alstergren wrote:Mr Changsha wrote:Is it not possible that a great freestyle player could impart their wisdom over a couple of weeks (while the accused just watched) to the extent that when the accused finally began playing he did indeed know a substantial numbers of maps, understood to have clickies installed immediately, and did indeed know about the c and a forum, who the admins are and all the rest of it?
I don't think it is impossible.
So what you're saying is that there are such men who would not take an online board game so casual and happy-go-lucky that they would just, after having gotten introduced to it, jump in and try it out (for free)? But rather study it in depth and detail before daring to enter and play this online board game? I beg to differ. Show me this man and I'll show you the psychopath of the century.
That's a great comment and I naturally appreciate the wit but I think it is flawed. One cannot say what a man
should obsess over. There are people everywhere who are unusually focused (both in substance and style) on activities that would baffle most other people. I find it perfectly likely that there is a personality out there that would see it as perfectly rational to spend a month theorising Risk before venturing on to the board. Why not? I know that when I was at university and played a Russian at chess I went away and read about four books on chess before going back for a second game...sadly I still got beat as I have zero aptitude for chess, but I think you see my point.
I suppose I identify with this chap's argument because it is exactly the kind of thing I would do. My own record would suggest I spend a lot more time pondering Risk than playing it...and that would be true. Am I psychopath? I'm fairly sure not, but I may focus in an unusual way on activities others would find a pointless waste of brain power and life.
We are of course wandering our way towards the abstract in these posts and they will have little to no bearing on the result. But I do think this 'He must be a multi because neither I (nor anyone I even know) would ever approach CC in this manner' argument deserves to be shot down on principle. Personalities and aptitudes are endlessly varied, that's what makes life (and the study of it) so interesting!