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| Does PURGE conduct terrorism? |
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| Silent |
 Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:06 pm Post subject: Does PURGE conduct terrorism? |
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BLUE
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 2886
Service Group: HPD&MC
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While the definition of terrorism is hotly contested, with many different possibilities for it, at least there is a certain sense that terrorism is about terror, about making people afraid.
Consider the following definition of terrorism, from Princeton Wordnet:
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| the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear |
The modern incarnation of PURGE does not appear to care about intimidating, coercing, instilling fear, or indeed, causing terror. It seems far too subtle for them, a sort of emotional manipulation and propaganda that is suited for Humanists or other anti-Computer forces, but not for PURGE.
The recent 25th Anniversary (and to a lesser extent, The Traitor's Manual) stressed that PURGE has no real political agenda, and does not want any ideological commitments, so that also doesn't qualify them as being terrorist. They aren't really promoting anything other than their own existence.
In fact, the only thing that PURGE does that matches Princeton's definition is that PURGE uses violence against civilians. But people can use violence against civilians for all sorts of reasons (even just for "business reasons" like extortion), and it doesn't seem right to just smear all sorts of violence against civilians under one umbrella term.
PURGE wants to Smash The Computer, yes, but it wants to do so by destroying Alpha Complex, killing all its civilians, and blowing up the various CompNodes that makes up The Computer. It's certainly not the conventional sort of terrorism that Princeton is thinking of, not the "inspire the masses to rebel against the oppressive machine" or even "overthrow The Computer or you're next."
It seems to me like PURGE doesn't really even care if its actions lead to people getting scared or willing to adopt its ideology; it just wants to destroy The Computer. They're basically "omnicidal maniacs" according the official material.
...and if that's the case, then why does the official material still call them "terrorists", if they don't really resemble the "terrorists" of today (who operate on the basis of clear ideological/political goals and motives).
Edit: I hope this post doesn't come off rude or concedsing. I really like PURGE as this scary force, and PURGE is interesting in terms of PARANOIA lore because its methods and tone usually changes a little every edition. I decided to make this post because 1) I wanted discussion in this forum, and 2) I was curious why PURGE doesn't meet the conventional understanding of terrorism.
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| Phial |
| Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:51 am Post subject: |
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UV Master Programmer
Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 5525
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If suplanting the ruling class (The Computer) isn't a political aim then I can see how PURGE may fall outside the definition of terrorism. PURGE in the schema offerred closely resemble late 19th century anarchists who were focussed on abolishing the monarchy by violence. Most would term them terrorists even if the effect on the broader population was either accidental or incidental.
In a way the absolute single mindedness of PURGE is vastly more terrifying to the average AC denizen than Death Leopard. Death Leopard kill essentailly at random and not from malice. If PURGE kill you it may be an accidental consequence of their main objective but their main objective is removing the (supposed) protector of your being. Dead is dead but destroying your comfort zone entirely is in another class (of terror).
A personal plot arc that a clone who may or may not run PLN has undertaken is a move from the random destruction and japes of Death Leopard (as in Repent Harlequin said the Ticktockman) to the more 'meaningful' destruction of PURGE. In the context of the issue at hand it is the move to 'more meaningful' that would seem to denote terror for a cause and therefore terrorism.
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| Adam-R-LON-1 |
| Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 4:58 am Post subject: |
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INDIGO
Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 3853
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I believe I commented on how scared I was of that development at the time in the Grey Subnet.
Whether someone is a terrorist or not depends both on your point of view and the person's intent. PURGE, given its sole definition as a 'a group that wants rid of The Computer' can be interpreted several ways, some making them terrorists and some not.
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| Uccisore |
| Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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RED
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 39
Service Group: PLC
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I think a lot of it depends on the particulars of your Alpha Complex.
If you live in a Classic world where literally every single citizen is a traitor that seems to privately hate and/or fear the Computer (aside from maybe FCCC), then it's hard to see what PURGE does as terrorism.
But if your Alpha Complex is one in which the vast majority of citizens sincerely think the Computer is great because of drugs or ignorance, then PURGE actions might classify as terrorism, sure.
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