Everything bad is good for you, by Steven Johnson
Interesting points about games and television of today. The common wisdom is that both are mindless and mind numbing. In fact, quite the reverse is true posits the author. Today’s games require quite a lot of thought and problem solving. Goals and rules are vague and require probing to understand. Players learn to deal with the unknown. Reality television involves you in a world of complex social interactions, deceptions, and strategies. In fact not just reality shows but, dramas today also have very complex social worlds with many characters. Much is hidden and requires the audience to figure out. With my lack of social ability, it finally makes sense why I don’t really take to the reality shows or dramas. He claims even recent sitcoms such as Seinfeld and the Simpsons have grown more dense and sophisticated. Meanwhile, the author says there is a place for reading too, it’s just that these other media aren’t as absolutely bad as you might think.
