This essay, spurned by a discussion I had with a friend, was written purely for enjoyment. I feel this may have affected the quality slightly, but writing for one's self has to begin somewhere.
For better or for worse, change is upon us. Our world is changing faster than ever before, and it is changing in ways that we never even imagined it would have before. In the midst, a microcosmic world – the World of Warcraft – was created, which parallels the global changes, in many ways, of our own world.
In certain aspects, the Earth has remained resilient to change. Tradition and traditional values still hold many in its vice-like grip. Those of the older generation, those often seen in power in the United States, are of that group. In ways, previously discussed, they hold steadfast against the waves of change and reform, believing in the archaic principles of an age past. From their seeds sowed, a new generation was born that is now coming of age, joining society and standing along side them, but perhaps not as equals in capacity. This new generation, especially in the United States, has taken, and continues to take, their lives for granted. They find a false contentment in their false belief of entitlement. They, who have become immeasurably apathetic to their educational and vocational future, believe that they deserve, simply for it, a college education and a well paying job. In this, they have been raised, except for a small fraction, in to ungrateful, immature deadbeats with no appreciation for what they have. The two generations both have their short comings, their rainbow after the storm, and their own personal parallels.
Vanilla WoW was a harsh, elitist world, reminiscent of a Pre-Sherman Anti-Trust Act United States. A select few parties controlled the production of high-level goods, and barriers to entry in to this powerful ring were many and daunting. Even so, this was the Golden Age. During this Darwinian era of struggle and difficulty, the masses of max level characters were given idols. These model players showcased the spoils earned by the combined effort of their guilds, and one could and would look up to these demi-gods in all their rarefied power and glory. During that epoch of greatness, there was not a soul who did not appreciate the time, the effort, the skill and the sheer fantasticality of what these aristocrats of the artificial world had accomplished; and this made them grateful. Those below the titans were able to appreciate what they had, because they knew that it represented a path toward a future along side the champions they bore witness to every day, and it drove them to excel. These idols, and the greatness they represented, drove them become better, both in gear and in skill – a drive and appreciation exclusive to our fathers’ generation.
Then Wrath of the Lich King came; then our generation came. The once pure world of Azeroth was, all at once, inundated by a misguided, unprincipled and ungrateful human river. Completely forsaking the traditional methodologies of their forefather’s, they revolted, reforming the mechanics of the game in to an over-simplified parody of its former glory, and this reformation only furthered their grotesque attitudes. Self-absorbed, and basking in their own false prowess, they demanded, like the immature children they were, power and equipment simply because they believed it entitled to them. Falsely equipped with the power of gods, they were presented with challenges far inferior, in both grandeur and difficulty, to those presented by Vanilla; and, naturally, this inflated their ego only further. Knowing nothing of the heroes and heroines of the past, they proclaimed themselves masters of their domain. Knowing nothing of skill, of grandeur, of the past, they selfishly demanded more and more, and they received. It was in this receiving that they lost appreciation and drive. Everything was handed to them; everything is handed to us. Being the popular image, they all believed they were entitled to the best gear and standing. Being the popular image, we all believe we are entitled to stand at the podium at college and to receive a fat salary. This isn’t so. We have lost our appreciation for the things we have, and we have lost the drive to improve both our education and ourselves.
Our own artificial microcosms speak well beyond their years – they provide a fleshed out future for the masses that have jumped on the apathy bandwagon. With no respect for their elders and superiors, surmounted by the uncurbed attitudes of entitlement, the populace weakens; pride in one’s organization evaporates and mutual bonds diminish. In Warcraft, this is displayed through the steep decline in pride for one’s guild. Guilds have become merely a tool through which to leverage higher standing. They are no longer families who work cooperatively to succeed, and people are no longer proud of them. To see a character with a guild tabard is rarer than the Dodo bird. On Earth, without respect for those of intelligence and for those who are seeking to guide us in to our future – if we choose to value what’s “cool” over what’s actually important for our betterment – we will crash, and we will burn.
Though the generation of old may be at fault to cling to certain traditional principles, it demands respect for what it values. What do we value? Trends? Sex? Drugs? Our microcosms reveal nothing more to add to this list other than power and wealth. What future could these vices possibly bestow upon us? Even if these are shown to be pure speculation, what then? If we really do value our future, are we and will we be willing and able to work for it? From evidence presented by this artificial world, and from accounts of our real world, signs would point to no. Meanwhile, over seas, millions of students and workers are being raised at a level far exceeding us, poised to take our dwindling supply of jobs and futures. It bears asking: have we lost already?
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