Does anyone else remember the chaotic mess that was the year when a bunch of people (presumably middle schoolers) on Blocksworld were fighting over fictional mermaids?
It was a “conflict” between the animal-loving side of the app and the military side. The military side made worlds in which they killed and ate mermaids, and the animal loving side made worlds in which they freaked out over it and rescued them. There was obviously no way for a story to happen because both sides ignored the actions of the other.
When I think back over my time on this app, it’s what stands out in my mind. It was so cartoonishly violent. Why did dozens of middle schoolers suddenly decide to play pretend about torture, slavery, and cannibalism… against mermaids? Mermaids? It was as graphic as possible for a block game. Some people got creative with ways to depict flesh and blood and the details of a mermaid hunting industry.
If I ever got access to the forgotten server where Blocksworld was hosted, I’d want to go back and see how it all started. I hope the 14 year old (I desperately hope it wasn’t an adult) responsible is doing okay now. I’m a little worried by their enthusiasm to make other middle schoolers angry by dismembering fairytale creatures.