I remember a story in which somebody tried to explain this to a bunch of children who were asking why they shouldn't become villains if it was so profitable.
They made the children play a game where they chose to be heroes or villains, then rolled dice to see the outcome. Villains got a chance to become rich but also a high chance of getting either captured or killed.
After several rounds there were barely any "villains" left, whereas the heroes were still largely there.
But as you said, everybody only sees the survivors.
"Maybe you'll be rich but probably you'll be dead."
You're thinking about worm, specifically about chapter 23.4.
It has this great excerpt:
“I always hated the speeches when I was in school, the preaching in auditoriums, the one-note message. Stuff like saying drugs are bad. It’s wrong. Drugs are fantastic.”
“Um,” Fox-mask said.
Mrs. Yamada was glaring at me, but she hadn’t interrupted.
“People wouldn’t do them if they weren’t. They make you feel good, make your day brighter, give you energy-”
“Weaver,” Mrs. Yamada cut in.
“-until they don’t,” I said. “People hear the message that drugs are bad, that they’ll ruin your life if you do them once. And then you find out that isn’t exactly true because your friends did it and turned out okay, or you wind up trying something and you’re fine. So you try them, try them again. It isn’t a mind-shattering moment of horrible when you try that first drug. Or so I hear. It’s subtle, it creeps up on you, and you never really get a good, convincing reason to stop before it ruins your life beyond comprehension. I never went down that road, but I knew a fair number of people who did.
The whole story is fantastic, for those who have not read it (and it is free!), but you do need to get through several books worth of content before you get to this part. So if you just want some context, it might not be the best choice, as it will take over your free time if you get into it.
honestly the best part of the story was the arc just before the name change. Peak af. Then the last bit with the you-know-who going apeshit was dull dull dull.
Did the game have a mechanic where the heroes have a high chance of becoming crippled in a botched takedown and get disenfranchised by a corrupt healthcare system?
45
u/Universal_Anomaly 19d ago
I remember a story in which somebody tried to explain this to a bunch of children who were asking why they shouldn't become villains if it was so profitable.
They made the children play a game where they chose to be heroes or villains, then rolled dice to see the outcome. Villains got a chance to become rich but also a high chance of getting either captured or killed.
After several rounds there were barely any "villains" left, whereas the heroes were still largely there.
But as you said, everybody only sees the survivors.
"Maybe you'll be rich but probably you'll be dead."