The documentary Second Skin may have opened up some of our classmates eyes to gaming addiction. I'm a gamer to the core, I've been brought up around games and have been playing them ever since. As much as it pains me to say, I consider myself an expert in this category. I've played WOW and more than likely as you are reading this my dad is playing WOW. I use games to escape the boring reality of living in Shippensburg. On an average day I probably spend around 4 hours a day on games. It doesn't affect my social life or getting my work done on time, but if I'm not doing anything productive I usually pop a game in the Xbox and play.
The Internet today is a beast of a thing. It controls a huge portion of our lives (you can say it doesn't but don't be ridiculous). It's a place where people get up to the second information on what is going on in the world. You can get sucked into it. The internet is a black hole filled information, whether it be for a socializing or gathering information, you always find what you're looking for. In Lasn's Culture Jam he talks about MUDs (Multiple-User Domains) which are an outlet for role playing. He mentions a young man who has multiple MUDs: "a teenage girl, a history professor, a dog, an Arthurian knight, a cyborg and William S.Burroughs." A little excessive to some, but who really cares if he is enjoying what he is doing. In Second Skin all of the people, except Dan, are having a great time playing these games. They get real world responses to something that isn't "real." Games are designed for having fun. If your life consists of sitting around playing games all day, so be it. I really can't make a good comment on what is too much, if you want to do it do it, if you don't then don't. To them the "synthetic world" is their world, let them live in it. If you have a problem with it keep it to yourself.
"The internet is a black hole filled information..." Can this ever be seen as "dangerous"? Also, do you think that the "real" world could ever become the "virtual" world? I suppose from what you said this is the case for some; however, can you say more about this?
ReplyDeleteI will not say I have a problem with it, but 18 hours out of 24 hours a day is a bit much. So maybe I do have a little problem with it. I play games to, but not hard core like these gamers in Second Skin. I just think they could be doing a lot more with their time. Becoming sucked into a game and mistaken it for reality, naturally says that there’s a problem, but I will not just blame it on the gamer. I do look at the other side which is the programmers. They know that there games can become addictive, but it is up to them if they keep selling them.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you look at the internet as a giant mass of information just waiting for you. It might've been the greatest invention of all-time and it has drastically changed the way we live. I agree with you on the point of do what makes them happy. If you want to sit down and game all day whose to judge? It's the same thing as people sitting around and watching tv all day or sitting around listening to music, either way you're just sitting around doing pretty much nothing.
ReplyDeleteI think from what we talked about and what you posted here, I have a pretty good idea on how you feel about this kinda stuff, and I must say, I agree. Some poeple spend days on following sports, some spend days hiking, some spend weeks playing video games...to each his own. Without trying to put words in your mouth, I think that kinda sums it up? From our commentary in class, it seems like you aren't down with people that spend their whole lives (compramise their families and carreers) on WOW, but people that play video games for fun is cool. Anyway, thats about how I feel
ReplyDeleteI really liked that you recognized the fact that the internet can be a "black hole" and that some people can get sucked into it. And I agree with you to a point that we really can't judge what is too much, some of us spend the day watching movies or sports, or shopping or doing whatever is our own personal thing, and for these people it is their own thing and we really can't judge them for that.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with that people shouldn't judge other people on how they spend their day but the harsh reality is that everyone does it. No one can say they have never judged someone for doing something. In my opinion, playing games for a couple of hours a day is no big deal if it's not affecting your life. Its when you start to play for about 18 hours a day and you miss work and other social events.
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