Does anyone else think Dwarf Fortress is Arch-Conservative in governmental style?
Here's the facts about Dwarf Fortress:
NO abortions are allowed in Dwarf Fortress
Granted. I wouldn't say dwarves are pro-life, they use babies as shields, but there is no abortion.
NO other races are allowed to live with Dwarfs, unless moded as pets
Humans, even in the most liberal nations, don't allow other
species political rights either. Bad comparison.
ALL dwarfs are allowed to own deadly weapons, including lethal projectile weapons (once you implement the economy)
Huh? The only dwarves in my fortress who have weapons are dwarves who are assigned weapons, such as military, hunters, miners, and woodcutters. In my opinion, that's more liberal than conservative. Dwarves don't choose to wield weapons, they're only allowed them if the government says so.
As for thrown weapons, that frying pan liberals have can be lethal if thrown, as can that sharp knife you have in the kitchen or the hatchet/axe you keep next to your house for chopping firewood. Even the most liberal societies allow people to have items that can be improvised into weapons. In DF, however, a dwarf who's paranoid about kobold thieves can't decide to carry a loaded crossbow. So DF is arch-liberal in that regard.
Goverment is ruled by a King, with absolute authority
Government is run by the player. It's not conservative so much as a dictatorship. And no, that's not ultra-conservative, at the extreme end conservatism tends to overlap with aristocracy, not dictatorship.
Fortress Guard/Palace Guard answers only to other Fortress Guard/Palace Guard
On the flipside, the guard currently cannot exercise their power unless ordered to arrest or beat a criminal. So this really doesn't go either way, both conservatives and liberals agree that the police are, at worst, a necessary evil. As another person already pointed out, the guard takes all dwarves regardless of injury or sex, so in that regard it's a little more liberal.
NO taxes (for starting fortesses)
You could look at it like that. I'd say starting fortresses are communist utopian - everything is owned by the government, and dwarves are allowed to take what they need (new clothing, food, booze, etc). So in that regard, it's neither.
ALL pay equal taxes, EXCEPT the nobility and champions
Granted, though to be fair most conservatives don't want the elites to be tax free. Flat taxes, though, are a conservative pipe dream.
NO controls on the size of the military (the only reasons not to have everyone in the military at all times are the threats of starvation and dehydration)
Again, granted, but dwarves are in a constant state of war. Even liberal presidents in times of war expand the military. Obama is currently sending a surge to Afghanistan, it's not exactly a perfect comparison. However, I'll grant that it's more conservative in this regard.
NO animal is safe from dwarfen-inflicted pain except "pets"
I don't see how this is conservative, unless you take the PETA stance where any pain inflicted on an animal is cruelty. The dwarves themselves instantly execute any animal that's being butchered. Player enacted cruelties like kitten exploding chambers and using watch animals are the player's own choice. So, neither here as it's the player's own discretion.
NO privacy for Dwarfs
Dwarves are omniscient. Not a government issue here, dwarves just know everything that isn't invisible.
ALL crimes are punished by the Death Penalty (funny story, the death penalty in the US is actually the same as in Dwarf Fortress: If a person survives their execution, they're free to go)
Actually, just the opposite. Most crimes are only punishable by either beating or imprisonment. Prisons themselves can go either way, they can be cruel cages designed to keep the miscreants away from society, but most player prefer to design them as corrective institutions with chains next to beds, things to admire (I like expensive chains and engraved floors), good food, and booze so dwarves sent there for tantruming calm down and become productive again.
NUCLEAR POWER is freely used in those mods where Dwarfs actually know how to use nuclear power
There's nuclear power mods? News to me. I'll grant this one only because I can't counter it. For the record though, Toady has stated that the technology level of dwarves is based on about the 1400's, so nuclear power should be a moot issue.
NO pollution regulations (what miasma?)
Uhh... miasma is caused by dead animals rotting. It's not pollution, it occurs naturally. And while dwarves have no pollution regulations, they also tend to be very green in the power sources they employ. They use geothermal energy to forge and smelt (breaking the laws of chemistry, I might add) and use hydrolic and pneumatic power to run their mills and pumps. So in that regard, dwarves are the ideal liberal, they don't even need to be regulated they default to pollution regulation.
NO benefits for workers, not even pay unless you have the economy (which actually makes life worse for the workers)
Quite the contrary. Dwarves don't even have to work to be cared for. If a dwarf never works they can still eat and drink for free prior to the economy, and even have a room if one is available. When the economy is enabled, they can still eat food and drink from the well, and they're welcome to sleep in the barracks (government provided housing). So in this regard, DF is VERY liberal. It's not even a large safety net, if a dwarf doesn't work the fortress carries his dead weight.
NO free speech (if Dwarfs can't name their fortress "F^ing Worthless Pile of Cr@p", how is art and peace to flourish?)
Dwarves are allowed to name their engravings anything they want, and they choose their own titles when they get kills. Beyond that, dwarves don't speak. So I guess dwarves have no freedom of speech in the same way they have no
ability to speak.
NO right to burn the flag
Dwarves have no flag.
NO protection of the rights of immigrants (many fortresses actively kill them)
Neither conservative nor liberal. Even conservatives protect the rights of
legal immigrants. That's fascist, and it's done by the player's choice.
NO regulation on the elections
Any dwarf can be the mayor. I think both parties support open elections, how is this conservative?
NO interrogation, ONLY torture
1. Again, dwarves are omniscient, no need for torture when you already know what they're up to. 2. Torture is the player's choice. Many players just execute prisoners, or even release them.
There, my totally unskewed version of Dwarf Fortress. Now, to hide in my fortress while everyone attacks my viewpoint.
Note: While I'm accusing Dwarf Fortress society of being Arch-Conservative, I'm not saying it should be different. Honestly, how many people want more-through elections? Or, a simulation of polution over a ten-year period? Or, equal opportunity for Elves? Humans, yes. Elves, NO! My dwarfs state, and I quote, "We'd rather live with the Goblins than the Elves! At least the Goblins eat meat and don't care if we make crossbows from our ancestors!"
Admission: Ok, I'll admit that Dwarf Fortess isn't completely Arch-Conservative. Next post maybe.
Heh. I know this is a joke post. I'm replying because it's an interesting viewpoint.
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Topic: Is Dwarf Fortress Arch-Conservative (Read 26203 times)