Volitions Advocate on 8/12/2008 at 04:02
(
www.alongwaygone.com)
I really enjoy politics and debate, and I have my views, but one thing I'm not terribly fond of is activism. I have friends who have a "cause" that they "fight" for and I really find it hard to take them seriously sometimes, because I believe in moderation and logic rather than untamed passion to try to prove a point.
So now that I"ve said that I think everyone should read this book. Its a memoir of a child soldier from Serra Leone told in his own words, he wrote the book. And it is thankfully up front and unashamed. He doesn't glorify what happened and he doens't look for sympathy.
Maybe this kind of book isn't for you, if it isn't then ignore me, but I do a lot of soul searching and I really want to try to figure out my purpose here and sometimes other peoples experiences help me a lot. Even if it's just to be thankful that I don't have to be living in these awful circumstances. And it's actually kept me up in bed for several nights.
It makes me look at movies like Lord of War and games like Farcry 2 in a different light. actually my farcry 2 experience seems much more hollow and cheap now that I"ve read this book, it seems like its lacking a lot of things that should be in there and is too emotionally detached from the situation that the PC finds himself in.
I'm not trying to say that movies and games like these are some how morally wrong for getting profits through entertainment. But I think many of us could benefit from some ponderance.
If any of you have read it share what you've felt here.
EDIT: Ishmael Beah (the author) on CNN. (
http://www.alongwaygone.com/cnnvideo.html)
Thief13x on 8/12/2008 at 04:17
Quote Posted by Volitions Advocate
actually my farcry 2 experience seems much more hollow...
...it seems like its lacking a lot of things that should be in there
HAVE YOU TRIED CRYSIS??
Volitions Advocate on 8/12/2008 at 04:18
I've played both crysis games. I don't understand why you're asking.
Shug on 8/12/2008 at 04:39
One of the few posts where Thief13x hits the mark; of course a PC game or a Hollywood blockbuster about war and guerilla action is going to be ludicrous alongside the account of a kid that fought and killed actual human beings.
Thief13x on 8/12/2008 at 04:45
I actually never played either...just thought it would sound cool;)
carry on
Volitions Advocate on 8/12/2008 at 04:55
Well my point wasn't to state the obvious. I'm talking about the book, not the games. Check it out, I'm serious.
BEAR on 8/12/2008 at 04:59
This guy was on the daily show a while back (or colbert report, probably daily show), and it was one of the more moving interviews I've seen. I've not read the book, but I've heard of the guy elsewhere too.
I would have to question your world knowledge if it takes something like this to show you that farcry 2 is hollow.
demagogue on 8/12/2008 at 05:25
I remember this thread the first time I read it, except the game was WWI and the book was All Quiet on the Western Front.
Volitions Advocate on 8/12/2008 at 05:26
alright guys, forget the far cry 2 comment then. It's not what introduced me to the situation in africa alright. I was just trying to elaborate on how i felt. I picked up the book off the shelf and bought it without ever hearing about it first because I was interested in it.
Actually on the back of the book Jon Stewart had a review quote that said something like
"few books have made my heart hurt and this one did" or something like that, so it must've been the daily show that he was on.
Peanuckle on 8/12/2008 at 05:34
How's that quote go?
"To embrace a cause, to grow fond or spiteful, is to lose one's balance."
