[A2 MFK]

(Entire article contains spoilers)

Maybe I'm just being dumb here, but I never really understood Big Smoke's role in the plot of GTA SA, he wasn't a main antagonist and I personally never really saw him as being morally screwed up like Tenpenny.

In the beginning of the story line, he seems to be a bit of a comic relief as shown in missions like "Drive thru" but he always seemed so philosophical. "Man if you could eat your food, while everyone else was loosing there's, and blaming you, you straight homie" and "I admire you Carl, you're a leader, a visionary, remember me when you get to the top" he also talks about reading poetry and other non-gangster like practices. Even in the final mission, he says "Look at you Carl, you've got the whole world! I ain't got no regrets man!"

Admittedly, despite liking Eazy-E's music, I was fine with icing Ryder because he annoyed me and I always found his loyalty questionable. But I never really understood Smoke, was he actually evil or just stupid?

I know he is criticized by younger players for being over weight and for the line "All you had to do was follow the damn train CJ!" But until the green Sabre, Smoke was the only one who seemed to take CJ seriously. Sweet hated him for fleeing the west coast and Ryder just thought he was a "Busta" but like I said, I never really understood Smoke.

Am I reading too much into this or am I missing something?

[DarrinPA]

QUOTE (A2 MFK @ Wednesday, Jun 27 2012, 16:54)

I never really understood Smoke, was he actually evil or just stupid?

Neither. He doesn't see things the way they are. I think at first Big Smoke had pity for Carl because he knew he was responisble for the death of CJ's mom, but in a twisted way he couldn't feel too sorry because he probably rationalized* it as being 'neccessary'. He wasn't quite of this world, he had created his own world in his mind.

*In psychology, rationalization (also known as making excuses) is an unconscious defense mechanism in which perceived controversial behaviors or feelings are logically justified and explained in a rational or logical manner in order to avoid any true explanation, and are made consciously tolerable – or even admirable and superior – by plausible means.

[RearNaked]

Big Smoke, Fat Joke. Fat motherf*cker who as good as killed CJ's mother.

Evil? There is no good and evil, people do crazy things to get ahead, become a somebody and achieve their dreams. I bet you've never been surrounded by your enemies in a stinking wet swamp, have you? None of this desert storm bullsh*t, that was a war! Man, I get a giant boner every time I think of it.

[A2 MFK]

QUOTE (RearNaked @ Monday, Jul 2 2012, 21:52)

Big Smoke, Fat Joke. Fat motherf*cker who as good as killed CJ's mother. Evil? There is no good and evil, people do crazy things to get ahead, become a somebody and achieve their dreams. I bet you've never been surrounded by your enemies in a stinking wet swamp, have you? None of this desert storm bullsh*t, that was a war! Man, I get a giant boner every time I think of it.

I have no idea what you just said, but it sounded very patriotic...