The Blame Game
The Dark Side of Alternate Reality Games? – Part 1
It’s finally happened.
In some ways, I’m surprised it took so long.
Someone has at last discovered the darker side and true hidden purpose of Alternate Reality Games.
I admit, I laughed when the subject first emerged last week in a comment posted here on Alterati to my entry entitled “The Rise of the ARG.” Even though the subject matter itself was no laughing matter, it’s hard to take anything seriously when it’s brought up by someone who chooses “Uncle Humpasaur” as a preferred on-screen identity. Seriously, if you just happen to come up with something that’s really meaningful and quotable, is that really how you want to be known?
Almost as ludicrous was the comment itself, especially the way it tried to attach a secret, darker purpose to ARGs:
“ARG is a lot more than ‘neat fun’ — there’s probably more dark undertones than there are bright, shiny overtones. ARG inevitably model themselves after actual conspiracy-theory rabbit-hole experiences, like the Mucho-Disturbing game El Centro, which was steeped in some really gruesome shit, like the Monarch mythos and of course, MKULTRA.”
I’ve been working professionally making ARGs for several years now, and have personally created several games in which exposing secret government mind control programs was the main focus (3 ARGs about a fictional musical group called the ChangeAgents), so you could say I have a little bit of personal knowledge about this subject. I also confess to working in a limited capacity on the “Mucho Disturbing game El Centro” in the interest of full disclosure. In reality though, the actual Alternate Reality Game for El Centro hasn’t really even taken place yet. There were some preliminary materials created and posted online, with a small degree of narrative and interactivity, but it certainly wasn’t a full-blown or prolonged ARG experience. So I can say with complete confidence that Uncle Humpasaur doesn’t have the slightest clue of what he is talking about. His comments betray such an ignorance of the genre that I couldn’t help but laugh at them.
I’m not laughing anymore.
If I thought Mr. Humpasaur had strayed off the correct path a bit, the person blogging at this Dreamsend site has completely left the planet.
In case you didn’t follow the link above, the image included above pretty much sums up the situation. That’s the cover of my 2nd book – Through the Rabbit Hole: A Beginner’s Guide to Playing Alternate Reality Games – used in conjunction with an article theorizing about a possible connection between ARGs and the sudden, mysterious deaths of two young and apparently quite talented artists, Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake.
I guess if I were only interested in selling books I’d be happy, as the prominent placement of the cover on this Dreamsend blog and the subsequent interest and coverage it has generated has resulted in a surge of sales in both this and my first book. But under these conditions it just doesn’t feel right. I’d rather not have the sales created by this blogger’s insensitive and often just plain stupid speculation about the deaths of these two people.
As you might imagine, this entire topic has touched a nerve with me and I’ve got quite a lot to say about it, more than one entry here at Alterati will contain. So this is just the beginning of a reply of sorts to the Dreamsend articles (there’s a whole series of them there; in fact the writer has just created a separate annex of his site to house them) and there will definitely be more to follow.
I’m going to start though, by calling the guy on his shit.
Several times in the various blog entries he mentions how he’s never spoken to anyone who’s played an ARG or has been involved in any way in making them. At one point he even goes so far as to construe the fact that no one from the ARG world has contacted him as proof that he’s on to something.
“I’ve never, for example, received any communication from any of the architects of the major ARGS such as Majestic. With a couple of exceptions, I haven’t received communications from anyone who has even PLAYED an ARG, much less who claims much expertise on the subject. Odd, that. If I were that off target, I’d expect ridicule from them.” from an August 11th entry
Now wait a minute. If this guy is trying to pass off his series of articles as a serious journalistic expose, isn’t it incumbent upon him to seek those very people out who might just have some knowledge of the subject he intends to write about? Of course, it’s not as easy to just make facts and conclusions up if you do that, is it?
He certainly never tried to contact me, even though I have email addresses and phone numbers publicly available from my website. He’s obviously aware of me and my connection to ARGs, since he used the cover of my book on his site, without even bothering to ask permission, I might add. So how serious was he about wanting to learn the truth about Alternate Reality Games?
On top of that, it seems he’s either got a bad memory or he’s not completely telling the truth, because an August 6th entry to the same series bemoans how “mean” the ARG designers have been to him. Six days later he’s claiming he’s never talked to anyone remotely connected to ARGs, either making or playing them. Which is it?
I could (and probably eventually will) pick apart a lot of the other facts and information about ARGs that this guy has included in his articles, since much of it is just downright false or misleading, but there’s another angle I’d like to address first.
To many people, myself included, it sure feels like the person behind the Dreamsend blog is using the deaths of Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake as a way to generate attention for himself and his site. In many ways, his speculation is just as bad as the expected but still shameless sensationalism of the N.Y. Post’s coverage. But even that is just skimming the surface of the real issue, since it’s nothing new to have parasites trying to achieve some form of personal gain from other people’s tragedies.
There’s another layer or level of tragedy going on here though, in a mentality that thinks any unexplained mysteries are part of a larger grand conspiracy, allowing the writer to see these deaths as nothing more than a potential part of a game that needs to be exposed. This form of delusion used to be a fairly private Hell, until the Internet provided the public forum via blogs to share it with the world.
There’s a “truth be damned” attitude that’s frightening to see in such a paranoid worldview spawned from this victim mentality. It’s apparent not only in the writing on Dreamsend, but also in the writer’s repetitive statements asking people who disagree with him just to leave him alone and stop commenting on his blog. He says numerous times during the course of this series, “I wish I could just turn off the comments” or something very similar.
Sorry, Dreamsend, you opened this door. You’ve enjoyed your fifteen minutes of fame at the cost of others. You’re not going to be able to just bury your head in the sand and wish this all away.
Perhaps most frightening of all is to see the idea just one iteration down, spreading like the meme it threatens to become, in the form of the Humpasaur comment. It’s transformed already from maybe some dark and twisted ARG played a part in the tragic deaths of these two people to all ARGs have dark elements or some form of mind control. How easy it is to blame something you neither understand nor care to learn about, when getting to the truth might take just a bit of work.
Next: The Dark Side of ARGs – Part 2
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Funny how Mr. End spends pages going on about Neoism art, anonymity and how it all points to some still yet to be named ‘agenda’ (Cue spooky music). All the while Mr. End levels these accusations anonymously. Didn’t take much to dig up this: http://dreamsend.blogspot.com/2003_09_01_archive.html
Hello Ty Brown.
From what I can tel, this is nothing more than a callous and cynical attempt to garner attention and traffic to a tier three blog. I won’t bother to comment re: my opinion of the person who writes it.
As far as Mr. Humpasaur, one only need peruse his/her/its site. As Stan Lee used to say, ‘Nuff Said’.
Fear spawns an ass-pony. Known aliases: “Dreamsend”, “Theresaduncancentral”, “blueraccoon”, “theremy (rumour central)”.
Hapless vultures, all of them.
~”…it sure feels like the person behind the Dreamsend blog is using the deaths of Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake as a way to generate attention for himself and his site.”~
Sadly, there are too many blogs taking advantage of their demise.
The preceding comment makes a fine example. The “Seaword” is another “sudden/overnight” Duncan-centric site. Shameless, creepy and sad.
The only “meme” I see, in all of these, is the theme of artists as “untrustworthy” and “sometimes dangerous” people.
Horse shit.
http://el-centro.net
If you’ve seen their response, you can now be assured that these people are idiots and not worth your time. It’s good that you both stated your objection to being used in a smear campaign against dead people and their associates by someone WHO DIDN’T KNOW THEM. Even more telling that it’s by someone who wants to stay anonymous to protect their job, yet doesn’t mind talking loads of crap about people they don’t really know, by name.
All in all, a small potatoes idiot, not worth the bits it would take to blow them to hades. However, if you want to know the true identity of the blog owner, leave me a message here and I’ll get it to you.
I’ll bite. Email me.
Good on you David.
Greetings:
Speaking as a named vulture, I am moved to say, that while all vultures are equal, some vultures are more equal than others.
First, I am glad to read of Mr. Szulborski’s speaking out on this otherwise intriguing issue of ARG theory suffering pulling and tugging like bungee chords to prop up the rickety maunderings of a loon. I have also removed the image of the book from my accounting. I appropriated it as an illustration for that particular individual’s pursuit down a rabbit hole of [his] own construction. And with all that text, you need a picture.
Second, I’ve drawn down the Blue Raccoon’s shop window gate on further lengthy discussion of this matter.
Third, I just want to offer this minor bit of…explanation? Rationalization? With due espect and comprehending the justified annoyance to blackpage, who speaks for plenty others:
If [he'd] read my work as I forced myself to read Dream’s End and the awful comment log of the Free Republic, among others even more painful, I think [he] might judge my work–maybe not all the way to favorable–but different than an act of exploitation and provocation, or mere monomania.
I at several points have noted that the most vehement/volatile critics of these artists have no understanding of art or the artistic experience. Part of my offline life is writing about the arts for general consumption.
The Blue Raccoon steered toward this story out of my personal motivation, to explore the issue, and not with forethought plan to garner attention. The core question is: what are blogs for? When one broadcasts one’s thoughts into the cyber-aether, there are rights and responsibilitie that go along with them. It is a tool that, as an individual, I’m still trying to figure out.
One aspect of the blogosphere is that it allows discussion of arcane matters, sub rosa of the usual noise. Like, ARGs or video games. Further, I’m not anonymous. Look up there — it’s the name Harry Sr. and Lorena gave me.
If you’ll indulge me further, there’s a mass culture/new tech angle to my ruminations. When Lady Diana died–a gigantic public figure–a world-wide tumult of grief was creatd by people who didn’t know her. In some instances, the travail of individuals was transmuted into distress about her passing. [Conspiracy was also promulgated. These days, rare. it seems, is a public person who succumbs to real actuarial eventuality].
Nor was this particular event a catastrophe that dominated the cable news for uncountable days. The double suicide of a writer and artist might get crammed between tight commercial breaks. Yet, the event appealed to an online community that didn’t exist in full as flower even six years ago. And that’s driven other response.
The couple in question has post-humous become a doubled public figure, and entered a second life within the urban myth grist mill. And her blog remains in the world, like a cyber-era “Flying Dutchman.” His art will be long exhibited. Thus, people will continue talking, and, well, typing about them both during the foreseeable future.
That’s my two cents, and again, sorry for my volubility. –HEK
Sorry, in the fourth graph, “espect” is missing it’s “r”. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.–HEK
Harry, I’m sorry if what I wrote was unclear on this point, but I wasn’t lumping you or what you wrote on your site as one of the “vultures.” In fact, I linked to your piece because I thought it presented a great synopsis of the entire situation without being exploitative, as I think some of the other blogs covering the matter certainly are.
Sorry, Harry. I spoke out of place. I shouldn’t have included your blog. I’m just sick of the weird cult of personality around Theresa Duncan. It’s kind of irritating if you actually knew her. I found your blog through a string of links from other sites and included yours by association. That was wrong.
I should just get over the fact that I have no control over Theresa’s legacy. So be it. Starting now.
This is actually a very good example of the wisdom of the crowds principle in action. In their own words, they admit, that even with the mainstream press coverage and healthy traffic, the consensus was, no one wanted to read the crap they write.
They public has spoken.
Dave and blackpage:
I appreciate both your words. Thanks for taking the time. Sometimes I think the Internet needs a parliamentarian. But, then again, if you’ve seen Parliament (the legislative body, not the band) on CSPAN, they are physically vocal as are some comment rosters are in quiet. Such is democracy.
–HK
Glad I could give you some nyuks.
I don’t think ARG is a dark conspiracy enacted by our masonic reptilian overlords — I actually think they’re much, much worse: a bunch of artists messing with people’s heads with corporate money.
If you’re temped to connect me with the online weirdness surrounding Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake, don’t. I just handed you a free article, is all.
You’re welcome, homey.
Sorry, but the dubious honor of alerting us to this story was your friend (you’re in his blogroll) Ty Brown, AKA Dreams End, who’s story caused more than a few people to send some email our way.
But thanks for trying to virally market it to us anyway.
No prob! I’ll be around.
The Dream’s End guide to conspiracy theorizing:
Throw a few hundred ideas you know absolutely nothing about into a bucket. Stir. Then be amazed when you find a few people have interests in more than one of those ideas.
“In fact, we have some kind of interplay between red and blue.” OMG! that is two of the three primary colors!
“But the sheer number of ‘Tuesdays’ were so apparent …” OMG! and there are only 7 days to choose from!
“Do I even have to tell you? Detroit …” OMG! It is only the 11th most populous city in the US!
Dream’s End’s blog would be a fascinating “under the microscope” (a la ‘When Prophecy Fails’) look at how conspiracy theories form – if the core event wasn’t such a tragedy.
“This form of delusion used to be a fairly private Hell, until the Internet provided the public forum via blogs to share it with the world.” (Dave S, above)
Just wanted to say thanks for your post, Dave – and to second the motion that Harry/HEK/Blue Racoon’s write-up on “the Duncan/Blake Effect” really is the best take on the story that I’ve seen – thorough, balanced, and, frequently, deeply poignant.
“In fact, we have some kind of interplay between red and blue.” OMG! that is two of the three primary colors!
“But the sheer number of ‘Tuesdays’ were so apparent …” OMG! and there are only 7 days to choose from!
“Do I even have to tell you? Detroit …” OMG! It is only the 11th most populous city in the US!”
ROFLMAO! Thanks caycep.
…and don’t forget caycep, if you happen to object to being included in such miasma-mishmash-meanderings of mix-up, you obviously ‘doth protest to much’ because you have something to hide.
Obviously.
its funny how cats start critisizing and downing someones inteligence, talking sh!t.
then everybody starts apologizing for it
the BLAME-GAME?
i think that sums it up
yall dont know who you are, trying to convince everyone-else that their wrong.
i wish you all the best.
long live humpasaur
I blame Steve Jackson.
long live stiverson
Maybe “Ya’ll” should learn how to read and comprehend simple sentences before offering commentary.
It’s my opinion, which I have now confirmed with a reliable source, that “Mr. Ty Brown” of Nashville, AKA Dreams End is not writing all of this out of ignorance or paranoia. This person is merely exercising callousness and cynicism by digging up a couple of tragic corpses to dry hump in front of the world for their own perverse amusement and for the benefit of his 3 or 4 like-minded blog buddies. I may post everything I know here, let’s see how it goes.
I definitely think you’re over-reaching by characterizing Dreams End as someone who cynically used the death of others for mere blog traffic.
First of all, he doesn’t have google ads anywhere on his site. Second of all, if you look at his earlier material, especially surrounding SRI or Whitley Strieber, he’s done excellent work in the past. Even Strieber has expressed interest in DE’s work, on his “strange country” forum….if that’s what its called.
But most of all, as someone who watched the whole downward spiral, DE went through some serious darkness and paranoia because of all this. You’re more than welcome to characterize him as wrong, and obviously, anyone who actually knew Duncan and Blake is more than justified to be insulted, offended, disgusted, etc, by the speculative coverage.
I do think you’re really over-reaching when you claim that you can know someone’s motivations, though. Seriously — what would DE gain out of this? A few 100 more readers? READERS. We’re not even talking money here.
Hey, seriously, I’ve seen people do much worse for 100 or more (or less readers). People do strange shit on the web because they’re not in the same room with the people they’re flinging their monkey dung at…
I don’t know the person that’s posting over there, if they’re for real or if it’s all a shuck and jive. Who knows, maybe this is some demented and wrongheaded attempt at creating a ARG on his/her part. However, when people have said, in no uncertain terms that they are NOT part of a game that may or may not exist and they DO NOT wish to be included in one that may or may not be going on, you might want to leave them out of it.
Well, I don’t know Dreams End either. I wouldn’t argue that I do. I can only offer my impressions and opinions of words on a screen, so I guess I shouldn’t be so vehement….but still. My impressions and opinions remain.
Overall, I guess I’ve clarified myself right out of the discussion, I’ll just wait for part 3, I’d much rather see Dave address the Dreamsend theories than dissect my comments, which are only stoned rants, after all.
Yeah, understood. I think your impressions may be a bit off though. For example, being endorsed by Whitely Strieber ain’t exactly a badge of honor around here. So, in the end I stand by what I said in the other thread. DE has implicated people that are not part of any ARG he’s imagining or actually experiencing. When they express their opposition to being involved, he jumps up and down and starts to fling dung. So, he/she/it is either a paranoid in need of help, is being fucked with by someone (no one from this camp), or is a clueless, cynic asshole.
Take your pick.
When teens feel stressed, terribly angry, violent, numb to the world, or so sad they think they will never feel better, they may consider taking their own life. ,
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