I share your diagnosis of the “Molochian” game theory dynamics; however, I think I can provide some nuances that have not been brought up in the previous comments.
1. It might sound petty to start by pointing this out, but please entertain my line of thought. “If football had something like ‘the spirit of cricket,’ maybe this behavior would be less common.” This already exists; it’s called “Fair Play.”
2. The reason “diving” is prominent in football has to do with the de facto rather than de jure enforcement of the “Fair Play” code of conduct. The “meta-Molochian” nature of a “Molochian” law-system means that even if the rules were perfectly codified to guarantee that perverse incentives are impossible, Moloch can still be present if the cost of non-adherence to the code of conduct is perceived to be lower than the return.
3. This is best understood again through the example of “diving” and “Fair Play.” As you mentioned, a consensus exists against diving, so players who dive don’t fully dive. Instead, “it is not against the rules to draw attention to a potential foul by exaggerating your injury.” However, a degree of acceptable exaggeration still exists, one that is guided by the tacit rules of “Fair Play.”
4. Lastly, I think there are greater examples of Moloch within sports and football. I will elaborate on the tactical aspect, but many more exist, from the power dynamics within the hierarchies of institutional football to the parents fighting during their U-12 kid’s match.
5. Tactics in modern football have become increasingly driven by the pursuit of efficiency (aka winning) at the expense of other crucial values (i.e., enjoyment). Since winning is easily quantifiable and enjoyment is not, Moloch asks for the sacrifice of what is essential in pursuit of the efficient. This translates into matches that have long stretches of absolute dreadful boredom, with each team carefully assessing their opponent and waiting for a mistake they can capitalize on. (If you think I’m exaggerating, look at the number of matches that went to overtime and penalties during the past Euro Cup and Copa America). This trend, plus the pre-existing primacy of defending vs. attacking (you can blame Italian calcio for that), has football in a “Molochian” race to the bottom that has the potential to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. Because let’s face it, Moloch might devour the football industry, but the “most beautiful game” will still be played as long as humans have legs. A fact that evades everyone who is actively addressing the individual problems instead of the football Moloch.
I share your diagnosis of the “Molochian” game theory dynamics; however, I think I can provide some nuances that have not been brought up in the previous comments.
1. It might sound petty to start by pointing this out, but please entertain my line of thought. “If football had something like ‘the spirit of cricket,’ maybe this behavior would be less common.” This already exists; it’s called “Fair Play.”
2. The reason “diving” is prominent in football has to do with the de facto rather than de jure enforcement of the “Fair Play” code of conduct. The “meta-Molochian” nature of a “Molochian” law-system means that even if the rules were perfectly codified to guarantee that perverse incentives are impossible, Moloch can still be present if the cost of non-adherence to the code of conduct is perceived to be lower than the return.
3. This is best understood again through the example of “diving” and “Fair Play.” As you mentioned, a consensus exists against diving, so players who dive don’t fully dive. Instead, “it is not against the rules to draw attention to a potential foul by exaggerating your injury.” However, a degree of acceptable exaggeration still exists, one that is guided by the tacit rules of “Fair Play.”
4. Lastly, I think there are greater examples of Moloch within sports and football. I will elaborate on the tactical aspect, but many more exist, from the power dynamics within the hierarchies of institutional football to the parents fighting during their U-12 kid’s match.
5. Tactics in modern football have become increasingly driven by the pursuit of efficiency (aka winning) at the expense of other crucial values (i.e., enjoyment). Since winning is easily quantifiable and enjoyment is not, Moloch asks for the sacrifice of what is essential in pursuit of the efficient. This translates into matches that have long stretches of absolute dreadful boredom, with each team carefully assessing their opponent and waiting for a mistake they can capitalize on. (If you think I’m exaggerating, look at the number of matches that went to overtime and penalties during the past Euro Cup and Copa America). This trend, plus the pre-existing primacy of defending vs. attacking (you can blame Italian calcio for that), has football in a “Molochian” race to the bottom that has the potential to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. Because let’s face it, Moloch might devour the football industry, but the “most beautiful game” will still be played as long as humans have legs. A fact that evades everyone who is actively addressing the individual problems instead of the football Moloch.