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The Last of Us 2 has definitely done one thing worthwhile: it's motivated me to actually think about revenge in a way I previously hadn't.
Because the execution of the game's message is rather piss-poor, I've decided: revenge is good, actually.
Because the execution of the game's message is rather piss-poor, I've decided: revenge is good, actually.
Violence is not bad.
Aggression is bad.
When someone assaults you, they can be referred to as an aggressor.
When you hit them back, you're using violence to defend yourself.
Aggression is bad.
When someone assaults you, they can be referred to as an aggressor.
When you hit them back, you're using violence to defend yourself.
Because we have a proper legal system with checks and balances to serve justice in as objective and fair a manner as possible, it's not typically the right thing to take revenge.
Strip that precious justice system away, however, and the rules of revenge change.
Strip that precious justice system away, however, and the rules of revenge change.
It doesn't matter how many dogs you play with, or how many zebras you save. The moment you decide that you're entitled to take an innocent person's life, yours has become forfeit.
Especially if the manner in which you killed that person is as drawn out and sadistic as torturing and beating them for hours.
And everyone who participates in this and looks on with glee is complicit.
And everyone who participates in this and looks on with glee is complicit.
"B-bu-buh-but you're missing the point of the game!"
Oh no, I got the game's point.
It's a shitty one.
It actually does a great job at convincing me this fanatical opposition to revenge is childish and naive.
Oh no, I got the game's point.
It's a shitty one.
It actually does a great job at convincing me this fanatical opposition to revenge is childish and naive.
If I were on a jury for a case involving a guy hunting down and murdering someone who got away with murdering or raping his family member, I'd need to see some convincing evidence that that really was the case, but if it was, I'd stonewall on a not guilty verdict.
"B-bu-buh-but you're dehumanizing the person who's being killed in an act of vengeance!"
Yes. If you rape, torture, and murder, and then expect not to face consequences, especially in a lawless setting where frontier justice is the only justice, you deserve to be dehumanized.
Yes. If you rape, torture, and murder, and then expect not to face consequences, especially in a lawless setting where frontier justice is the only justice, you deserve to be dehumanized.
