3 ms·

I don't gamble or particularly use social media, but surely these things provide entertainment? Or does that have no value?

cjslep 7y ago
You're ignring the other half of the "balance equation". For example, "providing entertainment to someone who is gambling with a set-aside specific amount of money they can afford to lose" and "providing entertainment to someone who is addicted to gambling and will lose money needed for housing and food". Sure, both provide some positive value, but that's ignoring the negative side of the balance equation. That makes it where one is net positive on someone's life and the other is net negative on someone's life.
kdmccormick 7y ago
That's a philosophical question, and I think most agree that for their personal definiton of "value", it depends on the type of entertainment. To build on the slot machine analogy, do you think an RNG that occasionally gives you money (but generally takes it) in a windowless, clockless room has value? And is that value worth the issues caused by them? Does the answer differ for social media? I don't know the answer, but I think they're questions worth asking.
- monkeynotes 7y ago
  Depends on the person in the Casino. Some people go in, feed the slots a couple of times for the thrill of what could be and then they move on somewhat entertained by the experience. Other people get addicted to that thrill and their lives suffer as a result. Same goes for many things in life, not just casinos. It isn't simple.
  - JoeAltmaier 7y ago
    That may be disingenuous. Casinos rely almost entirely upon the latter category of patrons for continued existance. It matters what the demographic is. Something about the instigator's intent can be discerned from that.
  - georgyo 7y ago
    I think the point of the parent and in general that the casino is catered to make the addicts have even less control, stay longer, and have no concept if they been there two hours or two days.
spoovy 7y ago
I see quite clearly that these kinds of apps cause/contribute to many well-documented personal and social problems but it's much harder for me to see any positive value. About the best thing I could say about them is that they make time pass more quickly, which can be useful if you're on a long flight or something. But that feels like damning with faint praise.
puranjay 7y ago
I don't know how much value this "entertainment" has. No one I know feels truly good about their social media usage. A good movie makes people walk out of theaters with a smile. Yet most of my friends who are heavy social media users treat it almost like smoking

cjslep 7y ago

You're ignring the other half of the "balance equation". For example, "providing entertainment to someone who is gambling with a set-aside specific amount of money they can afford to lose" and "providing entertainment to someone who is addicted to gambling and will lose money needed for housing and food". Sure, both provide some positive value, but that's ignoring the negative side of the balance equation. That makes it where one is net positive on someone's life and the other is net negative on someone's life.

kdmccormick 7y ago

That's a philosophical question, and I think most agree that for their personal definiton of "value", it depends on the type of entertainment. To build on the slot machine analogy, do you think an RNG that occasionally gives you money (but generally takes it) in a windowless, clockless room has value? And is that value worth the issues caused by them? Does the answer differ for social media? I don't know the answer, but I think they're questions worth asking.

monkeynotes 7y ago
Depends on the person in the Casino. Some people go in, feed the slots a couple of times for the thrill of what could be and then they move on somewhat entertained by the experience. Other people get addicted to that thrill and their lives suffer as a result. Same goes for many things in life, not just casinos. It isn't simple.
- JoeAltmaier 7y ago
  That may be disingenuous. Casinos rely almost entirely upon the latter category of patrons for continued existance. It matters what the demographic is. Something about the instigator's intent can be discerned from that.
- georgyo 7y ago
  I think the point of the parent and in general that the casino is catered to make the addicts have even less control, stay longer, and have no concept if they been there two hours or two days.

spoovy 7y ago

I see quite clearly that these kinds of apps cause/contribute to many well-documented personal and social problems but it's much harder for me to see any positive value. About the best thing I could say about them is that they make time pass more quickly, which can be useful if you're on a long flight or something. But that feels like damning with faint praise.

puranjay 7y ago

I don't know how much value this "entertainment" has. No one I know feels truly good about their social media usage. A good movie makes people walk out of theaters with a smile. Yet most of my friends who are heavy social media users treat it almost like smoking