Griefers....

[pam123]

I got sidetracked while I was supposed to be working this afternoon and ended up here : http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/19

A whole issue devoted to palyers who play on-line games largely so that they can ruin other peoples enjoyment of them.
The analogies with the real world, Jack Thompson and Osama BinLaden, reminded me of something else but it took awhile to remember Jonh Huizinga, the man who wrote " Homo Ludens".
Enshrined with man the game player is that other well known character, the spoil sport.
Oh yes, got it.
Whenever people go out to play "he" comes along, sometimes a form of evil sometimes a danger and always a hindrance and a distraction.
Griefers and trolls were not an invention of internet age, they had previous incarnations.
If you haven't read the book get it out of your local library.

Huizinga, John : Homo Ludens

And read that issue of The Escapist to.

[Zelpo]

My first exposure to e-griefers was playing pubs in Diablo & LOD. Naively thinking about how fun it would be to play with others (nicely), and praising the brilliance of game developers, I was soon indoctrinated into the ugly side of human psychology.

The real scary part is that these types have always been around, lurking in the background & blending in. They are among us, like cockroaches hiding away in a crevice. To me it’s pure evil to gain enjoyment from the pain of others, but apparently some see it in a different light.

Good articles btw ... I'll have to check out that book too.