Showerthoughts

29723 readers

1109 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

All posts must be showerthoughts
The entire showerthought must be in the title
Avoid politics
1. NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
2. Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
3. Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
Posts must be original/unique
Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct-----

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

186

When people say the phrase "Don't hate the player, hate the game", it removes responsibility from the player (lemmy.world)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

83 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm talking in the context of the "capitalist rules". If you say the aforementioned sentence, you remove the responsibility of the player by dismissing the fact that the winner makes the rules.

PS: Doesn't work for every context: if the player aims to change the rules because he doesn't like them, he might see winning as a way to change them. "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" I guess...

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 25 points 10 months ago (4 children)

I can hate both. Morality is not subject to the whims of legislation. If you're a billionaire, you've done something immoral. Playing "within the rules" does not absolve you of all morality.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 10 months ago

The reason that doesn't make sense, is billionaires are the only ones with the power to fix the economic system thru political donations.

The saying isn't meant for your example, because they're not just players. Their also the refs and the ones who wrote the rules for the game.

Like:

It is what is

That makes sense if said between prisoners about how shitty jail is. But if a prison guard beat an inmate and then said that, it doesn't make sense.

Just because it's not true 100% of the time for 100% of people doesn't mean it's worthless. By that logic no phrase should exist

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago

I agree, I've said that about this phrase before! I can hate the player too. Not one of my favorite maxims.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Legislation is not the only game being referred to by this saying.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago

No, but it was OP's example. Use it in any ither context, and I'll tell you why the player is also a shitty person, regardless of the game.

Is it a guy being emotionally manipulative to have relationships with multiple women? Yeah, he's a shitbag.

Is it a business resorting to underhanded, but profitable, practices to corner the market and boost income? Shitbags.

Is it the kid cheesing that one move to win every battle? Shit. Bag.

I mean, there are degrees of being a shitty person. But anyone saying "don't hate the player, hate the game," knows they are doing something shitty and are doing it anyway because they can.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If a game inevitably leads to billionaires unless you can count on all individuals being moral people, I take the liberty of hating the game that sets things up like that.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Any system can be abused. Amoral assholes will always exist. We have a system that rewards amoral assholes with wealth and power. Hate both the player and the game.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Of course you can hate both. But I think the phrase tries to make you focus on systemic issues instead of individualising them.

I can hate Elon Musk. But if he wasn't there, someone else would fill the dipshit shaped hole the system leaves for him.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

I understand the meaning, and you're right that the system would just reward a different dipshit. But Elon is there, and he is a dipshit deserving of scorn. If it was someone else being a dipshit, then I'd hate them for being a dipshit.

The system should prevent people like Elon from amassing so much wealth and power. But even if it did, he would still be a dipshit.

Hate the game, hate the player, because both fucking suck.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

We have a system that rewards people for producing value. You can see the effects of this system all around you, in the absolutely massive wealth that surrounds and serves you every day.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

"Value" is a socially loaded construct. Some people value golf courses more that a healthy ecosystem.

Someone else has to suffer for the wealth you enjoy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

"Producing value." Nobody produces a billion dollars worth of value. It takes thousands of people to produce their value, and they keep most of it by fucking over the people that work for them.

The system is fundamentally exploitative and cruel, leveraging fear and violence to extract value from poor people for pennies on the dollar.