8YqH3dXXw1u1EYR-BHj7AjzOL3rurBzVDKxvtpximVIoJk6E7GhSKkoUp1rNpcPC14TNu_A/s640/Corporate-tax-color-e1303130022237.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Note how the corporate entities pay significantly less than individuals</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>As you can see, it is neither rich nor poor individuals that have "no skin in the game"</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/2010_US_Tax_Liability_by_Income_Group_-_CBO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/2010_US_Tax_Liability_by_Income_Group_-_CBO.png" height="207" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://floodingupeconomics.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/income-tax-paid-by-tax-bracket1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://floodingupeconomics.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/income-tax-paid-by-tax-bracket1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://floodingupeconomics.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/income-tax-paid-by-tax-bracket1.png"></a><br /></i></div>
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<i>Compare these two images to the first image on this post.</i></div>
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<i>Think about how you are told that the rich pay "too much" </i><br />
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We are left in a world where those drawing most benefit from the system complain if asked to pay a fair share back into it; believing the convenient self deception that their wealth is magically produced by their own ingenuity, and not a product of the Nation in which they reside.<br />
This is not to say that those contributing the most to society are unworthy of praise or should be vilified, I have nothing against people working for wealth (I have many things to say against cronyism and wealth, as in capital, having more value than work)<br />
I just believe that they must begin to recognise that they are the most reliant on that society. They have the most to lose. Their contributions to society are essential, but they are not inherently noble or virtuous. They should pay most in because they do in fact get most out. If you earn two thirds of the wealth you should be paying two thirds of the tax bill, not complaining that the poor don't shoulder more of the burden.<br />
You are engaged in a partnership with society, value for value.<br />
Try not to escape the obligation you have to the society that enabled you to succeed.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908889106400219841noreply@blogger.com0