Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Turkle: Video Games and Computer Holding Power
According to Sherry Turkle, "The computer is not merely a tool used to accomplish tasks, but an object that enters our individual and social lives; how we interact with computers influences our outlook on the world and our perspective on ourselves." Looking at video games as our interaction with computers, do you agree with Turkle? If so, in what ways do computers influence our outlooks and perspectives? You may want to include your 1-hour-gaming experience and/or any previous experiences to support your answer.
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I agree with Turkle that the computer and video games specifically influence our outlook on the world. Turkle expands on this on page 508 when she says that "the danger here is not the danger of mindless play but of infatuation with the challenge of simulated worlds." I think that is exactly how video games influence our outlooks and perspectives- by infatuation with a simulated world. Reality and the worlds of video games have the possibility of holding very different standards, roles, and purposes. They can become influential when one cannot distinguish these two worlds and gets the simulated world mixed up with reality. I personally do not have much experience with video games, but in my hour of play, I had a taste of what it was like to be apart of a simulated world. I played a game that was about sustaining a Haitian family (it reminded me of Oregon Trail I used to play in elementary school). The hour went by so quickly that I didn't really realize time. Also, I kind of felt guilty when I stopped in the middle of it to write this post- after all I was leaving these simulated people without food or shelter.
ReplyDelete-Sarah K.
Like most of the class will surely say, I agree. My hour long gaming experience was spent being a 3rd world farmer as well as out-running the police as a refugee. Virtually partaking in these experiences helped in enhance the view on already had about these situations. From being a 3rd world farmer I learned that life is extremely hard and that your plans will almost always be foiled and that everything ultimately ends with death. From being a refugee I learned that time is precious and to act quickly. Now obviously these situations were not real but the experience I gained in the simulations can help to expand my knowledge of such current events and even inspires me to make more people aware.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Turkle about video games and computers being involved in our outlook of the world. For example, Turkle explained a story behind Jarish, a child that has issues fitting in with the real world and uses video games as a way to fit into some kind of world, despite it not being reality, but rather a simulated world. Video games have some of us in such a trance that at some point some of us believe that this alternative world is more relatable than the actual world we live in. It is easier to escape to a world where we control it and can always fit in despite our differences. I think video games can both improve or decrease our affection and outlook on our world. Some people are distraught by the difficulties that reality presents and video games create an even more frustrating outlook of the world because of its ease and our desire for it to be as easy as the simulated world. However, it can also improve our outlook on life, with the opportunity of this alternate world to improve our own lives through taught lessons presented on the video game. Video games can often be mixed up with actual reality.
ReplyDeleteWhen playing video games for an hour, it showed me all of these various things. I rarely play video games, but simply by this hour I had begun to be caught up in a whole different world. As Turkle said, "video games are something you do, something you do to your head, a world that you enter, and to a certain extent, they are something you "become." This statement held so much truth while playing the 3rd world farmer game. This game allows for you to control different characters and the items they purchase and the food they grow. I become so caught up in this foreign world that I had so much control over everything and had to veer myself away from it and bring myself back to reality. I definitely "became" a character in the game and acted like it was me that neeeded to survive rather than these characters. Video games are an interesting part of our society that definitely have both its disadvantages as well as advantages.
-Allison R.
I actually think that it is the other way around; I think that people use video games to reflect their outlooks and perspective on life and themselves.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, with Turkle's example of Jimmy, he uses Space Invaders to try and become more "perfect" by improving his score and strategy while playing the game. Jimmy doesn't feel like he is at all perfect in real life, and he tries to gain that perfection through a video game (511). It is the same case with the lawyer David (512), who wants an adventurous life, and tries to attain that adventure through video games. I think the type of video games that people play depend on their perspectives, interests, etc.; as I'm sure many have noticed, certain kinds of games only attract certain types of players.
Earlier in the reading, Turkle remarks that Jarish "knows that despite the complexity of the games, there is program behind, there are rules" (504). I think this is also an example of people trying to project their desire of control and need for rules and fairness in their lives through video games. As we all know, life isn't fair; but in a video game it can be. I think that part of the reason why video games are so popular is because they can be controlled, unlike many aspects of our lives.
Computers and video games definitely influence outlooks and perspectives. Sometimes we take away the experiences from our virtual worlds and apply them to real life. When I was younger I used to play the computer game SIMS. This game mimicked real life in that you could build families, work jobs, and achieve aspirations. After one particularly hard day of playing with a large family, I came away from the game realizing how hard it would be to manage a big household with many children. Now, I realize that there are rewards along with the hassles of children, but to this day I still really only want to have two kids. That was a huge example of how a video game affected me, but I'm sure that I'm affected in small ways, as well.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the ways that video games affect us the most is that they make us more competitive. Turkle mentioned this in her passage, and I totally agree. My brother is a huge gamer. He will sit for hours upon hours in front of the computer or TV playing video games. I notice that this makes him incredibly competitive. Two examples: he won't stop playing until he beats a level- even if it means skipping meals, and he always has to beat his friends. He gets angry when he loses, and he practices until he can win. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it is definitely a side-effect of his gaming.
I have to agree with Turkle; video games as a means of interaction with the computer does show what we think of ourselves and others. Even though her piece was written in the mid-80's, it can apply to today, maybe even more so, because the complexity of games today make it possible to really get into the game and feel like you are a part of it due to programming and tech advances. You are able to connect with and be the characters in the game quite easily, even though they are a fabrication of the programmer's imagination. Gamers can get really into the game they are playing because it can model real life or situations that are similar to real life. They could get even more engrossed in the game especially if the game involves working in a group or playing to save something, which simulates a bond between the gamer and their imagined comrades. Our human desire to connect with others can be realized in video games, especially if the player feels they are lacking in social experiences in the real world (much like Jarish and Jimmy).
ReplyDeleteI also played the game where you had to help the Haitian family survive for a couple of years by getting them to work, balance different aspects of life and overcome hardships. It took me awhile to get used to how to play, but it did not take long to become attached to family and feel bad that they got sick because they were working too hard in order to fight off poverty. I think it is amazing how quickly anyone (I'm not a gamer) can fall deeply into the game and become so attached.
Just like many of the people in her piece, the Sims and other games like D & D allow the player to create a persona that may differ from what they portray to the exterior world, allowing to feel like they can connect with others without physical limitations- they can be their "true selves" in the game. Games can allow people to portray who they feel is inside, not just the person on the outside, who seems to be holding them back.
I agree with many of the opinions of students in the class. I believe that our perspectives of the world, our place in it, and of ourselves are hugely influenced by the way we allow computers and technology to influence us. Our generation has allowed the computer to become a huge part of our lives, and we have allowed for it be with us almost always. Some form of the computer is constantly with us. Our generation has also allowed the computer to be an object that enters the social and personal aspects of our lives. It has stopped being an instrument for only work-related use, and as we have said, it has become part of our social lives through social-networking sites and the internet in general.
ReplyDeleteI believe the types of games we play and how much we play them influence our perspectives. I know I read an article about teens who were heavily influenced by Grand Theft Auto and actually went out into public to try out skills they had learned in the game, and were eventually arrested because of the danger they caused. People may learn immoral things because of the way they are allowed to act on such games, while others learn life lessons, as Vanessa said. I think in moderation video games are harmless or maybe even beneficial, but one must keep in mind the boundary and difference between the virtual world and the real world.
When I first read the prompt, I did not think that I would agree that games do have an influence on our outlook on the world, but after going through the first part of the questioning in the refugee game, I was definitely nervous and started to forget it wasn't real. I'm not used to playing games at all, so I was surprised at how much it engages the player. I would say when games portray realistic scenarious, it can have more of an influence than more fantasical games. The more characters that a player represents will diversify their outlook on life because virtually experiencing life in "someone else's shoes". I'm still skeptical of how much this would alter someone's social life if they continued to go out and participate in real life. If someone started to play so much that it cut into time with family and friends I believe that individual's social skills might suffer after time goes by.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Turkle. I rarely, if ever, play video games, so I found it hard to believe that games could truly influence our perspectives of ourselves and others. Once I began playing, however, I became engrossed in the game. Of course it changed the way I think about typical gamers, and myself as well, as I never thought I would be sucked into a game the way that I was. Playing realistic games that incorporate a different way of life than one is accustomed to can also affect how they view the lives of others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Turkle because I have observed many people get lost in and obsessed with games. Emotions are easily evoked when something dramatic happens in the game. If you loose a game that you have been playing for hours than you might be in a bad mood because of the game. Also playing violent video games may undermine the value of real life violence in the people who play those games. They may become less responsive to real life violence because they are accustomed to it in their virtual world. On the other hand, gaming is what you make of it. If you choose to sit there and play for hours then you are letting the computer dominate your life and influence your perspective of yourself. You must be able to walk away from a game and realize that it is a virtual world, and not the one you live in.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to answer this question just from my experience with the 1 hour gaming activity, I would say that it does not impact my outlook on the world. I'm not big into games online (I prefer games with human interaction) and I surprisingly did not enjoy my gaming experience. I just got frustrated because I don't have the patience to sit at a computer and play a game at which I'm not good at. It was impossible to keep the family alive in Haiti, and that's frustrating to me because I don't even know how I could have done it better. However, I do agree with Turkle that computers and how we interact with them has the potential (nothing more) to influence our outlook on live and how we perceive ourselves. Computers play a huge role in our lives today, in fact when I sat down at the library this evening and my whole group of friends pulled out their laptop computers to start studying, I made a comment about the fact that this never used to happen and how interesting it is that it's almost expected that college-aged students will receive a laptop or some sort of personal computer. I believe it is as much a social thing (facebook, Myspace, Twitter, blogs, e-mail) as it is an educational thing.
ReplyDeleteIn this way, I agree with C Lavery stated about us only allowing the computer to influence our perspective if we allow it to, because I know that this gaming activity didn't pull me in and entrance me much like it did for other students in the class. So some people perhaps allowed it to influence them more than others, I don't know, I think it is an interesting experiment to look into. Which kind of people enjoyed this activity and which didn't? Just a thought...
The idea that computers can come to affect our lives so far as to change our perspectives and outlooks on life is somewhat absurd. Computers are simply tools -- devices created for the purpose of processing information. Contrary to Turkle's statement, I believe that it is the content provided to us through the computer that can affect the way we think.
ReplyDeleteBeing a college student (and a computer science major as well), I can rarely go for an hour without coming into contact with a computer. I will admit to owning two laptops and an additional desktop computer. I will admit to carrying one laptop or the other with me to class every single day. I have no choice but to interact with computers for work, as I am a website developer. Yet in spite of my near-constant computer use, I do not feel as though the device itself has any power to influence my "outlook on the world."
After an hour of playing as a refugee, I feel as though my time would have been better spent studying for the midterm I have at 9:30 tomorrow morning. Though I know nothing about being a refugee first-hand, but I feel that many of the "skills" necessary to complete the game properly have little to do with knowledge and more to do with common sense. To be honest, I would have been more captivated by a good movie about a refugee trying to escape his/her home country to seek asylum. Though perhaps this lack of interest owes more to the rudimentary nature of many browser-based games, as I do enjoy more complex (and yes, sometimes more violent) games.
In any case (as this is not supposed to be a critique of the games themselves), content is much more important to me than the medium through which it is presented. I will admit that the interactivity provided by computers can certainly enhance (but not create) the influence of the message.
My gut reaction is to disagree with Turkle. No offense, but this is probably because my opinion of video games is less than favorable--I'd like to pretend they do not exist and do not have real effects!
ReplyDeleteHowever, this point sticks out the most to me from the reading, detailing why that opinion cannot be supported: "Television is something you watch. Video games are something you do, something you do to your head, a world that you enter, and, to a certain extent, they are something you 'become.'"
This directly aligns with what I learned in my Mass Media Effects class last semester. While television is passive, computers and video games are active. For the most part, we don't simply stare at the screen--we interact with it. Thus, I agree with Turkle.
I think the ways in which computers affect us depend directly on both individual characteristics and how the individual is using the computer. I think the breadth of possible effects is quite large and that it is unfair to generalize because each person is different and each way in which he or she uses the computer is different--and these all have an impact on how the person is influenced by their computer use.
I found this article hilarious. Not only do I agree with Turkle, but I've witnessed things that Turkle could only guess at. As a former avid gamer (I say former because college allows little time for such things) I've heard things on Xbox Live that would make parents weep and give the elderly heart tremors. I personally was witness to my five year old cousin getting killed by a teammate and letting loose with a stream of words that would make a sailor blush.
ReplyDeletePeople get into games at a ridiculous level, often causing them to reveal a different side of themselves, oftentimes more violent or primal. I've often yelled "Headshot!" when I snipe people from across a map in Halo, while I obviously could never really fathom pointing a gun at someone in real life.
Turkles idea of people getting obsessed with games is truly exemplified in things like WoW or other mmorpgs. People lose their jobs over that crap (I will never understand why people like those games, but to each their own, I suppose). I think games influence our outlooks and perspectives like any other personal interest. As an avid media student, film influences my perspectives greatly. I often wonder at various points in life how I would adapt a particular scene to a movie or frame a certain shot, but I digress.
The website for the hours of gaming provided was, in my honest opinion, a shoddy example of games to get involved in. I'm a firm proponent of the idea that games allow for the letting out aggression or negative emotions and, while playing oiligarchy as I infiltrated the government with my big, bad petroleum soaked fingers, I couldn't help but feel uninterested and detached.
Anyway, Turkle was right. Videogames affect our perspectives and outlooks when we absorb ourselves with them and get involved and connected. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go headshot some fools.
One of the more positive ways that video games can affect a person is that they can learn from them. One can learn by interacting in a virtual world just as they can by interacting in a real world. Just because these fantasy realms are not real, does not mean humans cannot take away valuable lessons from them. One way is how children can experience finance on their own through use of virtual money. Of course, the weakness of virtual worlds is the limit that they have. Once you reach a certain point, there is little left to be learned. All games will eventually reach a point where they become repetitive. Once they reach this point, their only function becomes to reduce mental stress and clear the mind such as the lawyers and businessmen in Turkle's passage or to act as a method to escape from the "real world."
ReplyDeleteI do agree that our social and individual lives are greatly affected by our use of computers. As we have extensively discussed Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and other social networking websites in class, we have explored how the computer can function as a community. Having a virtual community definitely shapes our perspectives of ourselves because it allows us to choose how we wish to be viewed by others through the creation of profiles and through the way we respond to messages and activities online. When we exclusively talk about the effects of gaming on our individual and social lives, the discussion has similarities and differences. Some people may argue that video games today tend to discourage social activity because playing a game in a virtual world requires interaction and concentration between the gamer and the computer or gaming system only. Others however might argue that gaming promotes social activity. I am not very familiar with video games, but I know that games such as Halo have messaging available for players to talk to one another while they play from different game systems. Games such as the ones that I played on www.gamesforchange.org have the potential of having a large social impact. The games on this particular website have a unique message to promote an important global theme such as health care or poverty. The games I chose to play were strategy games in which I had to balance work, health, and education for a family to ensure their survival in their poverty stricken country. The simulation games gave me a tiny glimpse into what it would be like to have to struggle for survival and sparked my curiosity about poverty in countries such as Haiti; one of the countries one of the games took place in. Overall, I believe games and computers have the capacity and ability to influence our outlooks on real life. A violent video game may inspire a player to think about new violent strategies which could potential influence them in real life, while a game about managing a life of poverty may inspire someone else to research real life issues and ways they can help.
ReplyDeleteWell, yes. Yes, I do. Agree, that is.
ReplyDeleteVideo games impacted my childhood at least.
They taught me how to type, and various other educational things, all in an entertaining manner. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?; Amazon Trail; and Pharaoh are all good examples of games that taught me things, and on a variety of subjects. Did that impact my individual and social life? Yes. I used to fritter hours away in front of the computer trying to make life better for my people by building temples, establishing schools and armies, and setting aside land for crops. When there was a drought I was like “Oh no!” When people came to my city or said good things about the festivals I threw I was happy. And it helped me realize (when I reflect on it) that it takes a lot to make people happy, and that there’s a lot of work that has to be put into relationships. I had to remember each part of the city’s religion, sanitation, and education; protect them from the invading Nubians; and provide the means for them to help themselves.
Did it change my outlooks and perspectives on things? Maybe. Being able to learn about other parts of the world without having to be there via Pharaoh and Amazon Trail in particular fueled, I think, a love for exotic places and travel. But in correlation to this thought, the game has to be one that’s interesting to the player. I never liked the Sims (perhaps because no one ever showed up before I got bored) or first-person shooters. I don’t like doing things that I’m bad at either, so anything I can’t do well on frustrates me. The reflex games generally don’t excite me as much as any that requires some sort of logic or strategy. So it more reflects an outlook or perspective than changes one.
After playing the game Darfur is Dying, it made me realize that the world is still in turmoil even if here in America, we don't have too much of that going on. It was crazy to think that people really have to deal with the everyday issues that the people in the video game had to deal with. It makes what is happening over there more real because it simulated some of the actual events that occur and what happens on a day to day basis. It was more real than it had been before. This changed my opinion about the way people view video games because if all video games taught something about the culture or happenings around the world or something intellectual, they would be more useful to the world. They would no longer just be fiction but a teaching tool. Kids nowadays would benefit from learning from the games.
ReplyDeleteMy experience with video games has definitely taught me a lot about myself. First off, I’ve realized that I have quite the short temper. Halo and Call of Duty seem to be the catalyst for a competitive, upset David. Other games, like the ones where design a character and choose their personality traits, have taught me what personal qualities I value in a person. However, I have had a more difficult time realizing the effect video games have had on my perspective in reality. After playing video games for awhile, I’ve noticed that I’ve become a tad bit more appreciative of art and my surrounding environment. I’ve also become more appreciative of architecture, as The Sims has taught me how truly difficult it is to design. But, I’d never go as far to say that video games have altered my sense of reality, or made me think that what is permissible in video games is also allowed in the real world. For example, I can’t relate to all those lawsuits where the defendant claimed “the video game made me do it.” So, as far as the influence of video games goes, it has definitely changed my perspective on myself, but has not altered my perspective on reality.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I disagree with Turkle on this. I have always created a strong divide between video games and the real world. At least, I keep video games out of my everyday life; however, should my personal experiences relate to a video game scenario, it does enhance and color the experience. But this is a strictly one-way relationship. If I allowed every video game I've played to influence my outlook, I wouldn't know my left from my right.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of a computer game person. I never have, and I don't really think I'll ever be. I've always been a more active person. So sitting and playing games never looked fun for me. With this said, I'm not the best one to answer this question. It was really hard for me to sit and play the video games for an hour...maybe because none looked that interesting or maybe because I just don't do well with sitting in front of my computer for that long. The good thing about these games is that it introduced me to many political, environmental, and social problems.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if computer games could influence a user's life, but I do feel it is up to the user to allow that or not allow that to happen.
I find it particularly easy to agree with Turkle. Video games do affect our perspectives and outlooks on life. From my experiences in the past with video games as well as my 1 hour long play, I would say video games greatly affect our emotions which in turn affect how we look at life.
ReplyDeleteWhile playing the game, SkiDebt, I experienced a myriad of emotions. As soon as I started playing I would be extremely competitive. When I would lose, I would be frustrated. When I when would win, I would feel joy. These emotions were on a small scale, but I think that playing video games with other people and competing with these people takes our emotion to a higher level.
When I was younger, I would play video games with my older brother. We would compete to see who was the better out of the two. It was a big deal and it would drive me crazy if I ever lost. Looking back on this, I realized that my outlook on life has slightly changed because of this. I now feel like winning, out doing other people, and being the best at something is the most important thing. In a way, video games have driven me to become a better at things. I now strive to beat my brother in basically everything, including school.
Furthermore, in the world of video games, "there is no place to hide, no excuses of chance or accident". When playing a video game, it is you against it. So because of this, I knew that if I ever lost to my brother or the game it was strictly my fault. I can't blame my failure on anything else. With this in mind, video games are perfect for competition which is why such emotions occur.
Like Vanessa, I was played the Sims when I was younger. My friend and I used to play it so much that we would jokingly refer to it as the "real world" because our Sims were so important to us (to this day we joke about paying for college with simoleans--Sim money, for those of you who have never played). However, I can't say it taught me any real life lessons. Perhaps I was too young or immature to pull anything from the game, but I definitely incorporated more of myself into the game than I let the game affect my outside perspective, and therefore I do not entirely agree with Turkle. My favorite aspect of the game was being able to build custom homes for my Sims and then decorating the interiors.
ReplyDeleteI also used to play Warcraft and other fantasy themed games when I was younger in an attempt to be more like my older brother. Fortunately I did not end up like Jarish, using these online worlds to feel like I fit in with some sort of crowd. Other cases like this definitely support Turkle's theory. I'm sure we all have heard the stories: John Doe died in his basement from exhaustion after playing a video for 4 days straight, or Jane Doe killed herself after her mom deleted her gaming account. It's sad, but online games can definitely affect a person's outlook on the world in a negative way and consume someone's life.
I am certainly in agreement that how we interact with computers influences our outlook on the world and even our perspective of ourselves. I mean, how would the world fare without computers today? The world today is practically fueled by computer interaction. Without computers today, so much would go so seriously wrong, well, let’s just hope that never happens…
ReplyDeleteAs far as video games -being this interaction with computers- are concerned, I think that only a small percentage of the world will take from video games and apply it to real life. I believe that the majority of the world’s population that even plays video games is perfectly capable of keeping game and life separate. Although I do find it interesting that some people can be so affected by a game and care so much while others would merely scoff at the thought of spending any length of time playing a computer game. I happen to be one of those people who get sucked in by video games. I spent my time today playing ‘3rd world farmer,’ as several others have previously mentioned having played. My one hour turned into something more like 2 ½. But I won the game. I just thought it was so interesting what was happening to the economy in a given year that I wanted to know what else could happen. I would get genuinely upset if my crops failed or if civil war broke out and I lost a barn. But I took it more as a learning experience than anything else. I think that considering the latest generation and their affinity for video gaming, these games could be used as an incredibly effective learning tool.
I know that when I was younger I used to play games but more than anything, I would act much like I do in reality, in the games. I was always afraid to do things in the game that I didn’t know how to do. I was always afraid of dying in the game even though I knew there were no real consequences. For this reason I eventually came to only like games where I worked in a team with someone, or games that involved logic or strategy more than those that involved skill. I also became a fan of RPGs. But again, it was almost like an extension of reality more than an alternate reality, for me anyway. I feel like, just as in any situation, there are those extremes on either end but that most people sit comfortably in the middle somewhere between living in the game and living the game in real life. In other words, I feel that most people can clearly draw a line between game and reality.
I agree that video games can affect how people react in person or how they view the world. Some people are so enamored with the world of the imaginary that they forget about the real one around them. If a certain situation is only experienced through video games then the gamer now has a false view of that situation in real life. The video game also causes much attention to be toward the game and the story of the game. The players get so enamored so they get sucked into a virtual world which is highly important at that moment in time. Once gamers put their game before friends in real life it solidifies the notion that too much gaming can negatively debilitate the gamer.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with Turkle that a computer is "an object that enters our individual and social lives." Computers connect us to the world beyond our reach. They expose us instantly to the troubles plaguing other people (through live news feeds) and allow us to easily communicate with those in other countries. How could this kind of interconnectedness not affect our individual and social lives? However, if we narrow our scope to just include how we interact with computers through video games, the effect seems to vary from person to person.
ReplyDeleteThe world of video games is very diverse, so which computer game an individual chooses to play may say quite a bit about his/her outlooks and perspectives. For example, if an individual only plays first person shooter games with no multiplayer mode it may indicate that either the individual is extremely bored, but also that s/he may feel estranged from the rest of society. Also, psychologists have done studies to try and prove that playing violent video games may lead to violent behavior in the future. If this is true, then certainly video games affect our outlooks and perspectives.
On the other hand, if an individual plays an MMORPG, they interact with other players and employ teamwork skills to accomplish goals. I have many friends who had trouble being socially accepted in elementary and middle school, but when they found a video game that they could play, in which they could socially interact with similar kids around the world, they were able to feel slightly less isolated. These friends of mine have developed intimate, long lasting friendships with other players, and many of them have even met face to face. Some may argue that these relationships are superficial, but not all of the communication that takes place is about the game; in fact, many players join together to complete simple tasks that don't require much coordination and have normal, friendly conversations about things unrelated to the game. The video game simply acts as a medium for communication and as a place to meet other people with similar interests. These individuals have certainly been positively affected by video games and have become much more comfortable within society.
Obviously, though, there is another side to this argument that suggests that individuals play video games out of boredom and have nothing valuable invested into them. Usually these individuals play games by themselves and may not play any games that require serious devotion and effort. Thus, it is expected that these individuals would be less affected than those more serious gamers.
I agree with Turkle in that video games alter our perceptions of reality and can become an obsession. They offer the ultimate form of escapism - the ability to re-create oneself and control the situations and other beings surrounding him. Playing the video games for homework allowed me to become engrossed in an alternate reality (or someone else's perceived reality) and lead me to forget where I really was. The advanced technology seen in video games today, makes us identify with them more as "real" places rather than imaginary 2-D cartoons. After a while, you can start to identify with the game's characters and be empathetic towards their situations because they appear to be real to some extent.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked what Mirka said about our choices in video games, depicting our looks, interests and personalities. I, for instance, don't find shooting games such as "call of duty" or "halo" fun, but I really enjoy Wii Tennis and MarioKart. There are so many different types of video games nowadays that anyone can find solace in them, and may even find acceptance.
Overall, yes I believe that video games alter our perception of our surroundings. They allow us to escape to a world of our choosing (and sometimes our own creation), which for some can be extremely cathartic.
Well I only have a simple answer to this question: yes, I absolutely agree with Turkle! And it applies to all video games--I know some of our class members felt that video games set in fantastical worlds weren't as effective in influencing our outlooks, but that is not true at all. You gotta play to really understand. For example, Bioshock forces you to make decisions that are morally hard, while worlds are influenced by your decisions, such as the ones in Fable II, also makes you realize the interconnections of one act and the world around.
ReplyDeleteVideo games are set in worlds that are often complete--so if a world is ruled by a certain type of society, you see it reflected in all aspects of the environment. It just helps you see how other societies work, or how other people live. It helps open your mind.
I played Gumbeat--it's about a defiant young girl who wants to gather enough followers to overthrow an oppressive government that bans blowing bubble gum. It was effective in influencing my outlook by including propoganda that sounds illogical and ridiculous, and by the difficulty of getting past the police and how easy followers desert you.
I agree that gaming, and computers, influence our perspectives on the outside world and ourselves. I believe that humans are inherently fond of controlling their environments. Like Turkle’s example of Jarish (502-505). I feel most people look to computer games and computers as structured, stable things in their crazy lives.
ReplyDeleteI know that personally, video games and computers have altered my perceptions of the world. I look at the human brain and even the world as a whole as a giant computer in some ways. What I mean is that computers are structured, there are reasons they do what they do. If you understand the programming and the structure then you understand what is happening. You understand the how and why. I think the world is just like a really complicated computer and that it is possible to eventually understand the how and the why. We just don’t fully understand the programming or the structure yet.
I agree that computers and video games are not only tools. They interact with our lives and influence our outlook on the world and on ourselves. Personally, I don’t play video games because I think it is simply not the reality and I don’t want to waste my time on something not realistic. People may indulge in video games for the same reason. It gives them a way to escape from the reality. However, after people play computers and video games for a long time, it become hard for them to tell which one is the reality. For example, kids may become violent after they play counter-strike for a while, and they may get confused about the two worlds. It can change his outlook on the world and they way he solves problem, which will cause more violence in real society.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Turkle when she says “how we interact with computers influences our outlook on the world and our perspective on ourselves”. Personally I am not that much of a gamer. The only gaming system I own is the first ever Nintendo. I did not want to get a gaming system for the fear of getting addicted. I am still frightened that if I get a gaming system, I will lose ties to the outside world. I feel as though I would get caught in the virtual reality and not want to be a part of the real world.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have been afraid to, I have been addicted to virtual games before, it has gone from something as simple to Spider Solitare to Resident Evil 4. I enjoy video games because I use them as an escape to reality. They definitely stimulate my brain (even though they might get in the way of my homework). I believe people get so addicted to video games because it’s a sense of escapism. Also it’s a challenge, the need to know what’s next or which boss I need to beat next drives me to complete the entire game. I am an advocate for personal interaction over video games but video games serve as an outlet for those who like to do things alone. When I play I am completely absorbed in the game, which allows me to forget whatever it was I had to worry about that day. I would think that video games attract us even more to computers. It’s a fun side to the technology.
I definitely agree with Turkle when she mentions that games influence “our outlook on the world and our perspective on ourselves.” Initially, this caught my eye as a strong statement to agree with because of how it mentions “ourselves.” People who play games nowadays associate themselves with the term “gamers” and that is a major social group. If one considers you a gamer then it definitely changes your perspective on yourself.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, with computers playing such a big role in society, almost anything that happens on that machine can affect you in some way, shape, or form. Video games, more specifically, are no exception. They influence society on many levels and one that comes to mind is the reaction and stereotype that comes along with the game Grand Theft Auto, as was already mentioned above. The violence in that game was blamed on many real-world acts that caused disgust through many a household. The association of these acts with the game led people who had never even played it to change their outlook on the world, more specifically, people who play video games. Some saw those “gamers” as ones that could be easily influenced based on what they play and a strong stereotype was formed that anyone who played a violent game would be violent themselves. Not only does that outside stereotype affect the ones playing the game, who now think about it, but like I said above, it also changes the world’s perspective on those who play those types of games.
In my gaming experience, I spent quite a bit of time on a Chevron sponsored energy city game, where you had to determine what power you used for your city, and you based your decision based off cost, environmental, and security factors. It was interesting to see the various positives and negatives to each way. People mostly just think how great solar energy or nuclear energy would be and demand that it be implemented, but they don’t take into account some of the negatives associated with it (cost and security respectively). In this way, video games can also be an educational influence on how we view the world and issues in it.
i think that computer games, especially MMO's, as the speaker today spoke about, are gonig to affeect our lives, just as anything we do for large portions of our lives. i think that MMO's have an extra effect because they are so social as an intrinsic part of them. We are defined by our communications (I might be slightly biased, as a linguistics major), so the more social interaction in a game the more effect it has on our lives. I think that such examples as were given today (death, murder, marriage, and "research") prove that these forms of interactions play a major role in the lives of many people.
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