The Politics of Mafia

[Myndrunner]

Hey gang,

 

I've been playing this glorious game of backstabbing, lying, and manipulation since for almost 4 years now. Many of you have played longer than that, some even before forums were invented. We all seem to have the same frustrations when playing this game yet we keep coming back because of the thrill and challenge of it all, or other various reasons.

 

One thing that keeps popping up in offline conversations with friends and family is how easily led people are in general. In my country, the UNited States of America, we are gearing up for another Presidential election. This only intensifies the already corrupt media in slanting news stories one way or another. Much like scum would spin one's actions to mean something completely different than they were intended.

 

A lot of the typical frustrations I have with Mafia, I also have with citizens in our country, and I fear its the same worldwide. People get way too emotionally invested in their own opinion that they leave no room for them to consider changing it, despite new evidence to the contrary. Some just vote with everyone else and leave the actual scum-hunting to others. Some vote OMGUS in retaliation to another's accusations. Some cut/paste something someone else said and tweak it as their own, without investing any actual thought behind it.

 

Then, there is the whole notion that maybe the game is imbalanced anyway, and that trying to win is futile.

 

And of course, the most frustrating mafia issue of all is inactivity.

 

Am I alone in noticing a quite intriguing parallel in how mafia games unfold and how modern politics are run?

 

I hope people start thinking for themselves and strive to keep an open mind at all times. Otherwise, we all may end up getting lynched, or worse, killed off by a Bastard Mod.

[Nolder]

I think something to bear in mind is that even when someone says they aren't willing to change their position on something that might not be true

 

There's a lot of ways to get reactions and apply pressure for information

Saying you wont unvote someone no matter what and actually not unvoting are two different things

 

just a little tidbit that popped in my head while reading your post

[RandA lThor]

I definnitely agree with you Mynd. A lot of people are voting just based on parties and what other people think too. less and less people are actually voting based on someone's political stance and this is depriving our nation of the glory and success that it could have seen otherwise. Also, my generation (high schoolers) might be even worse. More and more people don't care about what is happening in our presidential elections. People don't know who mitt romney, ron paul, or herman cain is, and this was when they were all running.

[bgrishinko]

... Otherwise, we all may end up getting lynched, or worse, killed off by a Bastard Mod.

 

This is why Mynd would never vote for me for President.

[Red2111]

i've always thought that running for political office is teh ultimate game, so your not alone in seeing the similarity betweent he two.

 

 

infact, when trying to explain mafia to a WoT reader i often just tell them it's like playing Das'Demar *nods*

[Ithillian Turambar]

Das'Demar? Is that the German for Mafia?

[Red2111]

daes dae'mar*

 

*walks awy mumbling about adding in un needed letters when a single vowel works just fine*

[John E. Kelley]

Am I alone in noticing a quite intriguing parallel in how mafia games unfold and how modern politics are run?

 

Nope, that's pretty spot on. Lying, cheating, contentious, inflexible, power-hungry bastards who are out for no one but themselves? That's exactly like the modern American politician, regardless of political party, as well as the typical Mafia player. Except in the case of the politician, everyone is on the scum team. There are no remaining noble civil servants anymore.

[Ithillian Turambar]

Imagine if Mynd ran for President.

 

 

Now, stop shaking and recover from the cold sweats, and think about what would happen when you went to vote for him.

 

Why are you voting for me? Do you even know what I stand for? Have you read the Presidential Candidate Wiki, I bet you just skimmed this whole thing didn't you?

[Red2111]

Imagine if Mynd ran for President.

 

 

Now, stop shaking and recover from the cold sweats, and think about what would happen when you went to vote for him.

 

Why are you voting for me? Do you even know what I stand for? Have you read the Presidential Candidate Wiki, I bet you just skimmed this whole thing didn't you?

 

lmfao.

 

 

and that is why we all love playing in the game with Mynd. personally, i'd love to see him run for president if only to see the entertaining debates *grins*

[Ithillian Turambar]

 

Lying, cheating, contentious, inflexible, power-hungry bastards who are out for no one but themselves?

 

But ... I just wanted everyone to have fun!

 

 

 

I will never Mod again

 

*sobs dramatically*

 

[Songstress]

Imagine if Mynd ran for President.

 

 

Now, stop shaking and recover from the cold sweats, and think about what would happen when you went to vote for him.

 

Why are you voting for me? Do you even know what I stand for? Have you read the Presidential Candidate Wiki, I bet you just skimmed this whole thing didn't you?

 

 

ROFL.

 

Ithi... that made my day.

[Basel Gill]

Imagine if Mynd ran for President.

 

 

Now, stop shaking and recover from the cold sweats, and think about what would happen when you went to vote for him.

 

Why are you voting for me? Do you even know what I stand for? Have you read the Presidential Candidate Wiki, I bet you just skimmed this whole thing didn't you?

 

5 points to Ithi. Oh, wait, this forum doesn't use points.

[keyholder21]

Imagine if Mynd ran for President.

 

 

Now, stop shaking and recover from the cold sweats, and think about what would happen when you went to vote for him.

 

Why are you voting for me? Do you even know what I stand for? Have you read the Presidential Candidate Wiki, I bet you just skimmed this whole thing didn't you?

 

 

*shudders* Wikis are NOT good places to find information about something as important as that. If you need to find good unbiased political information in America, PLEASE check out Factcheck.org, Project VoteSmart or The League of Women Voters.

 

 

*steps off Librarian/Activist soapbox* Now that that's been said, I do enjoy your joke Ithi :).

[Nolder]

The League of Women Voters?

 

That doesn't sound unbiased at all...

[Myndrunner]

The League of Women Voters?

 

That doesn't sound unbiased at all...

 

Only a MAN would say something like that!!!!

[Nolder]

I know right?

 

Seriously though before anyone gets bent out of shape I'm just saying it's a weird name and making fun of it

I don't know anything about the organization and couldn't care less what it's actually comprised of or what they do

[Ithillian Turambar]

I don't think there is such a thing as un-biased political information.

 

 

[keyholder21]

I know right?

 

Seriously though before anyone gets bent out of shape I'm just saying it's a weird name and making fun of it

I don't know anything about the organization and couldn't care less what it's actually comprised of or what they do

 

They really are nonpartisan and unbiased, imo.

 

Here is the history:

 

 

 

The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The convention was held just six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote after a 72-year struggle.

The League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters. It encouraged them to use their new power to participate in shaping public policy. From the beginning, the League has been an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that citizens should play a critical role in advocacy. It was then, and is now, a nonpartisan organization. League founders believed that maintaining a nonpartisan stance would protect the fledgling organization from becoming mired in the party politics of the day. However, League members were encouraged to be political themselves, by educating citizens about, and lobbying for, government and social reform legislation.

This holds true today. The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. The League has a long, rich history,that continues with each passing year.

For additional historical information about the League, please visit the Issues section of this web site.

[keyholder21]

I don't think there is such a thing as un-biased political information.

 

We can agree to disagree. Of course we all have our biases, but when you have multiple people that are checking over your write-up, statement, paper, for error, biases, etc., it tends to shed the bias and be more a statement of pure facts. These are websites like CNN, BBC or FoxNews, they STRIVE to be nonpartisan and unbiased. There's a difference.

 

 

This is what I do for work lol, so argue with me all you want .

[Myndrunner]

Chris Rock said it best. Anyone who makes up their mind before they hear the issue is a fool. Like sheep in a mafia game, many people would rather follow a politician or political party and then cut/paste what they say as their own belief instead of digesting it on their own.

 

Our old way of teaching kids in school preps us for that. Teachers lecture facts for the students to blindly copy and memorize.

[Red2111]

The League of Women Voters?

 

That doesn't sound unbiased at all...

 

Only a MAN would say something like that!!!!

 

lmfao

 

Project VoteSmart

 

 

best site imo. i have it bookmarked to keep tabs on voting records especially

[keyholder21]

Chris Rock said it best. Anyone who makes up their mind before they hear the issue is a fool. Like sheep in a mafia game, many people would rather follow a politician or political party and then cut/paste what they say as their own belief instead of digesting it on their own.

 

Our old way of teaching kids in school preps us for that. Teachers lecture facts for the students to blindly copy and memorize.

 

A 1000 times this. You are so correct sir :).

[Ironeyes]

Hey Mynd, remember when I dreamed that you were Rush Limbaugh? I'm taking this thread as further confirmation that I was right.

[Myndrunner]

Hey Mynd, remember when I dreamed that you were Rush Limbaugh? I'm taking this thread as further confirmation that I was right.

 

I'm more of a Stephen Colbert!