Like most decent people, I'm also appalled by the annexation and I wouldn't hesitate one bit to boycott this game if I thought it could help. Unfortunately, I am convinced that it won't. Writing critical forum posts on the internet is probably more effective. That also have almost no real impact on the situation, but at least many people can read it. You leaving the game will only be noticed by a few players.
Don't get me wrong, I do believe in economic sanctions as a powerful tool, but it has to be applied on a much larger scale. A few players leaving an online game will have no impact. I'd be happy to pay a lot more for my real-life electricity, for instance, if this turns into an economic war (and that's the only effect in the west). I'm not convinced, though, that the mismanaged russian economy is equally prepared. If this leads to a trade war with increasing economic hardship for the average russian (and even less freedom of speech), I don't think Putin will last. Hopefully he will yield before that, and I certainly hope the US/EU/Nato applies the necessary pressure to get there.
Do you guys remember when the US invaded Iraq? Probably millions of people in demonstrations all over europe (world?) and some even went to Iraq to be "human shields". Where are those people now? Btw, back then I didn't buy coke or heinz ketchup for weeks. It didn't stop the war..
Why not do a local effort where you are from, Nash? Organize your friends and challenge your government to push harder for sanctions. Make a demonstration - and get the lefties to support it (conservatives are hard to mobilize). Democratically elected governments should not be soft on military aggression, and we (the electorate) need to hold our politicians accountable when they are not tough enough. Decent people don't want kleptocratic authoritarianism to spread.. |