Hedonism
noun
the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence.
The ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of
desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life.
"How is gaming no different from hedonism?" a special forces operator asked me. And I told him about The Sims and its time management lesson- how in The Sims, time, the game's non-cheat code-based resource, presents a utilitarian calculus from which our sims and we gods achieve things.
Lots of simoleans. Lots of commodities. Lots of friends. Death by furniture fires. Or, if game time is 'misused,' you have sims whose average happiness remain low for (in the first game) ever, with those few points of rapture in their lives being a horror show in juxtaposition with whatever else in their virtual lives you see.
The Sims is both a satire and a proponent for our lives, I told him; therefore, computer games are fun and can be didactic art at the same time!
But his question still pokes me because I know why he asked it: Most computer games, as of now, teach us nothing particularly useful nor provide game spaces where we practice potentially useful skills, including most of the best games. Most of the best games instead maximize fun.
So here's the question he should have asked:
"How is playing games that only maximize fun not a waste of time?"
I believe the best way to answer this question is to analyze fun and
time management.
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3 comments:
I don't see why you are looking down at Hedonism, there is nothing wrong with the pursuit of pleasure. The ability to maximize your enjoyment in a period of time should be looked upon as an goal to strive for, not looked down upon as a worthless pursuit.
To take a more nihilistic view, since there is no higher goal to strive for, why not enjoy your time on this earth? And why does it matter where this enjoyment comes from wither it be from outdoor adventuring, watching TV, hanging out with friends or playing video games?
What is considered a waist of time is different to each person, and having an enjoyable time, be it with others or alone playing a game, is never a waste of time.
Or, to put it another way: how are you going to make an argument against single-player videogames that could also not be used against, say, reading?
Many fun books are, when better books are easily obtainable, a waste of time to read. Many literature and linguistics experts will say reading ANYTHING in a language boosts a person's literacy and therefore cannot be a waste of time, but in a world of choice, you'll still want to pick one activity over another, one book over another.
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