#self-govern

[abpositivelydigital]

Social Gaming: Entertain Me

I will wholeheartedly admit that I am not a gamer but a self-proclaimed dabbler. I dabble in social games on Facebook for a period of time and then lose interest completely for a number of months. At no stage have I ever paid for the privilege of lining up jewels or candy to achieve a higher level in the game. My interest completely wanes when mention of warfare, medieval fantasy or building cities enters the conversation or my notifications feed. However, even as an ‘outsider’ to these online gaming communities, I found this week’s research a familiar game of competition.

Photo credit: Ronrik n.d.

So what communities exist online? Social gaming communities are social network digital citizens who play with their friends list (Swinburne Online 2015). Players can help each other by gifting extra lives or equipment to help their friends. Alternatively, each player can pay for certain luxuries of the game to speed up their level achieved. When the emphasis of the game is on teamwork, the community is generally more supportive and friendly (O’Halloran 2013).

Larger online gaming communities are accessed by the Internet on PC or gaming consoles or, to a lesser extent, accessed through social media networks. These games are mostly quest style games or massively multiple online role-playing games (MMORPG) where it is generally team against team. The difference is there are leaders amongst the teams and thus self-governance and hierarchy come in to play (Suzor & Woodford 2013, p. 2). 

How do these gaming communities break down? Democracy tends to be forgotten in online gaming communities leading to power struggles and trolling. Take the EVE online scandal where one player publicly targeted a rival at a games convention (de Zwart & Humphreys 2014, p. 78). Although not anonymous, his actions were in line with anti-social behaviour. Accepted online social norms are exploited by ‘keyboard warriors’ where the name of the game is to beat the competition or to proclaim the other has been pwned or defeated. The love of the win is like an addiction.

Photo credit: bellezaelaena 2014 

Of note, online gaming can lead to social and psychological problems. The capability of players to purchase items to advance in the game can lead to financial break down. Families can be torn apart by the isolation experienced by addicted online gamers choosing to play with their online networks rather than their family. 

Where does the future of online gaming stand? Online gaming continues to grow, solidifying its presence in our everyday digital lives (Go-Gulf 2013). Game developers see the profits as online gamers seek the need to purchase add-ons to compete, level up or conquer their digital peers. Some games thrive under team efforts. Some games are failing at self-governance. Overall more families are becoming gaming ‘widows’, indicating a much more serious social break down. Thankfully, health professionals have research opportunities to investigate the social and psychological effects of online gaming so that in the future parents may have the opportunity to prepare their children for the games that lie ahead. For me, I will be sticking to my jewels and candy.

References bellezaelaena 2014, ‘Online gaming has a good and bad impact’ [image 7], 24 September, viewed 31 January 2015, < http://bellezaelaena10.blogspot.com.au/>. 

de Zwart, M & Humphreys, S 2014,' The Lawless Frontier of Deep Space: Code as Law in EVE Online', Cultural Studies Review, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 77-99.

Go-Gulf 2013, ‘Social gaming industry – statistics & trends [infographic]’, Go-Gulf, 18 April, viewed 29 January 2015, < http://www.go-gulf.com/blog/social-gaming-industry/>. 

O’Halloran, B 2013, ‘7 best online gaming communities’, Whatculture, 12 January, viewed 29 January 2015, < http://whatculture.com/gaming/7-best-online-gaming-communities.php>. 

Ronrik n.d., ‘Mobile phone social games – play when you would like’[image], Ronrik, viewed 31 January 2015, < http://ronrik.com/augmented-reality-blog/mobile-phone-social-games-play-when-you-would-like/>. 

Suzor, N & Woodford, D 2013, 'Evaluating consent and legitimacy amongst shifting community norms: An EVE Online case study', Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 1-14.

Swinburne Online 2015, ‘Week 10: social gaming: playing the crowd’, MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning Materials on Blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, viewed 27 January 2015.

[dragonsheep]

I know no safe depositary of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power.

-- Thomas Jefferson to William C. Jarvis, 1820

[beyond-liberty-blog]

So I guess to make a long story short, libertarians aren’t saying to do away with a social safety net. Only a moron or a sociopath would think that to be a good idea. All we’re saying is that we think the safety net is better administered, funded, and provided by the local community and the individuals which reside in it, not by the alien, impersonal and monolithic bureaucracy of government.

Logically Positive (http://logicallypositive.tumblr.com/)

[la-zen9000]

“Slow and Steady Wins the Race.”

I just woke up a lil bit ago so I’m gonna start out with something we can all grasp, and that’s being patient with oneself throughout life.

Everyone’s goals and dreams aren’t the same.  Everyone’s capacity to dazzle the world with their amazing skills of prowess are at varying levels – mostly average or falling short of being impressive.  (Not a judgment, just an actual factual observation.)  AND everyone’s opportunities and environment aren’t the same.

SO, these things being said, what’s my point?  (No, I didn’t forget…well, not entirely anyway.)  My point is that everyone should just relax and not pressure themselves into thinking they’re a failure ’cause they aren’t jetting around in a Porsche or some other ‘cool rocket car.’

And, just in case some of you haven’t guessed, that “cool car” advertised on television won’t get you the girl and/or guy.  I know, the advertising agencies like to dangle the rubber carrot just out of mouth’s reach so that people chase all sorts of pipe dreams in the attempt of achieving the unrewarding and/or the impossible and/or just plain lame.

My point again, be patient with yourself.  Don’t let anyone push you in a direction you’d rather not go.  Or bait you into things that aren’t significant to YOUR life as an individual.  One thing humankind will NEVER be able to do is replicate the human soul (aka “spirit,” “essence,” “nature,” whathaveyou.)

And each of us is different in the sense that we deal with the outside world in diverse and unique ways.  How we confront each challenge or task is based on whether someone or something is a threat or a compliment to our immediate situation.  We ‘live’ in each moment as they arrive.

Most of us are in “automatic pilot” mode, so we don’t really notice the subtle nuances, the shades, varients and hues we transition through in a given moment.  We’re “caught up in the race.” (The human “rat race.”)  Call it the “matrix.”  Call it conditioning.  Call it the “caste system.” Call it whatever.

We possess instinct as every other organism on the planet, but ours is altered based on how practical it is to be homeless, socially accepted or “exiled,” poor, hungry or any manner of manipulation.  In other words, we are a series of societies of bullies, worldwide.

If someone “steps out of line” or behaves in a way that the majority adapts to and dictates as “norm,” they will suffer the consequences.  “We” won’t hire them. “We” won’t invite them to parties or other social gatherings.  “We” won’t treat them with the common courtesies we profess EVERYONE is entitled to by birthright.

“We” are a mob of modern day knuckledragging neanderthals with technology as our “yardstick of civilization,” “evolutionary superiority,” “special success — or success as a species.”  Aren’t we so great?  HYPOCRITS, EACH OF US!  Monkeys seeing and monkeys doing.  Doing what..?  Dirt?

Anywayzzzzz…all I’m saying is be the best version of yourself that you can be regardless of how people push and prod us.  Play your role, but not at the cost of ‘losing yourself’ in a mass of consumership.  Don’t let anyone sell you on the idea that what you feel inside and what is “practical” are two entirely different things.

Because what you feel inside is YOUR instinct.  It calls your name.  Yes, YOUR name.  Everyone has a conscience even if it is buried under a mountain of social debris, mental notes of how to act appropriately in every given situation. Usually very ‘whip and chair.’  Someone with a distorted ego wants you to jump through a fiery hoop at the cost of singeing your privates.

What do “they” care?  It’s not their “junk” on the line.  Just do as you’re told and everything will be all right.  Right?  Anypoo, you’ve got a mind of your own, and you know how you feel about whatever you encounter in life.  SO, since you’re in control of your motor skills and the commands you give your limbs and productive organs (et ceteroids), there is no such things as being “pushed.”

We all do what we want to do, what we WILL ourselves to do.  No one forces us to do anything we aren’t capable of deciding to do by our own judgment and physical ability.  So stop and think.  Take YOUR time to sift through all of the demands made on you.  It’s your life.  So ACT like it is.

Footnote: L.A. Zen is on haiatus, but when we were in full swing we were on the verge of creating some really FUN-tastic and entertaining shtuff (yeah, ‘shtuff.’)

But as the late great John Lennon said “Life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans.”  And he was/is right.  So the theme “slow and steady winning the race” (*) is quite fitting.  HELP!!! hehe… :-p

* = The Tortoise and the Hare.