Common suffering

I work in a job that puts me in a great deal of contact with the public.  The amusing and interesting part of the job is that, when I'm not actually talking to my customers, they have a tendency to ignore me while I'm within earshot.  This leads to the overhearing of some very interesting conversations.  (Not that I eavesdrop - it's not my fault if they just keep talking while I'm a foot away.)

One of the things I have observed about people through this is that they are perverse when it comes to negative things.  More often than not, if one party begins to complain or tell a story about some ordeal they have been through, the response by the listeners is to offer quick sympathy and then attempt to one-up the misery.  Age, class, and race seem to have no bearing on this reaction.  It's as if there is some sort of status gained by having been through the most pain, physical or otherwise.

It's a form of reverse bragging.  While there are cultural taboos in place against actual bragging and bravado, it seems that to show that one has survived or endured personal hells is perfectly acceptable.  In a way, we define ourselves by that which has scarred or almost scarred us.  It's as if we say "Look what I have been through.  Doesn't this make my existence have meaning?"

Is simply enduring an accomplishment?

Honesty

I just returned home from my local video game store and have a story to share.

I bought 5 games for Yule (3 for my other half, 2 for myself - couldn't help it) and upon walking to the car discovered that I had only been charged for four.  What did I do?  Turned around, walked back into the store, got back in line and paid for the other game - which, even used, set me back another $40.  The clerk was grateful and more than a bit surprised.

I know that there are quite a few people who would have just gotten in their car and driven away.  So why didn't I?  Foremost, my integrity is worth more than money.  Beyond that however, there is a very good reason.

When you buy a game you are doing more than just killing your social life for the next 40 hours of gameplay.  You are supporting and informing.  With my game purchase I let the retailer and game industry know what kind of games I'd like to see more of.  I said, "Here.  This is worth my hard earned money.  Make more good games and they will be bought."  It's a feedback system.  In our capitalist culture this is the consumers' power.  Now, believe me, I would love to see independent game developers not have to worry about sales and be able to go right on being creative without fear of the masses' approval.  Unfortunately, reality is a bit different.  This is why it is so important for those of us with (I think) decent taste to support the game industry.  Imagine if Psychonauts had been a runaway best selling game.  Mmmm.... more games in that vein.... yummy.

I understand that games are expensive and that it's no fun to be limited by the mainstream.  So here's to all the gamers out there buying unique, obscure, and wonderful games.  Keep it up.

Acronyms

"Just go to http..."

"In 1642 AD..."

"OMG!  Brb, the..."

We are surrounded by acronyms.  Some have received the status of words (laser, scuba) due to their history and longevity; others are quickly taking off in this world of text messaging and Internet usage.

While shopping for a KVM switch (Keyboard/Video/Monitor... or is it Mouse?) yesterday, it struck me how often we use acronyms that we have no idea the meaning of.  Especially in fields with heavy jargon, acronyms have become a way of speaking used so commonly we do not think about it anymore.  During my search for a KVM, out of curiosity, I asked a "Digital Sales Expert" what http stood for.  They had no idea.  (By the way - btw! - it's "hypertext transfer protocol".  Now who can tell, without looking it up, what html stands for?)

I have run into college students across the nation that think AD stands for "After Death" and are completely thrown by the whole B.C.E./C.E. change.  (I heartily approve the effort but in honesty it just seems like a new varnish on the same old piece of furniture.)  All while working on their BA or BS.

And shall I even begin the discussion on chatspeak and textspeak?  Most of it has been said before but let's look at things in a new light.

The entire purpose of language is to facilitate communication.  This is why it irritates me so when people do not enunciate or keep their audience in mind when speaking/writing.  There are times when an academic tone is demanded by the subject matter and times when something more conversational and vernacular is needed (say, in a safety video for a hazardous job that requires a through understanding).  So when do all these acronyms cross the line into miscommunication?It all depends on context.

Is a text message filled with jumbles of letters maiming the language?  If it gets the message across so that it is completely understood, I don't think so.  However, the danger comes when the use of such jargon becomes so commonplace as to displace other communication.  I have held several jobs that require me to work with the public and there have been a number of times I have been asked to 'interpret' a text sent to someone or myself been unable to understand an e-mail sent by a boss two levels up (something I really want to understand!) because of unfamiliar acronyms.  You want me to do what with what?  Is that physically possible?

Leaving such things as atrocious punctuation and garbled spelling promoted by such usage alone, one could interpret all these new acronyms as a good thing - they allow, in most cases, people to say more things quickly and still be understood.  Jargon - the breeder of acronyms - has long shown its use in every field.  From diner lingo to programming to the emergency room, acronyms have their place.  (Stat?)

Just please - keep me in mind when you start using that new piece of lingo in e-mails.

Accomplishment

While playing one of my plethora of videogames, I realized that decent part of my enjoyment in this past-time stems from the sense of accomplishment it gives me. This led me to reminiscing. I realized that while I have heard plenty from the "games are good" camp about them increasing hand-eye coordination and puzzle solving skills (both true), I have heard little about the positive image they can give one's self through accomplishment.

It seems that to be proud of one's abilities is in negative light among some groups nowadays. I have read several cases of honor rolls being disbanded because of one child doing better than another - and that other getting so upset that parents complained. To talk about, or even bring up, an accomplishment, be it physical, intellectual, or a combination is often viewed as arrogant or bragging. Meanwhile, accommodations, and even rewards, are given to those who cannot quite reach the bar. In this atmosphere, is it any wonder that anything that gives a sense of doing something right will bring throngs of business, as videogames have done?

Videogames reward. There are points, unlockables, levels, achievements, things you have to work for. Sure, there are cheat codes, but they are more often for sheer absurd fun - and never quite give the same warm glow that doing it yourself does. While multi-player is the most obvious arena for proving one's skill, single-player games have their merits as well. That sense of reward, of accomplishment, is what drives players to complete 100% of a game, or keep trying that tough level over and over again until they beat it. It's what keeps us coming back - if a game is too easy, I assure you it will not get near as much game time.

Gamers develop patience, creative thinking, coordination, reflexes and more because of this sense of accomplishment. It's like the way children learn at an early age - not because they have to, but because it is fun and because they earn the sense of pride that should come with any accomplishment. This sense of pride is not a bad thing. It is an essential component of our nature, what keeps us striving to be better than ourselves.

I have lost track of the number of gamer goals I have set for myself over the years. More often that not, they are things that have no tangible value but, rather, are connected in my mind with achieving something. However, no tangible value does not mean valueless. Through my gaming, I have learned how to set reasonable goals for myself and learned how to be proud of myself without being obnoxious - after all, no one wants to play with a gloater. I have learned how to budget my time and that, sometimes, the things we want will not come easy - a lesson, I think, that is disappearing.

Ultimately, that is the real value. Pushing yourself and enjoying yourself - it's no coincidence that video games hold much of the same positive traits as sports, martial arts, or difficult crafts and arts. They may be games, and often seen as a "worthless" way to spend time, but their lessons become even more deeply embedded because of the fun in them. Just don't tell the kiddies that the video games are good for them.

Taking this a step further, and a bit away from video games, could attempting to gain a sense of accomplishment not be the reason so many of our youth are embroiled in gangs and other unhealthy behavior? If you are not getting a sense of pride from home or school, would you not seek it elsewhere - somewhere with ranks and trials? All of my literature study suggests that people have an innate need to believe in something, to attach themselves to whatever it is that makes them feel accomplished or virtuous. This applies to religion, to nationalism, to any and all of the revolutionary causes. People get caught up in things larger than themselves because it is so easy to feel small - after all an individual in this world is but one of 6.7 billion (the current guesstimate is 6,707,035,007) and it seems that all that can be done either has been or is being done. It's a daunting thought.

Oh boy, new blog(s)!

I've decided to change things up a bit and create two new blogs.  Musing Quill will remain as the catchall for life observations, random thoughts, and other such goodies.  However, in keeping with my interests, I am also creating The Thoughtful Page for book reviews of my current reads and The Gaming Girl for all things game (video and otherwise) related.

I'm only pulling a couple of posts from Quill to get things started; after that it's all new and (hopefully) interesting.

Enjoy!