tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post8241342242237004146..comments2024-03-28T03:10:23.679-07:00Comments on Polemarch: More Ethical WargamingThe Polemarchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-47440990461136705392010-10-11T04:14:35.610-07:002010-10-11T04:14:35.610-07:00I read a theory once that old soldiers were though...I read a theory once that old soldiers were thought to have used wargaming as a means of assimilating and dealing with their experiences on the battlefield. Perhaps that should be considered here too; wargaming as a form of psychotherapy.<br /><br />On a slightly different tack, have those that criticise wargames, RPGs and video games considered that they may be putting the cart before the horse? Gamers that commit violent acts may well be psychologically predisposed towards commiting those acts in the first place and thus are naturally attracted to violent games, rather than being encouraged to violent acts by said games. The same might easily be said of violent films and television programmes. In a less violent but still anti-social way, I often wonder (only slightly in jest) whether people act more and more like the characters in Eastenders these days because they copy the programme, if the programme just reflects reality, or if is there a mix of the two at work. As far as lowering the threshold for violence goes, I am not convinced by that argument as a universal principle. Researching and understanding the nature of warfare can engender a greater horror at the propensity and capacity of humanity for atrocities, because one faces it directly, although I really only speak from personal experience here.<br /><br />As a medievalist, I have found that staging historical refights of battles with figures can help in understanding why battles developed the way they did. Actually physically moving the troops on a scale model of the battlefield shows you what no amount of reading can. That ties into the concept of wargames as historical study and is quite valid when studying warfare.<br /><br />Great couple of articles on ethics, by the way. It's always interesting to think about these things, although it does leave me feeling uncomfortable with all wargaming at times. It's not really an ethical justification per se, but gaming provides me with a means to unwind with friends, to get together to push figures, roll dice and talk shite in a spirit of friendly competition. Such an environment is healthily socialised as well as intellectually stimulating and helps drain away the stress of the week. Gaming as a hobby combines many different hobby areas (painting, modelling, etc) and also skills areas (fine motor skills and co-ordination for construction/painting, research skills, tactical and strategic thought, etc). Clearly wargaming must be the hobby of choice for the renaissance man!<br /><br />Your final quotation is a good one but I am not sure it justifies playing historical games so much as it does the study of history. I do prefer the Buffy version of it though:<br />"Those that do not learn from history are condemned to resit it."<br /><br />Yours ramblingly,<br />RuarighRuaridhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003128932063213463noreply@blogger.com