Comments on: the power of social structure in World of Warcraft

By: Clemente Boyster

Clemente Boyster — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:28:46 +0000

Any time you have a game that is played by thousands of people simultaneously you are going to have a caste system. It only makes sense that people who are playing and taking the game seriously weed out people who aren’t. well, at least the serious gamers will come together while the social gamers will come together. The socially deficient people have to adjust — just like in the real world.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 08:26:54 +0000

I’m sorry, hapto, but I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. Big hammers trump bikinis in roleplaying games any day. And nobody has any way to know if that hot chick is being played by a real girl — or woman — or not.

By: hapto

hapto — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 13:44:26 +0000

Games themselves have power structure… Dungeon Master, Level 10 drow-elf mage trumps 5th level cleric. Hot chicks in bikini- if played by girls trump dwarfs with big.. umm.. hammers played by boys.

Virtual lives imitate life

By: lotuyonotienenombre

lotuyonotienenombre — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 15:16:26 +0000

maybe even in that game there are some social rules that couldn’t be known in advance, thus it could be more than a mix of stablished social rules, and jokes. maybe we r always creating new rules and, only maybe, that is what feminism is or used to be about. and if it is not, lets get less feminist and far more queer, day by day! we just cant go away from strctures, its all about restructuring. u can even be a hollywood 50′s image that does not stay at home!
and yes, structures r always oppresive thats why we must renew them again and again and again …

By: Ben Bryant

Ben Bryant — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 06:45:03 +0000

As you pointed out, the social rules in Warcraft are a product of what works in the environment in concert with the role playing cultures that came before. The unspoken rules of punishment and reward for social performance. I agree that trying to “find oneself” is a new phenomenon, but not so much due to lack of structure, but to a structure which has gained prevalence in the upper middle class with the lack of urgency to survive and prosper, i.e. with leisure. In other words, “trying to find oneself” has actually become an accepted phase in life, and a label by which people add structure to their lives and try to avoid the consequences and sanctions of the community! But anyway, I am probably just playing with words.

By: tony

tony — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 01:02:49 +0000

structure vs. anarchy? I think everything can be oppressive to someone,somewhere. Shouldn’t it be the greatest gain for the majority(or is that what happens in male-controlled structures)? or at least the best fit for the most? Rule-wise that is.

By: Bill Tozier

Bill Tozier — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 16:58:24 +0000

I think you’d find that face-to-face dice-and-paper roleplaying games, specifically D&D and AD&D, were extremely influential in building the interpersonal and social skills of our current Nerd Overlords. I’ve noted in many business meetings through the years that the Roleplayers fall into obvious self-recognizing cabals, leaving the non-Roleplayers aside.

All it takes is somebody mentioning “saving throws”, and the groups coalesce.

By: Gina

Gina — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 14:33:47 +0000

The existing structure vs start from scratch quandary comes into play a lot in terms of relationships and marriage. As much as I hate the HIStory of marriage and the way it expressives possessiveness and smacks of religion, I chose to express my queer relationship that way – and get “married” – because the existing language of commitment and permanency and familial ties to my partner was one my family and I understand. Publicly declaring our relationship in those terms – no matter how oppressive and stupid marriage and the laws and customs that surround it are – worked for us. I like the idea of modding an existing structure/role and making it my own. Like butch/femme roles, too. And now there’s no question who Terra is to me or what the terms of our relationship are – to the random who asks me out “sorry, I’m married” *flashes ring* or to my Mom, who’s deciding who’s coming on the family dinner/event/intimate gathering.