Philosophical ramifications of living in virtual worlds What's it all about?
I've been unemployed for going on a year and I started asking myself wouldn't my time be better spent traveling through Europe or sitting inside a virtual world of elves and orcs? If had 1 year to live would my life be more or less beneficial? Mowing down Nazis and run through the jungles of Vietnam. I watch enlightening shows and read thoughtful novels about life and death. I sometimes walk around my neighborhood at night bored looking at the same people and places. I start to feel somewhat disconnected. What does that say about people of tomorrow? I mean am I going to tell my grand kids about my 1000s of adventures in Azeroth. Does it matter that I spend most of my time touring virtual worlds for most of my waking hours? I guess it's a matter of opinion on what life is and how it should be spent. Thoughts?
I've been unemployed for going on a year and I started asking myself wouldn't my time be better spent traveling through Europe or sitting inside a virtual world of elves and orcs? If had 1 year to live would my life be more or less beneficial? Mowing down Nazis and run through the jungles of Vietnam. I watch enlightening shows and read thoughtful novels about life and death. I sometimes walk around my neighborhood at night bored looking at the same people and places. I start to feel somewhat disconnected. What does that say about people of tomorrow? I mean am I going to tell my grand kids about my 1000s of adventures in Azeroth. Does it matter that I spend most of my time touring virtual worlds for most of my waking hours? I guess it's a matter of opinion on what life is and how it should be spent. Thoughts?
I plan to spend my mid-life crisis driving around in Mad Max's Road Warrior car (with the gas tanks...) while wearing that outfit to work. Boss should love it...
I plan to spend my mid-life crisis driving around in Mad Max's Road Warrior car (with the gas tanks...) while wearing that outfit to work. Boss should love it...
[quote name='alex1g' date='23 August 2011 - 04:40 AM' timestamp='1314074429' post='1282904']
I've been unemployed for going on a year and I started asking myself wouldn't my time be better spent traveling through Europe or sitting inside a virtual world of elves and orcs?
[/quote]
I live in Europe, believe me, stick with the Elves.
Seriously though if your life is feeling stale I would advise a new job/trip/hobby/club to spice it up. It does not mean you have to give up gaming in any way, shape or form though, just reel it in to a more manageable level that lets you fit your new activies in. Traveling for an extended period is a huge expense in both time and money, not to mention emotionally, so I would recommend maybe starting smaller with a holiday or activity to get out of your area for a while. Just a random example could be a hiking group that would allow you to get away for a bit without having to spend a lot of money.
[quote name='alex1g' date='23 August 2011 - 04:40 AM' timestamp='1314074429' post='1282904']
I've been unemployed for going on a year and I started asking myself wouldn't my time be better spent traveling through Europe or sitting inside a virtual world of elves and orcs?
I live in Europe, believe me, stick with the Elves.
Seriously though if your life is feeling stale I would advise a new job/trip/hobby/club to spice it up. It does not mean you have to give up gaming in any way, shape or form though, just reel it in to a more manageable level that lets you fit your new activies in. Traveling for an extended period is a huge expense in both time and money, not to mention emotionally, so I would recommend maybe starting smaller with a holiday or activity to get out of your area for a while. Just a random example could be a hiking group that would allow you to get away for a bit without having to spend a lot of money.
Yeah, i think the saying "variety is the spice of life" really applies here. If you think about it, it really makes sense that this saying came about since i think we humans tend to get bored of the same things we do over and over, because if we didn't we'd have no mechanism to stop staring at that interesting looking shinny, glimmering rock back when we were tad poles. Yet i don't think a life spent in a virtual world is any less valuable then a person's who has led a stereotypically "full" life. They *may* be healthier, live longer and smile/laugh at lot more though...
I used to work with a guy who asked how my weekend was and i'd tell him what happened in the game i was playing, just as if it happened in real life. We both got a chuckle over that.
Regarding the feeling of disconnection. I would think it stems from not being a part of the lives of living, breathing people and not feeling whole.
Yeah, i think the saying "variety is the spice of life" really applies here. If you think about it, it really makes sense that this saying came about since i think we humans tend to get bored of the same things we do over and over, because if we didn't we'd have no mechanism to stop staring at that interesting looking shinny, glimmering rock back when we were tad poles. Yet i don't think a life spent in a virtual world is any less valuable then a person's who has led a stereotypically "full" life. They *may* be healthier, live longer and smile/laugh at lot more though...
I used to work with a guy who asked how my weekend was and i'd tell him what happened in the game i was playing, just as if it happened in real life. We both got a chuckle over that.
Regarding the feeling of disconnection. I would think it stems from not being a part of the lives of living, breathing people and not feeling whole.
I plan to spend my mid-life crisis driving around in Mad Max's Road Warrior car (with the gas tanks...) while wearing that outfit to work. Boss should love it...
I plan to spend my mid-life crisis driving around in Mad Max's Road Warrior car (with the gas tanks...) while wearing that outfit to work. Boss should love it...
46" Samsung ES7500 3DTV (checkerboard, high FOV as desktop monitor, highly recommend!) - Metro 2033 3D PNG screens - Metro LL filter realism mod - Flugan's Deus Ex:HR Depth changers - Nvidia tech support online form - Nvidia support: 1-800-797-6530
I've been unemployed for going on a year and I started asking myself wouldn't my time be better spent traveling through Europe or sitting inside a virtual world of elves and orcs?
[/quote]
I live in Europe, believe me, stick with the Elves.
Seriously though if your life is feeling stale I would advise a new job/trip/hobby/club to spice it up. It does not mean you have to give up gaming in any way, shape or form though, just reel it in to a more manageable level that lets you fit your new activies in. Traveling for an extended period is a huge expense in both time and money, not to mention emotionally, so I would recommend maybe starting smaller with a holiday or activity to get out of your area for a while. Just a random example could be a hiking group that would allow you to get away for a bit without having to spend a lot of money.
I've been unemployed for going on a year and I started asking myself wouldn't my time be better spent traveling through Europe or sitting inside a virtual world of elves and orcs?
I live in Europe, believe me, stick with the Elves.
Seriously though if your life is feeling stale I would advise a new job/trip/hobby/club to spice it up. It does not mean you have to give up gaming in any way, shape or form though, just reel it in to a more manageable level that lets you fit your new activies in. Traveling for an extended period is a huge expense in both time and money, not to mention emotionally, so I would recommend maybe starting smaller with a holiday or activity to get out of your area for a while. Just a random example could be a hiking group that would allow you to get away for a bit without having to spend a lot of money.
I used to work with a guy who asked how my weekend was and i'd tell him what happened in the game i was playing, just as if it happened in real life. We both got a chuckle over that.
Regarding the feeling of disconnection. I would think it stems from not being a part of the lives of living, breathing people and not feeling whole.
I used to work with a guy who asked how my weekend was and i'd tell him what happened in the game i was playing, just as if it happened in real life. We both got a chuckle over that.
Regarding the feeling of disconnection. I would think it stems from not being a part of the lives of living, breathing people and not feeling whole.
46" Samsung ES7500 3DTV (checkerboard, high FOV as desktop monitor, highly recommend!) - Metro 2033 3D PNG screens - Metro LL filter realism mod - Flugan's Deus Ex:HR Depth changers - Nvidia tech support online form - Nvidia support: 1-800-797-6530