People desire to feel powerful , be better than others is reflected in the game. What they call fun, obsession and competitiveness is nothing but this desire to be better than others. The feeling of superiority.
This comes in different ways, someone behind a lot of money in the game stems from their desire to be ultra rich in their real life. This doesn't mean they are poor in RL and want to be rich here in Torn. But even if they're rich in RL, the same desire is reflected in their actions here.
Be better than others, reach there faster, this is the whole spectrum of what people call competition.
Soo the question is, can the game be actually played without having any desire for improvement in the game. Because the very desire to improve in the game, in any field whether money, stats etc, is nothing but their own desire to feel superior.
I'll answer that as yes. Without any feeling of competitiveness the game can be played. And that playing is actually free. You don't care about anything, neither the stats, nor the money, nor any improvement.
And you can actually enjoy the game then, without any burden of constantly improving yourself.
20:07:57 - 12/08/23 You used 4 nerve successfully shoplifting from Big Al's Gun Shop gaining 1x Desert Eagle (unique)
Everything working. CS : 50
Text You stalk the aisles of the gun store looking out for opportunities. As you hang out by the handgun counter, you overhear that a fellow shopper has just purchased a Desert Eagle. "Ya'll screwed me with import fees so ya'll can engrave my kids' names on for free: Bernice, Shernice, and Derrnice." The clerk escorts the woman to the gunsmith, leaving the counter unattended. Stepping behind, you find another Desert Eagle inside the unlocked cabinet. You swipe the gun and stuff it in your waistband. As you leave, you pass the guards without incident. You then stroll down the street and wonder how many eagles you could shoot in the desert.