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Capitalism is like an RPG game (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by DaddleDew@lemmy.world to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
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In many RPG games, when you level up, it feels good. You see your stats increase, your damage output and damage resistance go up, all the numbers get bigger. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. But then, you are made to face tougher enemies which completely cancel out the progress you've made. As a player you're locked into a gameplay loop that acts like a treadmill that keeps you struggling all the time while providing an illusion of progress.

Inflation and "pay raises" are doing exactly the same thing. When you get a pay raise, you feel like you've progressed because you make more money than you used to when you first started. But if you take inflation into account, you've never really progressed at all. For most, their struggle only got even harder even.

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[-] jewbacca117@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

Too p2w. Nice graphics tho. 3/10

[-] 6nk06@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 months ago

It's a modern variant of the traditional RPGs. You grind a lot, you're harrassed by bosses, and at the end of the month you gain 0 XP to get to the next pay raise.

[-] Solumbran@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

An RPG is supposed to get increasingly hard, as the characters have to face more serious and important difficulties.

What you're talking about is just capitalist bullshit, the equivalent would be finishing a quest and your reward is that they erase your save, give you a little badge or something and you have to start the game again.

[-] Aquila@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 months ago

So.. a rogue-like than

[-] Solumbran@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Nah, there is overall progress in a roguelike, not in capitalism

[-] INeedMana@piefed.zip 1 points 3 months ago

Not all RPGs have D&D's power creep

[-] Networkcathode@piefed.social 1 points 3 months ago

It’s almost like games are a simulation of reality

[-] AlexLost@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

It took me years to convince my boss that getting a raise to match inflation isn't a raise and not getting at least that is a pay cut. He's the economics guy too...

this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2025
5 points (69.2% liked)

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