My Response to Jane McGonigal

I am totally in line with Professor McCauliff when it comes to video games- I don’t know much about them, nor do I care much about them. I feel like I gained some insight to them through our readings in class.

            Growing up, my mother never allowed my sister and I to own a gaming system. She always thought that kids who own them don’t do anything else but play video games. She easily got this idea through my cousins, who did little but playing video games when we were kids. They were addicted. Because of this biased exposure, I have never been too keen on video games. The articles we read and the TED talked viewed in class offered a view I wasn’t used to receiving: video games can and are helpful to society.

            The TED talk we watched completely took me by surprise. I never thought that the claim would be made that in order for the young leaders of our new world to prosper, more video games must be played. Not sure I agree here. I understand the theory that video games can help foster problem-solving skills and can help one master a quick reaction time.  I simply think the claim that was made was a bit extreme. I do not think it makes sense to prepare for real life scenarios by playing in a virtual world. I think the main component that prepares doctors, scientists, lawyers and various other occupations is real-world training. A doctor should shadow others in a hospital, and a scientist should spend many hours in lab. Video games just don’t seem like the answer to me. It may help as a supplemental tool, but I do not believe our society needs to play any more than it already does.