Tiktok Asking Npcs About The Trauma

Cynthia May

2 min read

·

19-01-2025

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The internet is a wild place, a swirling vortex of trends, challenges, and…well, sometimes deeply unsettling content. Lately, a particularly troubling trend has emerged on TikTok: users are interrogating non-player characters (NPCs) in video games about their supposed "trauma."

This isn't just playful banter; it's often presented as a form of dark humor, exploiting the inherent limitations of video game AI to elicit seemingly emotional responses. Videos feature users repeatedly prompting NPCs with leading questions, forcing interactions designed to highlight the repetitive and often illogical nature of their dialogue. The goal appears to be to generate a humorous or disturbing reaction from the audience based on the NPC’s predictable and often nonsensical answers.

The Ethical Concerns

While some might dismiss this as harmless fun, the ethical implications are significant. The trend trivializes genuine trauma experienced by real people. By associating it with the simplistic programming of video game characters, the trend risks normalizing and even mocking suffering.

Furthermore, the act of intentionally pushing an AI beyond its intended functionality raises questions about respectful engagement with technology. The very nature of an NPC is to perform a specific set of actions and deliver pre-programmed dialogue. Exploiting its limitations to elicit an emotional response isn't just insensitive; it's intellectually dishonest.

The Impact on Gaming Culture

This trend also has the potential to negatively affect the gaming community. Games often incorporate complex narratives and character development. Approaching these elements with the intention of solely generating comedic content based on their limitations disrespects the work of developers who aim to create immersive and engaging experiences.

Moving Forward

This isn’t about stifling creativity or free speech. It’s about responsible online behavior. It's crucial for TikTok users to consider the potential consequences of their actions before participating in trends that could be harmful or insensitive. The platform itself also bears some responsibility to proactively address and mitigate such trends through community guidelines and moderation policies.

Ultimately, the “trauma” experienced by an NPC is not real trauma. Focusing on such trivialities deflects from the importance of genuine discussions surrounding mental health and the very real suffering experienced by people around the world. Instead of exploiting video game characters for cheap laughs, let's use our digital platforms to engage with these issues in a meaningful and respectful manner.