Showing posts with label Zack Lenza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zack Lenza. Show all posts
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Minecraft, Charity, and the United Nations
While I don't agree completely with Jane McGonigal, I do think video games have the potential to inspire others to change the world and do good. However, I think it's very dependent on what game we're talking about and how the game is being used. I don't think the average Call of Duty player is making a ton of tight social bonds (strong ties vs. weak ties, anyone?), but those who do play with friends and communicate (about the game, not just chatting) while they're playing the game may be developing some problem solving skills.
There is one game in particular, though, that I think is very different. Minecraft is basically virtual LEGOs. Minecraft was mentioned in today's discussion, and I agree that it's a very social game. This is kind of ironic, considering it started out as a game about a lone player in an endless world (literally - it'll go on forever or until your computer crashes from the size), with no one else in the game but blocky zombies and animals. But the multiplayer aspect has become immensely popular. There are many people on YouTube who make videos of themselves playing Minecraft, and an entire community has been formed through the game and these video makers. So what does that mean? So what if a bunch of nerds are making videos of video games?
Charity, that's what. One YouTube personality that I can think of is actually raising money for charity through his videos. Kurtjmac makes videos of himself playing the game and encourages people to donate to Child's Play, a charity devoted to improving the lives of children in hospitals - by giving them games, books, and toys. Over $85,000 has been raised through him as of June 2011. That's incredible! I'm not sure that it has so much to do with the game itself, but regardless the connection between the viewers and this Kurtjmac is a video game, and it's motivating people to donate.
Another striking thing that's happening is Minecraft's developer, Mojang, is partnering with UN-Habitat. Their collaboration ("Block by Block"), "aims to involve youth in the planning process in urban areas by giving them the opportunity to show planners and decision makers how they would like to see their cities in the future." They plan on using Minecraft to update and improve 300 public spaces by 2016. This is the pilot project - Kibera, an informal settlement in Nairobi.
I think both examples are exactly what McGonigal was talking about. Minecraft is a very unique game that's already got people making ripples in the world.
Kurtjmac's youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/kurtjmac?feature=results_main
Mojang's partnership with the UN: http://www.mojang.com/2012/09/mojang-and-un-presents-block-by-block/
There is one game in particular, though, that I think is very different. Minecraft is basically virtual LEGOs. Minecraft was mentioned in today's discussion, and I agree that it's a very social game. This is kind of ironic, considering it started out as a game about a lone player in an endless world (literally - it'll go on forever or until your computer crashes from the size), with no one else in the game but blocky zombies and animals. But the multiplayer aspect has become immensely popular. There are many people on YouTube who make videos of themselves playing Minecraft, and an entire community has been formed through the game and these video makers. So what does that mean? So what if a bunch of nerds are making videos of video games?
Charity, that's what. One YouTube personality that I can think of is actually raising money for charity through his videos. Kurtjmac makes videos of himself playing the game and encourages people to donate to Child's Play, a charity devoted to improving the lives of children in hospitals - by giving them games, books, and toys. Over $85,000 has been raised through him as of June 2011. That's incredible! I'm not sure that it has so much to do with the game itself, but regardless the connection between the viewers and this Kurtjmac is a video game, and it's motivating people to donate.
Another striking thing that's happening is Minecraft's developer, Mojang, is partnering with UN-Habitat. Their collaboration ("Block by Block"), "aims to involve youth in the planning process in urban areas by giving them the opportunity to show planners and decision makers how they would like to see their cities in the future." They plan on using Minecraft to update and improve 300 public spaces by 2016. This is the pilot project - Kibera, an informal settlement in Nairobi.
I think both examples are exactly what McGonigal was talking about. Minecraft is a very unique game that's already got people making ripples in the world.
Kurtjmac's youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/kurtjmac?feature=results_main
Mojang's partnership with the UN: http://www.mojang.com/2012/09/mojang-and-un-presents-block-by-block/
Monday, September 10, 2012
Knowledge vs. Wisdom; also Technology
I'd like to add on to what Mr. Cronk said in the last post.
As he said, we've become a generation that is expected to know the answer to "what's going on in the world?" With access to social media and the internet 24/7, we are constantly being updated on things that are happening, both in this country and outside of it. What are the effects of this?
For one, ignorance has become intolerable. Ignorance was never good, but I believe that people find it more intolerable now than they used to. Not only are you expected to know current events, you are also expected to know a lot more about everything in general. You can't have a conversation about a topic you know little about; people will just tell you to "Google it." I think this means that people don't theorize as much. There's a lot less brain exercising going on. For example, instead of trying to figure out how long it would take by car to get to your friend's house who lives in New York, you Google Map the route and it tells you almost exactly how long it will take. Perhaps you would have used some simple math to figure it out before such a tool was at your disposal. Or instead of trying hard to remember (exercising your memory) what other movies a certain actor was in, you Google it. These are very minor examples, but I think you get the point: they're everywhere. Yes, social media has give us access to a smorgasbord of knowledge, but what it isn't giving us is wisdom. Knowledge = information. Wisdom = having the experience to use that information. There's no wisdom in looking up a specific route on Google. It's like the saying, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." When you do the math to figure out the time for the route, you are learning a skill that can be applied to another situation. When you try to remember the other movies the actor was in, you are actually creating more connections in your brain than if you just look it up.
This places a dependence on technology. How many of you use a calculator for very basic math? I know I do. It's hard not to pull out my phone to figure out every little math problem that floats my way, and I know other people do it, too. "What did people do before calculators?" someone in my calculus class said one day. That pretty much sums up our generation if you ask me.
I often wonder what a complete blackout (wireless included) would do to our society for an extended period of time. What would people do? No smart phones, no iPods, no computers, no TV. In no way do I think we are 100% lost without technology, but I believe this warrants some thought. For me personally, I've tried to pick up hobbies that don't require technology: acoustic guitar, reading, drawing. It's very gratifying to be able to do something physical like that. Feeling a guitar in my hands is a hundred times more satisfying than watching someone else play one on a screen. I once heard about a family who spent a week/month/extended amount of time in a log cabin with no electricity because they felt they were too dependent on it. After the time was over, everyone in the family said that it was a great to be "unplugged" from the constant chatter of technology. Indeed, we are "plugged in" to social media nearly 24/7, constantly being stimulated by news, updates, statuses, images, videos, and more. Constant stimulation leads to numbness. (a humorous aside: my friend has been poked on the shoulder by his little brother so many times to get his attention that poking my friend is now a completely ineffective way to get his attention - he's become numb from over-stimulation).
Much more can be said here. Perhaps it is debatable as to whether or not social media gives us only knowledge. Perhaps you think these examples are so minor that they don't have an effect on us. Perhaps you think being plugged in constantly is not a bad thing. You may be right. I'd definitely like to hear your thoughts on this, especially if you disagree. Apologies for any rambling that may have occurred,
Zack
As he said, we've become a generation that is expected to know the answer to "what's going on in the world?" With access to social media and the internet 24/7, we are constantly being updated on things that are happening, both in this country and outside of it. What are the effects of this?
For one, ignorance has become intolerable. Ignorance was never good, but I believe that people find it more intolerable now than they used to. Not only are you expected to know current events, you are also expected to know a lot more about everything in general. You can't have a conversation about a topic you know little about; people will just tell you to "Google it." I think this means that people don't theorize as much. There's a lot less brain exercising going on. For example, instead of trying to figure out how long it would take by car to get to your friend's house who lives in New York, you Google Map the route and it tells you almost exactly how long it will take. Perhaps you would have used some simple math to figure it out before such a tool was at your disposal. Or instead of trying hard to remember (exercising your memory) what other movies a certain actor was in, you Google it. These are very minor examples, but I think you get the point: they're everywhere. Yes, social media has give us access to a smorgasbord of knowledge, but what it isn't giving us is wisdom. Knowledge = information. Wisdom = having the experience to use that information. There's no wisdom in looking up a specific route on Google. It's like the saying, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." When you do the math to figure out the time for the route, you are learning a skill that can be applied to another situation. When you try to remember the other movies the actor was in, you are actually creating more connections in your brain than if you just look it up.
This places a dependence on technology. How many of you use a calculator for very basic math? I know I do. It's hard not to pull out my phone to figure out every little math problem that floats my way, and I know other people do it, too. "What did people do before calculators?" someone in my calculus class said one day. That pretty much sums up our generation if you ask me.
I often wonder what a complete blackout (wireless included) would do to our society for an extended period of time. What would people do? No smart phones, no iPods, no computers, no TV. In no way do I think we are 100% lost without technology, but I believe this warrants some thought. For me personally, I've tried to pick up hobbies that don't require technology: acoustic guitar, reading, drawing. It's very gratifying to be able to do something physical like that. Feeling a guitar in my hands is a hundred times more satisfying than watching someone else play one on a screen. I once heard about a family who spent a week/month/extended amount of time in a log cabin with no electricity because they felt they were too dependent on it. After the time was over, everyone in the family said that it was a great to be "unplugged" from the constant chatter of technology. Indeed, we are "plugged in" to social media nearly 24/7, constantly being stimulated by news, updates, statuses, images, videos, and more. Constant stimulation leads to numbness. (a humorous aside: my friend has been poked on the shoulder by his little brother so many times to get his attention that poking my friend is now a completely ineffective way to get his attention - he's become numb from over-stimulation).
Much more can be said here. Perhaps it is debatable as to whether or not social media gives us only knowledge. Perhaps you think these examples are so minor that they don't have an effect on us. Perhaps you think being plugged in constantly is not a bad thing. You may be right. I'd definitely like to hear your thoughts on this, especially if you disagree. Apologies for any rambling that may have occurred,
Zack
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