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I don't understand what you are saying? Playing minecraft or watching amateurs' videos of themselves playing is conditioning? By who, and how?

cinquemb 13y ago
Bear with me. The conditioning in this is media is shaping the minds of individuals (intentionally or not), who will most likely not be aware of this going on during consumption. The old way being television or in relation to this posting, Disney and "…stupid adult stereotypes, sarcasm, backstabbing behavior, and contempt…". The new way being "interactive" media, or in relation to this posting, Minecraft and related content consumed where "Bad language is easy to curb…". The "stupid adult stereotypes, sarcasm, backstabbing behavior, and contempt" is hardly unique Disney or other child TV consumption (or TV for that matter…). One thing people point out with television consumption people have stated time and time again, is that it hardly invites it's viewers to explore ideas outside of the content while viewing. Then it seems like some how, the ability to be able to interact with media with content like Minecraft is some how better (allows children to be more creative, enabling more thinking, or whatever people say the benefits are compared to what people think of television now [though I bet some people were touting the benefits of television not to long ago…]), which I can see/understand the argument being made here for that with the logic being made on surface level. However, the thing is that it isn't like what the children are doing is outside of the purpose of the game and are very much only able to do things within the constructs the game. At the end of the day, it is still a game. And like Disney shows or the like, it still does not invite the player to explore ideas and concepts that are going within the game at the same time. So to me, it seems like overall the child is no better off with being able to digest things like "Bad language…" and notions of "…stupid adult stereotypes, sarcasm, backstabbing behavior, and contempt"(hardly unique to our times since it is apart of human nature after all) that could be going on in the game or other consumable content related. It seems to me it would be foolish to think that this "new interactive media" does any more or less compared to the "old way" (TV, or the tech before that like radio and even books) when it comes to addressing the underlying issues being avoided. And apparently, even trying to have a discussion upon such seems to be avoided…
- conroe64 13y ago
  The thing is that a lot of what people do in minecraft is not towards a single goal or accomplishment that is pre laid out by the minecraft developer(s). If you haven't played it before, it's a vast 3D world of detachable bricks that are created using a procedural algorithm. There are other entities in the world the user can fight against. But, the dominant part of the game is crafting your own creations using the 3D bricks not necessarily for any purpose at all besides one that you come up with. It's a lot like Legos in that respect. One user built a life size model of the Star Ship Enterprise (for no in-game reward at all) http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/09/28/somebody-built-the-starship-enterprise-in-minecraft/ http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/09/28/somebody-built-the-starshi... So because of that, minecraft does do more than watching TV, or most other goal oriented video games. If it doesn't, you'll have to elaborate on what you mean by "the underlying issues being avoided".
  - cinquemb 13y ago
    >you'll have to elaborate on what you mean by "the underlying issues being avoided". Third paragraph: >However, the thing is that it isn't like what the children are doing is outside of the purpose of the game and are very much only able to do things within the constructs the game. At the end of the day, it is still a game. And like Disney shows or the like, it still does not invite the player to explore ideas and concepts that are going within the game at the same time. So to me, it seems like overall the child is no better off with being able to digest things like "Bad language…" and notions of "…stupid adult stereotypes, sarcasm, backstabbing behavior, and contempt"(hardly unique to our times since it is apart of human nature after all) that could be going on in the game or other consumable content related.
    - conroe64 13y ago
      What do you mean by "does not invite the player to explore ideas and concepts that are going within the game at the same time"? And why is this so important to a child's development that without it, "overall the child is no better off"?

cinquemb 13y ago

Bear with me. The conditioning in this is media is shaping the minds of individuals (intentionally or not), who will most likely not be aware of this going on during consumption. The old way being television or in relation to this posting, Disney and "…stupid adult stereotypes, sarcasm, backstabbing behavior, and contempt…". The new way being "interactive" media, or in relation to this posting, Minecraft and related content consumed where "Bad language is easy to curb…". The "stupid adult stereotypes, sarcasm, backstabbing behavior, and contempt" is hardly unique Disney or other child TV consumption (or TV for that matter…). One thing people point out with television consumption people have stated time and time again, is that it hardly invites it's viewers to explore ideas outside of the content while viewing. Then it seems like some how, the ability to be able to interact with media with content like Minecraft is some how better (allows children to be more creative, enabling more thinking, or whatever people say the benefits are compared to what people think of television now [though I bet some people were touting the benefits of television not to long ago…]), which I can see/understand the argument being made here for that with the logic being made on surface level. However, the thing is that it isn't like what the children are doing is outside of the purpose of the game and are very much only able to do things within the constructs the game. At the end of the day, it is still a game. And like Disney shows or the like, it still does not invite the player to explore ideas and concepts that are going within the game at the same time. So to me, it seems like overall the child is no better off with being able to digest things like "Bad language…" and notions of "…stupid adult stereotypes, sarcasm, backstabbing behavior, and contempt"(hardly unique to our times since it is apart of human nature after all) that could be going on in the game or other consumable content related. It seems to me it would be foolish to think that this "new interactive media" does any more or less compared to the "old way" (TV, or the tech before that like radio and even books) when it comes to addressing the underlying issues being avoided. And apparently, even trying to have a discussion upon such seems to be avoided…

conroe64 13y ago
The thing is that a lot of what people do in minecraft is not towards a single goal or accomplishment that is pre laid out by the minecraft developer(s). If you haven't played it before, it's a vast 3D world of detachable bricks that are created using a procedural algorithm. There are other entities in the world the user can fight against. But, the dominant part of the game is crafting your own creations using the 3D bricks not necessarily for any purpose at all besides one that you come up with. It's a lot like Legos in that respect. One user built a life size model of the Star Ship Enterprise (for no in-game reward at all) http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/09/28/somebody-built-the-starship-enterprise-in-minecraft/ http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/09/28/somebody-built-the-starshi... So because of that, minecraft does do more than watching TV, or most other goal oriented video games. If it doesn't, you'll have to elaborate on what you mean by "the underlying issues being avoided".
- cinquemb 13y ago
  >you'll have to elaborate on what you mean by "the underlying issues being avoided". Third paragraph: >However, the thing is that it isn't like what the children are doing is outside of the purpose of the game and are very much only able to do things within the constructs the game. At the end of the day, it is still a game. And like Disney shows or the like, it still does not invite the player to explore ideas and concepts that are going within the game at the same time. So to me, it seems like overall the child is no better off with being able to digest things like "Bad language…" and notions of "…stupid adult stereotypes, sarcasm, backstabbing behavior, and contempt"(hardly unique to our times since it is apart of human nature after all) that could be going on in the game or other consumable content related.
  - conroe64 13y ago
    What do you mean by "does not invite the player to explore ideas and concepts that are going within the game at the same time"? And why is this so important to a child's development that without it, "overall the child is no better off"?