In an age that seems so far in the past, there was no internet, cell phones, or reality television. There was the working man, his stay at home wife and the two children in Elementary school. When the kids came home from school they would go down the block to play a sport with friends, or maybe help mom with household chores. Now a days children come home and turn on their Playstation, or turn on the TV just in time to enjoy their favorite reality TV show. People don't live real lives outside of school and work anymore, people instead live "virtually", in a world where they can mask their identity, and become anyone they chose. People or more specifically Americans let technology build their world around them, Sometimes to the point where the "real" world no longer exists. In the documentary "Second Skin" we saw the inside lives of Gamers. Specifically we saw Dan's roommate, who at first had a job, and a social life. His roommate Dan soon turned him on to World of Warcraft, 18 months later he had no job, hadn't been outside in months, and gained 80 pounds! This story is a perfect example of someone living a virtually addicted lifestyle.
The story above shows that Virtual worlds do not have meaning or connection with the real world. Dan's roommate playing WoW for 18 months did not pay his bills, or give him a check every week. It instead ruined his life and led him to unemployment. If you can carry out a thorough in depth conversation on Instant Messenger or Facebook Chat, does not mean you can do the same face to face with another human being. The truth is, people feel much more comfortable behind a keyboard and mouse, than being face to face. Why? because you are not judged when you communicate from behind your desktop, no one is there to belittle you, or criticize the way you dress. So naturally we gravitate toward the security of online chatting. This can all be tied back to the fact that the media presents images of the "perfect" man or woman, if there were no more standards or people to look like, everyone would be more accepting. It is disgusting that the American people have resorted to online identities or hiding behind their computers to avoid scrutiny!
The sad reality is that we have become a nation that would rather communicate virtually than go out in the real world and do something exciting. The American people need to work toward making a better future for ourselves and revert back to the old way, the way of raw in your face physical, social interaction. We cannot learn to grow as a country and a society of humans without these concrete fundamentals of every day life. How can one get a job without proper people skills? Virtual worlds do not provide these vital essentials that one needs to be successful. As a gamer myself I understand the need to beat a game or accomplish a mission, but there is no excuse for virtual world addiction that endangers well-being and job security. From our reading and the video i have concluded that it comes down to an individuals self control, like drugs or alcohol without self control addiction is imminent and the virtual world becomes ones "real" world.
I agree in everything you wrote above. People do feel better behind the computer than in person. How sad? It’s scary that our kids won't have the social interaction that we did as kids. I personally didn't come home to video games or a computer I came home did my homework and played till it got dark out. It's scary our society as created another path for an addiction.
ReplyDeleteI really liked when you said that we are not judged when we sit behind our computers. It is so true. I also agree when you said if only Americans would be more accepting we wouldn't have to hide behind computers. The sad thing is, sometimes the computers don't protect us as much as we think they will. They can be an escape from reality but they can also be a hell for some people weather they are losing their lives to it because they are addicted to it or because they are bullied.
ReplyDeleteI agree that people can be gamers and still lead a healthy normal life. You say that you like to play these games, but you obviously don't let it get out of hand. I also agree when you talk about these games not allowing us to gain the proper social skills, I also talk about that in my blog. How are young kids supposed to gain these social skills if they never talk to each other face to face?
ReplyDeleteI liked your point about people skills. Studying Human Communication, I have learned that more communication is done nonverbally than verbally. How can you receive nonverbal messages, such as a facial expression or hand gestures over the internet?
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