Comment by binarymax
2 months ago
Referring to anyone as an NPC is really insulting. People are not algorithms in a video game. They are real and they have lives and dreams and hopes and problems. Show some respect.
2 months ago
Referring to anyone as an NPC is really insulting. People are not algorithms in a video game. They are real and they have lives and dreams and hopes and problems. Show some respect.
100% this. Calling others NPCs is the same type of psychology as the people you meet who complain about how everyone in their life - parents, spouse, friends, coworkers is a jerk...
Then complain that they are lonely. One common trait of I have seen in those with good people skills, even those who use them for bad like pushy salesmen, is that they know how to treat people as if they matter simply because they are people.
Yes, and I think the percentage of the population with these abilities is diminishing over time. People are too used to having their interactions intermediated by screens.
I couldn't agree more. Even tho I am in fact an NPC it is quite jarring to hear.
I'd go a step further and say that I find it an extremely scary trend to call people NPCs. It's extremely dehumanizing and dehumanization always comes before acts of extreme violence. How many gamers treat actual NPCs in video games only furthers this.
Given the context (him not wanting to stay with the acquiring company), I'm pretty sure he was referring to the large number of people at big companies who don't seem to do anything, but get in the way.
I think most people who work at Big Co's have their share of meetings where half a dozen people attend regularly, but have never said a word and you have no idea what they actually do. Those are the "NPCs" he's referring to.
> I think most people who work at Big Co's have their share of meetings where half a dozen people attend regularly, but have never said a word and you have no idea what they actually do. Those are the "NPCs" he's referring to.
Have you considered that those “NPCs” have no idea what you do..?
I wouldn't care if they know what I do, as long as they do something actually productive.
You may disagree, but the "NPC" comment comes from the widespread belief that it's easy for low-performers to stick around at big companies, versus at smaller companies that live and die by their burn rate.
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It's still pretty condescending. Don't know what someone's role is, but assume he doesn't do anything? Him calling other people "NPCs" is a pretty clear sign that he thinks he's the Main Character.
Not only that he's the main character but that they aren't actual humans who have their own experience and life and that it might even be ok to run them over with your car as long as you hide in the bushes for a few minutes after or get your car a new paint job.
I implement NPCs, and I treat them respectfully. Someday soon, they may be smarter or more powerful than I am.
One of my NPCs has a T-shirt that says "Trainee" on the front, and "Someday, we'll be in charge" on the back.
I could say the same thing about the NPCs in a video game and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference, because they wouldn't share any of their lives, hopes and dreams with you at any point.
Sure, people (probably) have their own lives; but believing this and being able to actually tell are two completely different things.
I dunno, there's something about the way you responded that rubs me entirely the wrong way. You seem to take my comment and then take the worst, instead of most generous interpretation of it. I posed a hypothetical, and it seems like you accuse me of considering every person in the world an NPC.
Maybe instead of "the way you responded rubs me the wrong way", you could consider thinking "maybe I wrote my comment the wrong way".
What you said, both in your original comment and in this follow up, demonstrates a demented way of viewing other people.
Calling even a single human being a NPC is completely dehumanizing and disgusting behavior. Think about the implications of the words!