From:	Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject:	Policlubs, Racial Gangs and Hate Groups
Date:	Fri, 20 Feb 1998 14:36:35 +0000

One of the things that has been explored over the years from a number of
posters to Stk, is that of policlubs and other such groups, including a
variety of lesser hate groups. An extreme example was Thunda, and the
milder consequences of his martyrdom in the form of the more reserved
Children of Thunda. (If you don't like them, blame Paul, they're his
inspiration <smirk>)


I have a list of "Hate Groups" from current day - ones that have a net
connection, I don't yet have a list of those that exist outside of the
net.


Where I've been mucking around with the two sections of the Children of
Thunda - the charity wing of the group, and the militant wing that
shares the name. I don't want the situation to become stale, and was
wondering if the list has any objections to the occassionaly exploration
of other groups. Even Shadowrunners might run afoul of these people,
and it might be interesting to explore the situations that surround
these political, militant and neo religious reactionists.


I don't have any direct intention to start posting political propoganda,
or to indulge in any "tasteless" publishing of the various groups' views
in Shadowtk, that would be IMO unacceptable, and some of them are
exceptionally extreme. This is after all a fictional forum, not one for
RL political publication, also, some of the groups may present thoughts
and opinions that I feel would provoke strong reactions from list
members.


My intention, is basically to expand the responsibilities of Achilles,
indirectly involve Pauls SIGA occassionally (beyond my normal
victimisation of his much maligned characters), and introduce a more
national operational circle than just the city of Seattle. These groups
also offer some interesting possibilities for some of the bad guys that
we use (and maybe for others on the list), people who don't share the
morals of the characters on the list, and would not balk at using such
groups to further their own aims.


If there is objection from list members, then I'll explore something
else. But I have a real problem coming up with half decent names for
hate groups and policlubs, and I don't want to wear Alamos and co too
thin. :) Again, it would be a matter of using these groups for
inspiration, rather than actually publishing any information on them, or
exploring their political beliefs on the list - unless of course there
is sufficient interest to see what some of these groups really are
about. At which point I can either post a URL or if sufficient voice is
heard, write a precis of the group that has inspired the mob I am using
at that time.


I don't at this time, intend escalating the street, city and national
situation that is faced by Achilles and SIGA, I do not intend to start a
war in the streets with these groups, I'm just exploring a few avenues
that are different, but possibly connected to existing plots, and
planning for the long term.


For instance, psychotic characters like Haze, and sociopaths like
Twitch, would be attractive prospects to some of the groups of current
day, let alone what may exist in Shadowrun. It is possible that groups
such as these would offer support to such characters for a return of
favour.


There is something else that I'm working on as well, which again is
inspired by a current day factoid, that of Information Warfare and
Information Terrorism. Once I've fleshed out a few ideas, I'll post it
to this list for discussion and views, I'm exploring a little bit with
Belial at the moment, that of counter evidence and information supply
concerning the existence of Shapeshifters.


Surprisingly, this time, it's not an attack on Lillith directly, it's
more an experiment in counter evidence, a mild form of Information
warfare. Lillith is not a man-eater, we all know that, even though
she's had plenty of opportunities, but others like her might be and
are... If sufficient doubt can be introduced through rational argument
and evidence, it might make the life of people like Lillith more
/difficult/ <grin> (something Belial would be more than happy with)
This is an initial example of the sort of thing I'm considering, but
I'll post more on that later once I've thought it through a bit more.


Thoughts, observations, complaints, flames? :)

--
Dark Avenger -:- http://www.shalako.demon.co.uk/index.htm -
Unofficial Shadowtk Newbies Guide, Edgerunners Datastore &
Beginnings of the Underseas Sourcebook.
http://freespace.virgin.net/pete.sims/index.htm - Alternative UK Sourcebook
(U/C)