I can be taught
I think I’ve established that I’m not terribly concerned with social issues in games but I am aware that games can have a social influence. I’m especially concerned about what my kids pick up from videogames, but the lessons they learn the best are not necessarily object lessons that games try to teach. I’m always leery of movies, books, music, or games that attempt to convey a “message” because they tend to be about as subtle as dropping a bag of hammers on someone’s head. Yet I think games can teach us a lot even if they are not overtly trying to teach us anything.
I learned patience for others from Guitar Hero Co-Op. When you’re playing with someone less experienced than you then the only choice you have is to deal with them messing up on parts that you mastered long ago. I’ve also learned humility because no matter how often I gold star songs on Medium there are still songs on Hard I have yet to beat.
My kids and I have learned about teamwork from games like Marvel Ultimate Alliance or the Star Wars Battlefront series. For that matter, the original Lego Star Wars was an excellent game to learn how to work together. Frustration, anger, shouting matches did not lead to victory.
These are just recent examples, but I can also trace back to skills I honed in videogames that I use in my job today. Resource management, strategic thinking, and the ability to be flexible when your careful planning goes horribly wrong due to the ever present unforeseen circumstances are skills I picked up playing many western-style RPG’s and turn-based strategy games. I wouldn’t put “Completed Missionforce: Cyberstorm campaign” on a resume but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t teach me a thing or two.
The irony is that when we talk about videogamers we instantly run to the stereotype of the socially awkward geek who will never know the touch of a woman. In truth I think we can learn a lot of positive social lessons from videogames, though the people you hang out with will have an influence as well. I don’t think its videogames that create these socially inept man-children so much as their tendency to congregate in groups. There are lessons I’d like to see my children learn, and if I can do that while they’re being entertained, if it helps the message stick, then all the better.
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August 28th, 2008 at 10:00 am
I think games get a lot of crap for the immature behavior label simply because it is one of the most visible hobbies in the current culture. There are plenty of interests if you look at the hardcore fanbase, you will always see a group of socially akward misfits dedicating themselves to it. This isn’t new behaviour, hell, has anyone ever watched some CSPAN’s author discussions? Maybe a chess club? Listened to NPR where they discuss irish dance? Just because ganes present us with one group doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of adult polka nerds and ceramic doll collectors out there.
I see the obsessive types as a constant, not a creation of the hobby itself. I model wargaming miniatures but the social gimps that play insure I will never join a club or go to competitions.
I also take issue with this mantra that everything children engage in has to “teach” them something. It is a plus but entertainment can provide lessons without engaging in this silly notion that everything we do has to make us better people. There has always been a certain separation to me.
I work and when I go home, I’ve paid my dues and can do whatever the hell I want to relax. If that is paint, shoot zombies or collect coke bottles then so be it.
Part of this is a “hands off” view to life where we exist and all of that stimulai influence us because we have no core values to rely on for making decisions. Thus every experience needs to be a positive one to help keep us on the right track.
I think we’ve made the mistake that hobbies are supposed to have redeaming value outside of the enjoyment of the hobbyist. My hobby has taught me patience because if I wanted to better at my craft then I had to learn how to pace my work. It is a skill, yes but it is a beneficial aspect not the main goal. If people think I am learning nothing from my hobby, then take a hike.
I think trying to force interests in to being direct means to educate the enthusiast is a mistake, we learn these things on our own and if we refuse to see the benefits, well then thats too bad because it stunts our ability to perform at our hobby. Hobbies are supposed to let us determine how good we want to be. Where is the pride in success if you are pushed to the finish line?
I’m not making the case that video games do not teach, I simply feel people need to relax and let the positive benefits emerge, to encourage the positive benefits instead of looking for superficial learning ques to appease them. We aren’t worried about learning, we are worried about placating our sense of accomplishment by tossing in nonsense about social issues or counting.
I think most parents should see their kids as talented at games and encourage correct reactions and behavior to help them as people by showing them how they can apply in other areas, not worry if games are teaching them about social issues like sex and drugs, thats your job. Thats the difference, hobbies can teach issues if we pay attention to the wider and more subtle points, not use the bull in a china shop routine where everything has to have a “cause” attached to it to make us feel better.