What I learnt from DayZ: joe public has zero understanding of mental health

[duddbudda 33]

there are a half dozen threads on the front page of the suggestion forum discussing a mechanic simulating the insanity of players who commit murder

common statements include:

- murderers are insane

- insane people are murderers

- psychopathy/sociopathy is insane

- sadism is insane

- insane people cannot control themselves

- ***it is possible to determine a person's mental health by superficial tells***

these are extreme generalisations, but they are made often and without question by a good number of posters here

particularly concerning is the last point, highlighted with asterisks, given that it is raised so regularly and could be incredibly damaging if acted upon

Mental health is a sensitive subject and, given the intangibility of the field and concomitant paucity of public understanding, it is forgivable that so many stereotypes and generalisations exist.

I'm posting this as a warning: forumeers, please, take a moment and consider your assumptions

and as a request: Rocket, please, do not implement any mechanic that ajudicates players' mental health, it is not a subject that can safely be tackled by a game like DayZ

Edited July 18, 2012 by Sandy

[Casualblue 2]

wut? .

[Publik 404]

Hey, my name's not Joe!

[DemonGroover 8836]

I understand your concerns regarding mental health and the fact that it isnt something to be generalised or belittled.

Would you agree though that someone who wantonly kills strangers for no reason (i am talking pure PK players here - half the time they dont even loot) could be clasiified as psychopathic? Would they be distinguishable, require drugs etc etc? Could you produce a mechanic in game that shows this?

That is what the devs are trying to do, not make everyone who murders someone flagged as "insane"

[Surg3on 4]

OP unable to differentiate reality from a GAME. Possible sign of mental health issues.

[Kirjava 7]

Unfortunately OP, that's the internet, I don't like it either. Add joe publics lack of understanding of race, culture, sexual orientation, disability, drug abuse, poverty, imperialism etc. The list is endless.

[sandorski 17]

Apparently there's a Bandit who doesn't like being diagnosed as Insane.

[OrLoK 16191]

"What I learnt from DayZ: joe public has zero understanding of mental health"

Hello there

The above statement is true, but you are unlikely to change opinions in this forum.

If you are concerned that the devs may be implementing systems which will make sweeping generalisations about mental health issues, then I would contact them directly.

I doubt this is the case and any sanity systems will be no more offensive than those found in other games.

Or if the Devs want any advice thay can always contact me via PM's.

Rgds

LoK

[duddbudda 33]

OP unable to differentiate reality from a GAME

I'm not talking about the game, role playing a blood-soaked axe-wielding psychopath is fun for all the family

I'm talking about attitudes displayed on the forum, the implicit prejudices and stereotypes and my hope that the devs will distance themselves from such

[duddbudda 33]

Would you agree though that someone who wantonly kills strangers for no reason (i am talking pure PK players here - half the time they dont even loot) could be clasiified as psychopathic?

there is no great correlation between socio/psychopathy and psychosis

as to requiring an in game mechanic for sociopathy, no, that's displayed by their behaviour perfectly well enough

[CraigWazHere 7]

I made a suggestion. About insanity, I didn't once insult anyone with mental problems. I just suggested a way to combat the random killing, by having consequences for it.

I made a suggestion, meaning I suggested something. If you don't like the idea, disagree with it.

[rebb 13]

I don't think PKers are insane, just bog-standard e-pricks who abuse the general lack of slapping distance on the internetses, unleashing their inner asshole because they are too afraid to do so in the real world.

Edited July 16, 2012 by totallyRebb

[[email protected] 27]

U mad bro?

[duddbudda 33]

I didn't once insult anyone with mental problems

http://penny-arcade....arez-the-cartel

watch that

understand why I said this

I was talking about your assumption that murdering the mentally unwell is just and would make one's psyche stronger, I was more concerned with your blithe assumption that people whose morals do not align with yours are insane and deserve death

If you don't like the idea, disagree with it.

what do you think i was doing in that reply you completely ignored? what do you think this thread is for?

Edited July 18, 2012 by Sandy

[fearz0r 128]

I don't think players are insane, but I do feel when a platform offers a close-to-real environment with emotionally and psychologically influencing gameplay, it'll have an affect on people. They can become a bit desensitised to the act of killing. Dying in this game is quite upsetting, and I don't mean raging or swearing because you were "fragged" I mean, if like me you invest time and effort into playing it slowly, carefully and cautiously you'd be sad from losing your survivor. I stay away from anyone else, and steer clear of large towns and other places of interest. If my 20 day old survivor died, I'd be sad. It's a natural emotion and feeling towards an almost real event. Killing in this game/mod doesn't hold the same weight as dying, unless you have a particular view or mindset towards others, like I do. I see all others as players like me. I imagine they've been in game for a long time and are just trying to survive, and therefore I try my utmost to not attack or kill them as that upsetting feeling I'd experience if I died isn't something I want others to go through.

But this moral stance is only down to the individual, there are blatantly people out there that see this as a game, and other players as fodder. They aren't insane, they're just gamers playing games. If someone was like me, with my mindset, and they then killed someone, and then another, and another, until they were fascinated and obsessed with ending the game/life/experience of others, then and only then would I say that this game/mod has has a detrimental affect on their mentality. I still wouldn't say they were insane, but they certainly wouldn't be themselves.

[duddbudda 33]

oh, the OP was a response to the common 'implement an insanity mechanic to punish PvP' suggestion

OP changed to make this clearer