Taranee wrote:I played Dave's route in the updated version. I felt like there was a lot of political stuff just tossed at the reader, and I'd like to add my 2 cents. I hope you're okay with a little debate.
Oh, and here I thought Dave’s route was calm compared to the others
. Well, I’m a bit scared I said something wrong (I went way outside my comfort zone with this game >_<) but it’ll be interesting!
1/
I never said I was defending terrorists
I just think it’s too easy to put the blame on « monsters » without trying to call oneself into question. Industrial countries have a lot of power and I feel they sometimes use it to do wrong. That doesn’t mean terrorism is right, killing innocents is never, no matter whose side you’re on. It may have been clumsy of me but what I was trying to say is not to fight violence with more violence, because it will only bring more pain and destruction.
2/
How can someone look like the type who doesn't need to struggle?
If you have several expensive cars, an expensive watch, managing a big organization and wearing a suit, I think it’s safe to assume you’re a lucky one. My « boss » once complained that he only earned something like 4 000€ per month and that he could earn way more if he were in a private company (like 10 000€). He even worried sick about not being able to live « properly » (oooh, like having to sell one of his numerous cars, scary!) if his wife had to stop working. I think he’ll manage
. What I’m trying to say if that, yes, someone can look like he doesn’t need to worry about getting food for the following days. My original sentence may be conveying that poorly though X’).
Well, Dave is based on two real persons I know and who indeed never had to struggle in their life. That doesn’t mean they don’t deserve their happiness or that they have no merits, just that they were « helped » while other people who study just as hard don’t get the job. Social determinism doesn’t mean privileged people don’t work hard, just that they’re more likely to get pay-off in the end.
If you don’t mind, here’s some of my personal experience. I got into intensive foundation degree (or classe préparatoire) after hight school. It’s a very difficult course open to everyone that manage to get good grades. And, on the surface, everyone is welcome: you could be the son of a college teacher or the daughter of a building worker, it doesn’t make any difference as long as you’re good. But the truth is middle class people like myself, or some of my classmates, didn’t stand a chance. Because, in order to get a « grande école » or a big college after, you need to live in Paris and the life there is very, very expensive. If you don’t have the money, it’s no use. I didn’t have the money and had to give up on the big university that had accepted my application and go back to my province while the richest of my schoolmates got the expensive school and the job opportunities of their dreams. I know one who got into the biggest one although he was lazy as fuck and didn’t do a thing. One of my friend managed to get her dream school because she went out with him and got a flat in Paris for free.
And my best friend I met there, who’s also a middle class girl, is currently selling shoes as a mere sales assistant. My boyfriend didn’t even have my chance and grew up in the suburbs all his life and it’s even worse with his mother who’s unqualified and ended up as a cleaning lady. I’m privileged compared to his family but not enough comparaed to my old classmates and I still have to work hard. Being privileged can be subtle.
So yeah, social determinism exists. You can try to fight it, of course, but it’s way more difficult than just following a preordained destiny. Privileged people have more choices and it’s a luxury nowadays. It is sad, but it’s for that same reason that some poor people give up. My point isn’t to be anti-hope but to show to Dave (and all the benevolent Daves who’re reading, including myself) that it’s easier to be him than Eleesha or Hassan (and they still get hope in their own routes).
If you put these two things together, it would mean that marginalized people have no choice but to become terrorists. Which is quite scary in my opinion
Isn’t that a bit true in a way? Even if it’s a scary possibility, it’s important to think about it, so that it doesn’t truly happen. Come to think of it, it reminds me of Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd Gig…