Posted by widowson on December 10, 1999 at 12:42:58:
Pacifism is an unrealistic ideology. Though we’d all like a world totally devoid of violence, there are enough people like Hitler, Stalin, Manson, and Dalmer in this world to ensure the continued survival of armies and police forces. In essence, what I’m saying is that you can’t reason with everyone, especially evil people. You can’t be meek and passive before evil since the only reason evil obeys Laws and moral codes is fear of punishment. For a RL example, look at the appeasement strategy that the Allies employed with Germany prior to WW2. By giving the Nazis what they wanted, this just encouraged them to seek more and take advantage of the Allies generosity. Eventually, when WW2 started, the Allies, though they were morally in the right, had to resort to brutal, total, unrestrained warfare to defeat the evil, genocidal empires of Germany and Japan. Respectfully, the Imms have over-emphasized the pacifistic nature of good. While compassion and generosity are all well and good, hardcore evil needs to be fought, not pampered and cuddled. This is why Knights failed, since their Honor allowed themselves to be taken advantage of, and this is why Dawn is considered to be such a non-factor as a force against evil. Not only does it have pacifistic leanings but its powers are laughably poor, some would say the worse of any cabal next to troupe. How can they aid the light if they can’t even stay alive? Evil flourishes in Thera because it has absolutely nothing to fear. You’re not going to stop that Necro from ranking on balator orphans by asking him nicely, you have to put the fear of retribution and judgement into him. Dawn can take all the moral high ground it wants, but that won’t stop those 6 Imperial Heroes or that Scarabite Lich from raping Thera at will. Currently, by making pacifism the only viable option for a lightwalking cabal, with the Marans being ineffectual because of no organization/powers, the light is perpetually weakened and it’s RP stagnated. It should not come as that much of a surprise that people are more inclined to roll up evil and neutral characters. Thera needs a crusade, inquisition, Maran cabal or some sort of army of the light that allows lightwalkers to fight evil. Compassion and pacifism are nice, but not good in each, every, and all situations.