10-17-2024, 06:02 PM
Within the context of role-playing there is no foul in this 'scenario.' There cannot be. It is the nature of "play."
Except for the echoes of reality in here, there is little (practically nothing) to manifest as "harm."
Any psychological stresses it may induce are all a function of personal manifestations (akin to the idea that "no one can MAKE you feel offended, it is ultimately your "choice" to be offended.")
The echo of reality I referred to is the fact that this is not a purely hypothetical concept.
There are literally vast collections of 'fake' people on line right now. They submit responses to "surveys", the "comment" on great products and services available for purchase, they offer dedicated political snark and zealotry, they focus on antagonism against targets, and even spew wanton base hatred... all for their creators to exploit. "Water armies" are the stuff of reality, not imagination... even though they are all imaginary vessels for real intent... and there are millions of them out there already...
'Fake people' became a problem when we innocently embarked on 'virtual' relationships (meaning relationships with 'virtual' representations of people - as in "online.")
What those fake people "do" online is the key, because since they don't actually exists, it resolves to a "real" someone making that happen.
Fraud, abuse, exploitation... all these things are acts that require a motivator which drives a person...
Even if they are wearing a mask... when a masked person commits crime, we don't arrest the mask, nor fret over its form.
Just some input to your thought exercise...
Except for the echoes of reality in here, there is little (practically nothing) to manifest as "harm."
Any psychological stresses it may induce are all a function of personal manifestations (akin to the idea that "no one can MAKE you feel offended, it is ultimately your "choice" to be offended.")
The echo of reality I referred to is the fact that this is not a purely hypothetical concept.
There are literally vast collections of 'fake' people on line right now. They submit responses to "surveys", the "comment" on great products and services available for purchase, they offer dedicated political snark and zealotry, they focus on antagonism against targets, and even spew wanton base hatred... all for their creators to exploit. "Water armies" are the stuff of reality, not imagination... even though they are all imaginary vessels for real intent... and there are millions of them out there already...
'Fake people' became a problem when we innocently embarked on 'virtual' relationships (meaning relationships with 'virtual' representations of people - as in "online.")
What those fake people "do" online is the key, because since they don't actually exists, it resolves to a "real" someone making that happen.
Fraud, abuse, exploitation... all these things are acts that require a motivator which drives a person...
Even if they are wearing a mask... when a masked person commits crime, we don't arrest the mask, nor fret over its form.
Just some input to your thought exercise...