Ancap response to bioshock

[Dr Mindbender]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kw51Q1kr8&feature=channel

[Dean]

He just spent 7 minutes saying the following:
-no social system can handle apocalypse
-introduction of addictive, 'humanity-removing' drugs constitutes apocalypse

His argument may or may not be true. But he is obscenely obtuse and fails at really explaining how anarcho capitalism is any different than any other system in this context.

[Drace]

Did anyone use Bioshock as an argument against anarcho-capitalism?

[Nolan]

Did anyone use Bioshock as an argument against anarcho-capitalism?

No, I don't think so. Anyway, Rapture is not anarcho-capitalist. Andrew Ryan is head of the government, and he owns his own company, Ryan Industries. He nationalizes Fontaine Futuristics (owned by mobster Frank Fontaine) after it starts to drive Ryan out of the plasmid industry, which causes all sorts of problems.

[Ele'ill]

I think Steam has offered the demo to me. I know that I am far too old to still be playing video games but my time is taken up with Insurgency (hl2 mod) and occasionally Guildwars.

[Red Commissar]

Bioshock's Rapture is influenced by Ayn Rand's works which is why Anarcho-capitalists are quick to slam the game. Andrew Ryan's background and convictions is virtually the same as Ayn Rand, but it was more of a state founded on Objectivist stances rather Anarcho-Capitalism, but it is seen as a slam on laissez-faire capitalism by some AnCaps who see it as an insult to Ayn Rand's books.

As for the man's claims that no system could avoid an "apocalypse"- Though Rapture's downfall was sparked by Adam material, a lot of the game's background details a sharp wealth inequality which made many of the underclass more receptive to Fontaine's quasi-socialist propaganda well before Adam became an issue. Adam was just the spark that lit the gunpowder. But don't mistake that as a criticism for capitalism compared to just a convenient plot device for a revolution.

AnCaps get angry because they think the game is an attack on their values, but they forget the part where it's just a game, and it's purpose is to entertain rather than make a statement.

And looking at that guy's living arrangements in the video, I'm not sure he would be one of those who would benefit in an anarcho-capitalist society. :laugh:

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

Does the game have a continuation storyline, and is it worth playing? I could pick up 1 first, for instance.

[Raúl Duke]

There's a second one coming out I think...

[Os Cangaceiros]

Bioshock is a pretty cool game.

Don't really have anything more to say than that. :thumbup1:

[Red Commissar]

Yeah, you can grab the first one pretty cheaply and is a nice game.

The second one has come out but it's still at full price. There are always other methods to getting it if you have a PC however :p

[#FF0000]

Does the game have a continuation storyline, and is it worth playing? I could pick up 1 first, for instance.

I think it's excellent. Really good atmosphere. If you don't have a powerful computer, go for the Xbox version.

But yeah heavily recommended.

[Demogorgon]

Did anyone use Bioshock as an argument against anarcho-capitalism?
It will presumably make a lot of people think about it. There is one particular moment when Fontaine says something along the lines of "everybody came down here expecting to be a captain of industry and forget somebody has to scrub the toilets" and I think that sums up some of the wishful thinking that goes on in these ideologies.

Of course a lot of the reviews of the game talk about it as "fallen utopia" which I think misses the point rather heavily. The games background points to various serious problems before the events of the game happened. Also the second game mentions that there was serious indoctrination of children in right wing values going on as well as the place suffering from unusually high levels of mental illness.

[Comrade Anarchist]

The guy who came up with the story calls himself a libertarian.

Bioshock-used objectivism, but was trying to show that people need to question their beliefs.
Bioshock 2-bashes collectivism, once again uses totally opposite idea from first game but was just trying to tell people to question their beliefs. Although i loved Andrew Ryan bashing the collectivist lamb.