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Role-Playing Madness
By philobean | July 4, 2007
Picture this: a college student cuts class and ends up at a cybercafe with other MMORPG fanatics on an all-day fixed fee PC rental promo. This guy, disciplined as he is, cut down on all *non-essential* expenses just to be able to finance game time. He also stays up till late at night and wakes up early in the morning, plays day after day, week after week, month after month, saving up sacks upon sacks of cybermoney, taking every opportunity to gain those coveted *experience points*, just to get ahead. He exhibits all those laudable characteristics moms and pops would be glad to have their children carry–hardworking, industriousness, focused, determined, and others. Without a doubt, therefore, these kids have all that it takes to succeed in the traditional sense of the word. But, why don’t they?
Why do they live their cyberlives better than their real lives? Why are they more morally upright (*heroic* even) as an imaginary knight or mage than they are as themselves?
Some basic ideas: firstly, in contrast with the cyberworld of MMORPGs, real live does not provide a clear (i.e. defined and unpoliticized) path toward progress. In the cyberworld, the harder you work the higher up you go. In the real world, there is no such assurance. In the cyberworld, your experience points and gold coins aren’t ever stolen from you. In the real world, this often isn’t so. In the cyberworld, the good guy gets the girl, the gold and the glory. In the real world, well, let’s just say these are harder to come by.
Will a more meritocratic *real world* bring the youth back from the world of MMORPG to this one? Will it encourage them to channel their skills toward the more tangible produce of this playing field?
Topics: A little political, Personal |
July 8th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
are the youth really looking for a meritocracy? or are they just looking for something easy?
July 8th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
dear wain, the detailed observer and thinker
maybe they are afraid (of taking the first step, the trauma of failing, or facing the reality)..cause, eventhough reality is not as hard as imagined, many people afraid of facing it..
and yes, I agree they dont have any options..they prefer the cyberlife since it gives them the gold and glory (being a billionaire or a hero)..too bad, since those people are a dreamer and I believe that dreamers have great potentials
in the context of the meritocracy..i absolutely agree..here here wain!!this unfair world is full of politics and corruption that (like what I’ve write before) leave them no options..
so here I am, leaving comments and criticizing the system!!arent we going to do something about it??
well written wain..I like it
July 9th, 2007 at 10:15 am
We must provide the young with options for action! If there was a career path that promised both worldly and spiritual riches, wouldn’t we all jump on the bandwagon?