They are Billions is a game about art vs. time.
A long time ago I was a freshman in high school, only there to make my parents happy. I was confused and frustrated about the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the situation.
As in, who are all these sociopathic children the school has forced me to be around all day, what did I do to deserve to be treated like some soulless automaton crammed full of rando information who's pertinence to my life is based on the slim chance I want to be an Idaho potato farmer when I grow up, when can I leave and go learn what I want to learn, why do all the teachers and staff look drunk or high all of the time, and how the fuck is it called and elective if I have to do it?
So yeah I got in teacher and counselor faces over every single little thing and beefed with all the other students and their clicks with their glazed over Jim Jones cult ass traditions and lack of any want to question what was going on around them, the orders they were given, or the authority of who was giving them. I still stand by that, fuck High School culture, it's toxic, and pumps out toxic. Probably still true today.
Problem with all this rabblerousing was at the time my dad was superintendent of the school district I was going to, so it all got back to my parent's somehow, some way. The situation didn't last long, I was politely told to leave pretty fast. But that stretch of time of me being directly attached to the district he was working, yikes.
He took a lot of flack for my shenanigans. For all the fights, all the protests, all the suspensions, but during the rare family time moments we shared the rule was we didn't talk about work, and to his credit, he recognized early that professional shit-stirrer would be my life's work, so he didn't trip on the small stuff, and had my back the whole way. Thanks Pop's.
Well, he did address the situation directly one time, and one time only. We both are super fans of the original Twilight Zone and watched the annual New Year's Eve Marathon religiously. We were on the couch watching S03E08 "It's A Good Life." (Which btw is where Black Mirror got inspiration for "USS Calister." You new sci-fi n!@@as gotta catch up) when he randomly turns to me and says:
"They are doing their best you know, the teachers. And for the record, the mistake in your hypothesis about school is what you think it's about. School is about access. All the student's you hate, all the books they put in front of you, all the interactions you have are there for you to make the choice, do you like it or not. You could never get that experience sitting on this couch. Believe that."
And that was it. I thought for a minute on what he said, then I got really mad because this dude spent the whole time pushing this rule about not speaking during the show, to save the conversation till after the episode and here he goes dropping wisdom during one of the best episodes ever. I was tight off that, rules are there for a reason, man.
Anyway, to information I will say from everyone here at chaos incorporated we are deeply humbled to have you aboard, you are gonna crush this year, and welcome home. Also JOBZ.
The Protoculture Mixtape : Issue : Games : Axiom
