A COVID-19 Video Game Pitch

As COVID-19 challenges us to adopt a marathon mentality (versus the races we ran with H1N1, H5N8, and Ebola) we’re witnessing a variety of cult-like personalities and camps doing their best to influence lives and laws. Before pitching our COVID-19 video game idea comprised of the three primary castes (listed below), take time to ponder your thoughts on what you believe cults are. Use a journalists’ tried and true list of questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how to gather your thoughts and feelings concerning your beliefs about cults.

Historically, socially, culturally the term cult conjures negative connotations based on definition bias. How you define what a cult is and who qualifies as a cult member is based on deeply-held social, cultural, religious, and political beliefs. How you were/are raised, taught, rewarded, and punished flavors your concept of what is and is not a cult. Examples:

• an atheist says, “All organized religions are cults.” What’s your gut-level reaction to this atheists’ statement?
• do carnivores mark vegetarians with a cult check-mark? When you meet a tried and true vegetarian who’s at that stage where they need to educate you (as well as anyone else who crosses their path) about the benefits of being a vegetarian — how do you receive said education?
• Do Roman Catholics classify those who worship Satan as a cult versus a religion?

Ever notice the first four letters of culture = cult?

Do cultures a form cults?

COVID-19 Video Game Pitch

COVID-19 systemically spade up deeply held roots (beliefs, traditions) related to personal rights and responsibilities. As we digested a variety of views constantly flowing through streams of online, printed, audio, and video sources (along with related commentary to said content) what did you think? How did you feel? Combining your thoughts and feelings, I wonder! What kinds of video-game terrain and players do you imagine?

First? Gamers.

On a simplistic level, let's create three COVID-19 Camps (gamers).

COVID-19 Camp 1: Proud and loud certified COVID-19 vaccinated players.

Raison d’etre? Mandate vaccines. Vaccinate everyone.

Shared mentality? The needs of the many [their majority) outweighs the needs of the few (percieved minorities).

Game components?

1. Systematically form, embrace and enforce caste cultures based on COVID-19 immunity or vaccination status.
2. Enforce castes via health passports. Maintain a multi-tiered caste system locally and globally based on your COVID-19 immune system status.

COVID-19 Camp 2: Staunchly Vaccine Free.

Camp quest? Ban mandated vaccinations. Protect / advocate for COVID-19 Cult 3 members.

Shared mentality? The need for one’s rights /choice/beliefs outweighs the needs of the many (majority).

Game component?

Systematically uphold and embrace existing laws guaranteeing human rights specifically Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 3.

COVID-19 Camp 3: Undecided about COVID-19 vaccine(s) based on: 1. published reports documenting ever-changing vaccination efficacy. 2. seasoned medical experts who challenge the rapid pace of FDA approval. 3. COVID-19’s documented mortality rates.

Game components?

1. Do what it takes to remain COVID-19 vaccine-free until there’s more verifiable longitudinal study data clearly demonstrating COVID-19 vaccine rewards or risks.
2. Support COVID-19 Camp 2 while creating ways to navigate daily routines such as a) eat at home versus dine-out; b) Stay at home versus enjoy local entertainment or out of home vacations; c) pay for COVID-19 testing as needed (travel/entertainment access); d)risk potential outcomes (backlash, illness or death) due to Camp 3 status.

The game pitch?

Game Level 1: Caste Counts & Intel Gathering / Sharing.

The number of total cult members (all three castes combined): 281,421,906 at the time of this post. (USA adult population ages 18+)

1. Assign population into cults representing what you sense is true for you at this particular moment. If you sense Camp 1 represents 45% of those you know (family, extended family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, school, religious affiliations, et. al.) then assign 126,639,857 souls to Camp 1.
2. Divvy up the remaining 55% of people into Camp’s 2 and 3 as you see fit.
3. Ask perceived or elected Camp leaders to first review and digest the following intel.
4. Discuss and share their opinions of this intel within their caste.

• Julia Lurie’s post where a “prestigious doctor’s group has made it virtually impossible to discern where public health guidance ends and industry interests begin.”
• Pam Belluck, Sheila Kaplan and Rebecca Robbins’ post: “How an Unproven Alzheimer’s Drug Got Approved.” Be sure to read the comments to this post to glean a variety of perspectives.
• James Gallagher’s post: “Is catching Covid now better than more vaccine?”
• History of vaccines.

True COVID-19 Camp 1’s concern is clearly focused on physical health. Just how aware do you sense Camp 1'er’s are of the decades old byzantine political, legal and financial webs spun between Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, Roche, Pfizer, Bayer (the top five pharmaceutical companies) and the AMA, FDA, and the CDC.

Game Level 2: Game time!

Imagine what you sense camp leaders will share — and do — with their caste after digesting Game Level 1 intel. Imagine what will happen — play out — over the next six months.

What would you say to a camp leader?

What would share with 1) their caste; 2) other camps.

** Translation: what will you say to people you know who mirror the characteristics of the three different camps discussed in this post.

Game Level 3: Lines.

Where do camps draw (then enforce) their respective line(s)

How aware is Camp 1 of the nature of bureaucratic (government) scope creep? Where’s the line for Camp 1 members? Are Camp 1 members at peace with government expanding mandates to say:

• Tobacco smokers. Tobacco smoke — an airborne traveler — is now considered cancerous. In less than a century we’ve witnessed a dramatic shift in how we navigate tobacco smoke and smokers' freedom to smoke.
• Obesity? The more obese one chooses to become the more likely they’ll drain medical resources. Will obese COVID Camp 1 members embrace a mandate requiring them to gain and maintain a healthy weight. Failure to comply with said mandate = loss of medical services. (Mirrors mindset toward COVID-19 Camp’s 2 and 3 members based on posted comments to articles concerning COVID-19 vaccination drives).
• Million / billionaires. Why? Will the 1%’ers of the COVID-19 Camp willing give away their millions and billions? After all, the needs of the many (those 99%’ers) outweighs the needs of the few (those 1%’ers). Right?

Next? Heads-up COVID-19 Camps 2 and 3. How do you plan to navigate lines drawn by COVID-19 Camp 1 members? Do you plan to ditch masks? Is violence to include murder reasonable/acceptable when COVID-19 Camp 1 souls confront you?

Game Over? Winners? Losers?

What do you think? Which camp do you sense will win (enshrine their beliefs into laws)? Why? Which cult will lose? Why? Discuss your insights with others. Continue to add game levels you sense reflect what’s happening — right now.