3 ms·

Overwatch.

saint_fiasco 9y ago
Not sure why this is downvoted. Cheap high-quality entertainment increases the perceived value of leisure and the opportunity costs of working.
- okreallywtf 9y ago
  I think it is perceived as a glib assertion that it is laziness or something but I'm not sure thats the parents intention. Like you say, why would you want to do menial, mindless and/or backbreaking work if you had lots of quality entertainment and could possibly avoid it? When I was growing up I at least got to do interesting outdoor work (yardwork, carpentry, tiling, etc) and learned skills from other older skilled people, but even then doing volunteer work would probably have been a better choice in terms of college applications.
  - ue_ 9y ago
    I was in school not long ago. I loved my summers, not because I was working, but because I was just having fun. I thought, if I'm not going to have holidays like this in future (after university), why the hell would I spend them working? And I enjoyed myself with friends, doing my hobbies (programming and learning Japanese) and travelling and of course, shooter games. This coming summer I'll be doing a job (I'm at university), and while it is appealing in some sense (I'm getting paid for it), I know what I'd rather be doing. I just don't understand why parents are asking their children to spend that long time of summer to do things they don't want to. They're already given homework, and school life is stressfull, especially when most of it is days that last from 9am until 4pm with added homework and maybe learning an instrument meanwhile. I say let them do what they want, and they won't come out worse for it. I think it is a very strong criticism that only "official" extracurricular activities are looked upon favorably by the capitalists, and I suggest there ought to be a shift in that situation. You don't have to start getting people on the wage labour mill as soon as possible, and for me it's quite sad to learn that it may be becoming the norm.
    - okreallywtf 9y ago
      I find it slightly amusing (and kind of sad since I don't wish any hardship on anyone) that my parents always thought games were a waste of time and/or were actually damaging, but my brother and I have turned out to be as or more well rounded people than a lot of the other kids we grew up with. Most of them were the kids of my parents friends (who you always find yourself compared to) who did not play games. That is not to say I think I'm more successful or better or anything, but a lot of the people that I grew up with had more "normal" social habits (that usually included drinking, parties and drugs none of which I'm necessarily against) but the end result was that a fair number had to drop out of college due to alcohol and drug problems or something else and a surprising number ended up back home or nearby not too many years after. I can't help but feel like video games, while not necessarily preventing alcohol/drug use can provide a more active outlet that can be social in and of itself. Looking back I do wish I had diversified more (more volunteering, for one) but given that I grew up in a really remote area without easy transportation, gaming (especially online) was actually a pretty great outlet and I ended up interacting with a lot of people I never would have otherwise. My friends and I got together last weekend to lay about and play video games (Paragon and L4D2 for what its worth) for the first time in a while (everyone getting married and having kids etc) and I can still feel the slight condemnation but given we're all stable, good job having members of society nobody can really say anything about it anymore ;)
ue_ 9y ago
I heartily agree, and I wouldn't suggest it's a bad thing. Teenagers are having fun in perhaps not the healthiest way, or the most intellectually stimulating, but it's fun, and I wouldn't want to take that away from someone in exchange for a job. Many players also have other activities, unofficial ones, as hobbies too. To support playing Overwatch is for some to support engaging in a hobby they personally enjoy. Suppose you were to direct a teenager to do a hobby he/she isn't too keen on, in which case the fun time will be consumed with instant gratification. Then suppose you give them the free time to find and cultivate hobbies at will. I am experiencing this right now. My exams just finished and I'm finding more time to do programming (a close replica of the 2003 Japanese futaba imageboard script in modern PHP), and Overwatch. Sure, I'm not programming all the time, and it's not an "extracurricular activity" (at least not an official one) but it's mighty fun.
brockvond 9y ago
best comment on here; lol

Overwatch.

Not sure why this is downvoted. Cheap high-quality entertainment increases the perceived value of leisure and the opportunity costs of working.

okreallywtf 9y ago
I think it is perceived as a glib assertion that it is laziness or something but I'm not sure thats the parents intention. Like you say, why would you want to do menial, mindless and/or backbreaking work if you had lots of quality entertainment and could possibly avoid it? When I was growing up I at least got to do interesting outdoor work (yardwork, carpentry, tiling, etc) and learned skills from other older skilled people, but even then doing volunteer work would probably have been a better choice in terms of college applications.
- ue_ 9y ago
  I was in school not long ago. I loved my summers, not because I was working, but because I was just having fun. I thought, if I'm not going to have holidays like this in future (after university), why the hell would I spend them working? And I enjoyed myself with friends, doing my hobbies (programming and learning Japanese) and travelling and of course, shooter games. This coming summer I'll be doing a job (I'm at university), and while it is appealing in some sense (I'm getting paid for it), I know what I'd rather be doing. I just don't understand why parents are asking their children to spend that long time of summer to do things they don't want to. They're already given homework, and school life is stressfull, especially when most of it is days that last from 9am until 4pm with added homework and maybe learning an instrument meanwhile. I say let them do what they want, and they won't come out worse for it. I think it is a very strong criticism that only "official" extracurricular activities are looked upon favorably by the capitalists, and I suggest there ought to be a shift in that situation. You don't have to start getting people on the wage labour mill as soon as possible, and for me it's quite sad to learn that it may be becoming the norm.
  - okreallywtf 9y ago
    I find it slightly amusing (and kind of sad since I don't wish any hardship on anyone) that my parents always thought games were a waste of time and/or were actually damaging, but my brother and I have turned out to be as or more well rounded people than a lot of the other kids we grew up with. Most of them were the kids of my parents friends (who you always find yourself compared to) who did not play games. That is not to say I think I'm more successful or better or anything, but a lot of the people that I grew up with had more "normal" social habits (that usually included drinking, parties and drugs none of which I'm necessarily against) but the end result was that a fair number had to drop out of college due to alcohol and drug problems or something else and a surprising number ended up back home or nearby not too many years after. I can't help but feel like video games, while not necessarily preventing alcohol/drug use can provide a more active outlet that can be social in and of itself. Looking back I do wish I had diversified more (more volunteering, for one) but given that I grew up in a really remote area without easy transportation, gaming (especially online) was actually a pretty great outlet and I ended up interacting with a lot of people I never would have otherwise. My friends and I got together last weekend to lay about and play video games (Paragon and L4D2 for what its worth) for the first time in a while (everyone getting married and having kids etc) and I can still feel the slight condemnation but given we're all stable, good job having members of society nobody can really say anything about it anymore ;)

ue_ 9y ago

I heartily agree, and I wouldn't suggest it's a bad thing. Teenagers are having fun in perhaps not the healthiest way, or the most intellectually stimulating, but it's fun, and I wouldn't want to take that away from someone in exchange for a job. Many players also have other activities, unofficial ones, as hobbies too. To support playing Overwatch is for some to support engaging in a hobby they personally enjoy. Suppose you were to direct a teenager to do a hobby he/she isn't too keen on, in which case the fun time will be consumed with instant gratification. Then suppose you give them the free time to find and cultivate hobbies at will. I am experiencing this right now. My exams just finished and I'm finding more time to do programming (a close replica of the 2003 Japanese futaba imageboard script in modern PHP), and Overwatch. Sure, I'm not programming all the time, and it's not an "extracurricular activity" (at least not an official one) but it's mighty fun.

brockvond 9y ago

best comment on here; lol