De-gaying camp rescue, idea for a run Options

[Kagetenshi]

[hermit]

In a campaign that has paused somewhat so that the characters can 'enjoy' Brainscan (I put it in parenthesises because there have been three near-casualities and one true casuality as of yet, not because I dislike the module, which is great), we (rather accidentally) came across a different kind of camp the Japanese government had set up:

The camp was basicaly a suburbian patch of roads and houses, surrounded by endless Taiga in northern China. It was within a Japanese mandate zone, and there was nothing for thousands of kilometers around it except a couple of military installations.

Now, the Empire put Orcs from Yomi there (aparently, the place was starting to overflow). They were given residence in the houses, and were allowed to give interviews to TV teams to prove Japan DOES care about metas. Then, when the TV cameras were gone, the windows slammed shut at night and the houses were flooded with Seven-Seven. The dead orcs were disposed of, the few who survived or were outside when it happened gunned down, and the procedure repeated every some months.

Nice, eh?

[Critias]

[Supercilious]

I would rather this thread not get locked, and if I know anything it is that arguing opinions never solves anything.

A debate might, but even then that tends to influence the edgey or undecided people. If an opinion has been formed, it takes years to break it down, not a single post. Both sides of this are preaching to their respective choirs and then turning like rabid dogs on the opposition, unable to see how they believe what they believe. Also, Joker, even though I agree with you, you have to be an idiot not to see that telling Garland "fuck you" every other post is not the best way to win people over, or to avoid getting a good topic closed.

On the subject of the run, I am so totally going to run this for my PC's, the idea is brilliant, purely brilliant.

[hyzmarca]

[Talia Invierno]

The premise of what's generally called "brainwashing" and what I'd rephrase as a more intense form of social conditioning is to set up an environment such that the person will start to desire the elements of the new paradigm of his or her own accord. Although precisely the same methods are found in environments as diverse as Moonies, Boy Scouts, frat initiations and those infamous 72 hour medical resident shifts, every type of this type of social conditioning depends on some combination of similar elements:

1. making it difficult to critically think about what's around you (not that most of us have particularly well-developed critical thinking skills in any case);
2. presenting the new message in an intensely positive context (making it desirable);
3. some element of physical adversity ...
4. to be overcome in a positive group environment (promoting a "team spirit")

The single most common technique is lack of sleep, which fills the requirements for #1 and #3 (and frequently #4) simultaneously. (I'm using the word "technique" guardedly. Since the various elements by which results are achieved are so very similar across many different social structures, acceptability of these practices depends almost entirely on acceptability of the outcome: but to term them "techniques" or "methods" often seems to imply a degree of deliberate premeditation which sometimes does exist, and sometimes has been so entrenched as to have become an accepted "Well, that's just the way it is" by all those involved.) Quite simply, after an extended stretch without sleep, you can't think straight. On a parallel survival note: if you're ever in an emergency room and the resident seeing you hands your chart to the nurse to read aloud, ask for a different doctor ... because loss of ability to make out written words is one of the major indicators that lack of sleep has started to impair cognitive ability.

Almost as common is extended physical activity or ordeal to the limits of one's endurance, either so as to reduce one's entire awareness to the single goal to be achieved, or else simply to endure through it. Such physical activity is almost always undertaken as a group, almost never singly: and thus getting through it becomes the success of the team, not the success of the individual. This is a significant shift in identity, especially in a fundamentally individualistic society. Another aspect of the physical ordeal is that the act of having gotten through it creates a self-perception of a group elitism, especially if one or more persons couldn't: another bonding element, which also builds the expectation that no one should "belong" if they can't make it through. This isn't inherently negative or positive. After all, in the military, such team bonding is a matter of survival ... but such group bonding equally makes it extremely difficult to fairly consider anything that opposes the group paradigm. It's all in how you view the outcome.

What all of this really boils down to is that someone in this position is bombarded with the desired message in such a way that they aren't really able to think about it, and that everyone else around them seems to be working together toward that ideal. Reject it (which is hard!) and be isolated/mocked/scapegoated/disciplined. "Get" it, and they belong. It's simple, and it's powerful: because we're all social creatures at heart. And it's self-selecting, because (to a greater or lesser extent) very few people end up in such a position who aren't already a bit uncertain about how they fit in.

Edit: I'll add a quick note along these lines about why religions might decline in a magical world. Yes, the "miracles" are real ... and that's exactly what's endangering articles of faith. Where daily miracles are real and magical paradigms are multiple, there end up being almost as many explanations out there as there are magicians. Organised religions each give their own explanation ... but there are others. Each group is going to be able to keep their own paradigm solid only by isolating the dangerous outside influences which give equally valid explanations for what they do -- and perversely keep succeeding in doing. The only way they can remain so isolated is if their membership maintains a rock-solid, absolutely unquestioning faith in their own paradigm that evaporates any possible desire to consider fairly other explanations, or even really look at them too closely.

Hmm ...

[Kagetenshi]

[hyzmarca]

[Supercilious]

Kage and Talia FTW.

Who should I base the shaman after? I am thinking that the free spirit will be a golden tinted bovine for ironic purposes, this whole run with be a hilarious cluster-frag. I am giving the townsfolk high-powered Ares NRA gear, so the shootouts should be intense.

[blakkie]

[Jrayjoker]

Unnecessary

[Supercilious]

Blakkie, one "here is a page" is a dead link. You messed up the BBcode, I think.

[Austere Emancipa...]

Copy Link Location/Descramble:
http://www.rickross.com/groups/synanon.html

[blakkie]

Interestingly you'll notice the description of "the Game" is eirily similar to how you could describe messageboards. :|

[Supercilious]

But only those who already agree with a given bias seek out a messageboard devoted to that specific bias. If I was not a fan of SR, I would not have ever found Dumpshock.

[Kagetenshi]

On the topic of programming/conditioning techniques, sugar rushes with comparatively other nutrition are generally effective in encouraging a suggestible state. Ever wonder why brownies and kool-aid are such common snacks at cult/etc. recruitment drives?

~J

[Talia Invierno]

The term for that kind of positive bombarding is "lovebombing". Agree and you get eye contact, smiles, all kinds of positive feedback from everyone around you. Although the Moonies are particularly known for it, it's also found (expressed in slightly different ways) in most supportive venues. Again, the key to receiving that kind of positive reinforcement is that you must not question.

An interesting example of such supportive techniques can be found even within a structure such as Alcoholics Anonymous. So strong is the supportive message of "not one drink" that has been repeated and accepted (even by the general public!) that alternate methods of controlling alcohol addiction found by multiple studies to be equally effective, such as rigid methods of drink reduction, aren't even given press.

For some reason, absolutes seem to be far more condusive to encouraging extreme behaviour modifications than moderation. Yet another example is the annual turn off the television week: televisions off = good, any watching = bad. An alternate approach, that of media literacy and discrimination/critical examination of what is being watched, is rarely given anywhere near as much press.

Edit: It's a curious coincidence that sugar is also addictive, no?

[Supercilious]

[Jrayjoker]

My appologies for trolling earlier.

[Krazy]

thanks for shutting joker down, when people act like that it makes me mad because as soon as a lot of people hear I'm a Chrstian they assume I act like that all the time. I'm just bad at saying what I mean, that's all. as far as a run, I'll probly use this at some point, but the way that my campain is going, I'll just have to drop a few hints and wait for the shooting to start.

someone mentioned why, if a preist can pull up an angel whenever he wants, why more people don't belive? I think it has to do with the supremicy of human arrogance. we as humans can do everything better, individually or collectivly. that's why secular humanism is so popular. you can show as much proof as you want to people, some will not beilive, and yet people will belive the stupidest things if presented in a "balanced and educated news journal" I just don't get it? I must not be smart enough

my comment about art causing just as much confict was, I suppose, ill quantified. yes no one has had a knock down drag 'em out over a peice of art, but not all wars are fought on the field. it is just as damaging to the society, IMHO.

this thread has given me a few other ideas as well, wonder if that little patch in northern alberta is still operational. I know northern BC still has some really messed up shit going on. not realted to the weed industry

[Jrayjoker]

[Supercilious]

Ahhh! Organized religion! DEVILS AND DAMNATION!

On a more serious note, every school of thought has a super-biased segment. I have met or seen or heard of militants from every group, similiarly I have met seen or heard of moderates from all those same groups.

Krazy, you point out a good irony, a "fair and balanced" approach gets a lot of votes for a biased view. I know of a few good mannerisms and small bits of speech that are easy to remember and repeat that make people think oneself is truly earnest and "fair" while dishing out pure dogma.

The greatest irony is the free-speech crowd who immediately attack anyone spewing racism, it boggles my mind.

[blakkie]

[Talia Invierno]

Recently the Canadian pro-choice advocate of the local version of Roe vs. Wade was selected to be given an honorary doctorate by a university. The controversy erupted instantly and polarised instantly. It seemed that the local newspaper was trying to cover both points of view fairly (with the logical media slight slant toward demonstrations-as-newsmakers): but both sides were absolutely convinced the newspaper was biased against them.

[Jrayjoker]

Funny, the friend/enemy of my enemy/friend is neutral? What?

If you don't fully support me, you are fully against me. What?