Within the last few months, I’ve noticed a new insult popping up in my social media feeds: “NPC,” as in “Why am I talking to you, anyway? You’re an NPC.” I had no idea what the hell they meant. Because I prefer to know the exact manner in which I am being insulted, I cranked up the old research machine and discovered that NPC is a video game term for “non-playing character.” NPCs are the background artists of the video game world, minor characters programmed to do little more than populate the game’s simulated world. Shopkeepers, wizards who read the scroll, maybe the girl who rents you a horse.
As one who subscribes to The Simulation Theory, the irony is that the mark of an awakened or enlightened one is to treat everyone with dignity and respect, because we are meant to be sovereign and responsible for only ourselves and no one else. We don’t know where someone else is on their journey (especially if we honestly inventory our own troubled pasts) and the ultimate win is to see an “NPC” become enlightened and sovereign, which doesn’t happen by discarding their latent humanity, but by nurturing it.
this is very on point: "Does this ring any bells with people who study fascist movements? The first thing the fascist has to do is identify an enemy and then dehumanize that person."
have you heard the idea that people are not punished FOR their anger; they are punished BY their anger?
and similarly, that people are not rewarded FOR their kindness, but BY their kindness?
which suggests to me that even if a person IS the only player character in the universe (and i don't think i am), it feels better to be kind to people.
DT, I'm not sure if you're calling me an idiot or somebody else or you're not calling ANYBODY an idiot, but if you ARE insulting me or anybody in these comments, please know I have very low tolerance for disrespectful conversation on here. Thank you.
Speaking of dehumanization, I saw an article on Facebook about micro plastics being found in penis tissue😢 People actually thought that was funny. I replied that there was absolutely nothing funny about testicular cancer. Then the cretins tried to say it was dark humor🙄 Now, I'm a big fan of gallows humor but there is nothing funny about cancer. I also encountered a self described progressive who thought using immigrants for a political stunt, which is exactly what Biden did when he illegally closed the border, was just fine because it pissed off the right. I told her that she wasn't a progressive. She's what I like to call a shit lib. You know the not in my backyard liberal. Those folks need to check their privilege.
My role is life is to be the shlumpy NPC who ruins the main character Instagram shoots by walking by in the background at the most inopportune moments. (And then AI will just erase me... poof.)
This use of NPC is, as you are saying, a kind of cheat code for non-psychopaths to depersonalize others, making it that much easier to disregard their humanity. That said, when I see it in use I always imagine someone repeatedly walking into a wall like a badly coded character in a game.
As one who subscribes to The Simulation Theory, the irony is that the mark of an awakened or enlightened one is to treat everyone with dignity and respect, because we are meant to be sovereign and responsible for only ourselves and no one else. We don’t know where someone else is on their journey (especially if we honestly inventory our own troubled pasts) and the ultimate win is to see an “NPC” become enlightened and sovereign, which doesn’t happen by discarding their latent humanity, but by nurturing it.
Wow, that’s really interesting. Do you have anything you would like to buy or sell from your travels?
dear michael,
you are a player character to me.
this is very on point: "Does this ring any bells with people who study fascist movements? The first thing the fascist has to do is identify an enemy and then dehumanize that person."
have you heard the idea that people are not punished FOR their anger; they are punished BY their anger?
and similarly, that people are not rewarded FOR their kindness, but BY their kindness?
which suggests to me that even if a person IS the only player character in the universe (and i don't think i am), it feels better to be kind to people.
so, thank you for your kindness! play on, player.
love
myq
Rise up, fellow NPCs! That’s OUR word! Let’s take it back
I stand by the “brilliant observations” part.
These are brilliant observations for someone wont to call himself an idiot!
DT, I'm not sure if you're calling me an idiot or somebody else or you're not calling ANYBODY an idiot, but if you ARE insulting me or anybody in these comments, please know I have very low tolerance for disrespectful conversation on here. Thank you.
No disrespect intended, I was saying it in jest. My apologies.
Ok cool - I just didn't understand the comment and wanted to ensure everybody was treating everybody else civilly. I love you so much.
Right on.
Maybe of interest is the doc "A Glitch in the Matrix" (2021) - looks at people who believe we live in a simulation, sometimes with tragic results...
I'll check it out. Great suggestion.
Speaking of dehumanization, I saw an article on Facebook about micro plastics being found in penis tissue😢 People actually thought that was funny. I replied that there was absolutely nothing funny about testicular cancer. Then the cretins tried to say it was dark humor🙄 Now, I'm a big fan of gallows humor but there is nothing funny about cancer. I also encountered a self described progressive who thought using immigrants for a political stunt, which is exactly what Biden did when he illegally closed the border, was just fine because it pissed off the right. I told her that she wasn't a progressive. She's what I like to call a shit lib. You know the not in my backyard liberal. Those folks need to check their privilege.
"Incelliest" is absolutely a word now🤗🤣 All words are made up and that's a great one🤣👏🤣
My role is life is to be the shlumpy NPC who ruins the main character Instagram shoots by walking by in the background at the most inopportune moments. (And then AI will just erase me... poof.)
I think mine is to argue with the actual rightwing PCs on Twitter. I'm their chatbot.
Modern solipsism. Thank you college philosophy class.
Petition to establish the slang definition of NPC in the vernacular to only refer to those who are eligible to vote but choose not to.
This use of NPC is, as you are saying, a kind of cheat code for non-psychopaths to depersonalize others, making it that much easier to disregard their humanity. That said, when I see it in use I always imagine someone repeatedly walking into a wall like a badly coded character in a game.