5 ms·

My memory of those years was that a lot of TV was shit by any standard, and most of it wasn’t aimed at kids. Sure, you had Saturday morning cartoons, and endles

My memory of those years was that a lot of TV was shit by any standard, and most of it wasn’t aimed at kids. Sure, you had Saturday morning cartoons, and endless reruns, but it was painfully easy to be bored in front of the TV. Games were fun if you had them, but the lack of complexity and depth, alongside limited supply of them meant they got boring too. I don’t think comparing the TV most people had in the 80’s and 90’s, and the games, to the Internet, modern MP games, and streaming “tv” is remotely fair. It might also be unwise when you consider those same decades saw an explosion of childhood obesity. A kid with an internet connection today has access to most of the world’s entertainment, either to purchase or pirate. We also weren’t able to be in 24/7 contact with each other, so boredom was very real. Even as an avid reader, I was limited by what books I owned, or were available at the library. Now there are no limits at all. If you want to, you stay plugged in without coming close to exhausting novel entertainment, and never be bored. Maybe that will prove to be harmless, or maybe not. Maybe using a whole generation of people as lab rats for profit is unwise and unethical?

ddebernardy 8y ago
I'm not sure I agree with you about the lack of complexity and depth thing. Perhaps I was too young to notice. But I don't recollect ever getting bored, as a kid, with computer games in the 80s and early 90s. Heck, I still play 80s and early 90s classics every so often when I've too much time on my hands. Mid-90s and later games are a different story -- good titles seem rare. (Perhaps you're older than me and snapped out of games before I did.)
beobab 8y ago
Have you observed the phenomenon of “being bored with the internet”? I’m not sure boredom is completely satiated by novelty. I have experienced “I’m bored” events, where I had plenty of new experiences to try if I wanted.
- technofiend 8y ago
  Oh heck yeah. I've definitely gotten bored of reading Amazon Kindle Unlimited books, surfing the web and YouTube. That's usually when I turn my hand to creative pursuits. Writing a book is still more entertaining than reading yet another obvious shill or karma whore post.
- Pharmakon 8y ago
  As an adult? Hell yes, but as a kid? Ehhh... not so much. It takes time to notice patterns in storylines, presentation, production value, and for novelty to wear off. Personally you could execute me with a 24hr loop of any Let’s Play video, but my nephew lives and breathes them.
  - scotty79 8y ago
    Kids are getting bored on their phones today all the time.

ddebernardy 8y ago

I'm not sure I agree with you about the lack of complexity and depth thing. Perhaps I was too young to notice. But I don't recollect ever getting bored, as a kid, with computer games in the 80s and early 90s. Heck, I still play 80s and early 90s classics every so often when I've too much time on my hands. Mid-90s and later games are a different story -- good titles seem rare. (Perhaps you're older than me and snapped out of games before I did.)

beobab 8y ago

Have you observed the phenomenon of “being bored with the internet”? I’m not sure boredom is completely satiated by novelty. I have experienced “I’m bored” events, where I had plenty of new experiences to try if I wanted.

technofiend 8y ago
Oh heck yeah. I've definitely gotten bored of reading Amazon Kindle Unlimited books, surfing the web and YouTube. That's usually when I turn my hand to creative pursuits. Writing a book is still more entertaining than reading yet another obvious shill or karma whore post.
Pharmakon 8y ago
As an adult? Hell yes, but as a kid? Ehhh... not so much. It takes time to notice patterns in storylines, presentation, production value, and for novelty to wear off. Personally you could execute me with a 24hr loop of any Let’s Play video, but my nephew lives and breathes them.
- scotty79 8y ago
  Kids are getting bored on their phones today all the time.