A popular party game is actually a lot like what happened during COVID. Worse, it's likely the playbook being perfected for the next pandemic. Keep your eyes open.
I think to become a critical thinker requires the ability to suspend certainty about something until enough evidence emerges to make a decision or choice about it. However it's very uncomfortable to be uncertain and the "werewolves" of covid used this psychological ploy of isolating us, obscuring facts and information, and ramping up fear to make people comply. When everyone is fearful, anxious, ill informed and seeking safety and security, the false narratives crafted by power hungry "werewolves" are more acceptable than the doubt and uncertainty required to question and evaluate the possibility of malfeasance and what that entails. The easier path is to hide and go along with the consensus I think.
Absolutely it’s the easier path, and the one we’re naturally inclined to. But with practice, being outside the box gets easier and then you also start to realize you’re not the only one out here!
Great analogy and the moral of the story as you succinctly stated, “That’s why critical thinking and skepticism are essential.”
Skills that are no longer taught in public schools and the Werewolves know it and made sure of it. This reminds me this passage I recently read:
“The observance of communal traditions involves a constant sacrifice of the individual to the state. Education, in order to keep up the mighty delusion, encourages a species of ignorance. People are not taught to be really virtuous, but to behave properly. We are wicked because we are frightfully self-conscious. We never forgive others because we know that we ourselves are in the wrong. We nurse a conscience because we are afraid to tell the truth to others; we take refuge in pride because we are afraid to tell the truth to ourselves. How can one be serious with the world when the world itself is so ridiculous! “
This was written in 1906 in “The Book of Tea: A Japanese Harmony of Art, Culture & The Simple Life by Okakura Kakuzo
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Having played werewolf I'd say lying is actually difficult and it also makes sense for the villagers to kill who they suspect to be werewolves even at the risk of killing their own. From the perspective of a werewolf, you want to kill innocent villagers but not look like you do and that's difficult to pull off. Also hard to strike a balance between not drawing attention to yourself and being too quiet.
As a villager, you've no idea of who to trust but you can take comfort from knowing you're own innocence. Despite all the advantages seemingly being with the werewolves, the villagers seem to win more. Perhaps this shows there is hope if good people band together.
Great comment @mathew! Do you find that the more you play the werewolf, the better you get at lying? And if you play with the same people again and again does the cunning become more sophisticated?
I've not played it to that extent but I imagine this would happen. Went through a phase of playing the app based game "among us" where it's actually far easier for the villagers to win provided they use good tactics and don't randomly just say "yellow sus" for no reason.
I think to become a critical thinker requires the ability to suspend certainty about something until enough evidence emerges to make a decision or choice about it. However it's very uncomfortable to be uncertain and the "werewolves" of covid used this psychological ploy of isolating us, obscuring facts and information, and ramping up fear to make people comply. When everyone is fearful, anxious, ill informed and seeking safety and security, the false narratives crafted by power hungry "werewolves" are more acceptable than the doubt and uncertainty required to question and evaluate the possibility of malfeasance and what that entails. The easier path is to hide and go along with the consensus I think.
Absolutely it’s the easier path, and the one we’re naturally inclined to. But with practice, being outside the box gets easier and then you also start to realize you’re not the only one out here!
Great analogy and the moral of the story as you succinctly stated, “That’s why critical thinking and skepticism are essential.”
Skills that are no longer taught in public schools and the Werewolves know it and made sure of it. This reminds me this passage I recently read:
“The observance of communal traditions involves a constant sacrifice of the individual to the state. Education, in order to keep up the mighty delusion, encourages a species of ignorance. People are not taught to be really virtuous, but to behave properly. We are wicked because we are frightfully self-conscious. We never forgive others because we know that we ourselves are in the wrong. We nurse a conscience because we are afraid to tell the truth to others; we take refuge in pride because we are afraid to tell the truth to ourselves. How can one be serious with the world when the world itself is so ridiculous! “
This was written in 1906 in “The Book of Tea: A Japanese Harmony of Art, Culture & The Simple Life by Okakura Kakuzo
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Oh wow - that’s a powerful quote and so apropos. Thanks for sharing!
Having played werewolf I'd say lying is actually difficult and it also makes sense for the villagers to kill who they suspect to be werewolves even at the risk of killing their own. From the perspective of a werewolf, you want to kill innocent villagers but not look like you do and that's difficult to pull off. Also hard to strike a balance between not drawing attention to yourself and being too quiet.
As a villager, you've no idea of who to trust but you can take comfort from knowing you're own innocence. Despite all the advantages seemingly being with the werewolves, the villagers seem to win more. Perhaps this shows there is hope if good people band together.
Great comment @mathew! Do you find that the more you play the werewolf, the better you get at lying? And if you play with the same people again and again does the cunning become more sophisticated?
I've not played it to that extent but I imagine this would happen. Went through a phase of playing the app based game "among us" where it's actually far easier for the villagers to win provided they use good tactics and don't randomly just say "yellow sus" for no reason.
By the way, love the idea of taking comfort in your own innocence.
That is a brilliant analogy and necessary warning, thank you 🙏