Gaming

I recently today read two essays for my English 101 class. They were about gaming (Internet, video gaming, etc...). I just felt like I would share some these things I learned.

The first one was about MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer online Role-Playing Games). It explained about how addicting these games like World of Warcraft and EverQuest can be if we let them take over our lives. I believe that as we strive to not allow this to happen, we will not have to worry about this problem. (Andrea Elliot)

The second one was about gaming in general. It was called "Dream Machines" (Will Wright). He talked about how games can be damaging, but they are also a great help. Will says,

"The human imagination is an amazing thing. As children, we spend much of our time in imaginary     worlds, substituting toys and make-believe for the real surroundings that we are just beginning to explore and understand. As we play, we learn. And as we grow, our play gets more complicated. We add rules and goals. The result is something we call games....In an era of structured education and standardized testing, this generational difference might not yet be evident. But the gamers' mindset--the fact that they are learning in a totally new way--means they'll treat the world as a place for creation, not consumption. This is the true impact video games will have on our culture. Society, however, notices only the negative. Most people on the far side of the generational divide--elders--look at games and see a list of ills (they're violent, addictive, childish, worthless). Some of these labels bay be deserved. But the positive aspects of gaming--creativity, community, self-esteem, problem-solving--are somehow less visible to nongamers."(p. 170)

I personally agree with both of these viewpoints. Gaming can be destructive and positively uplifting. It all depends on how you use them.

Reference of quote: Wright, Will. Dream Machines (located in I Think 2nd Edition. BYU-Idaho University Press. Rexburg, Idaho).