Bill MacKenty

Technology strengthens, deepens, and broadens our learning...

Games and compulsive internet use

Good article in the New York Times about compulsive Internet use and a special boot camp in South Korea to help kids.

My short response to the article

Relax. Some teenagers go over the deep end and get hooked on internet games and chatting.  Some teenagers drink to much, some teenagers don’t eat enough. Like anything else, teenagers need guidance, boundaries, support, and involved adults in their lives. There is no evidence that playing a computer game makes someone an addict.

But we often hear and read stories about such things happening in the news.

There are some unique characteristics about computers and the internet, though, that may invite teenagers to become hooked.

My slightly longer response to the article

All teenagers deal with some sort of angst as they move from an identity centered on child to an identity centered in adult. In fact, the central struggle in adolescents is one of identity.

I think many teenagers play computer games because in the computer game, teenagers experience success, control, and power. In fact they may not be experiencing these things in real life. Logging onto Eve Online or WoW, a teenager is a powerful presence; they help new players, battle powerful opponents, and see their abilities and stature grow. They may become part of a guild, and work together to solve especially complex puzzles.

But the central issue is one of identity. Games let teenagers explore the very important question: who am I?

And this is what I think is the central hook - this is why computer games are more likely to draw teenagers into them than other mediums - teenagers can pretend to be another person, get away from angst, and troubles, to a virtual place where they are (often literally) a king.

The problem, of course, is when teenagers get stuck in these games. As I mentioned above, teenagers need guidance, boundaries and support - involved adults need to balance care and letting go as teenagers find themselves.

On 21 November 2007, Chelsea inscribed the following thoughts about this post:

Hey Mr. MacKenty or Bill (whichever seems appropriate now, haha),

You may not remember me. We had the ham radio club, and I was the sole female member of that crazy gaming club you had with ben, jared, chris, etc.

There’s something weird with the link posted, it adds your url to the link’s. Anyway:
IMO all I have to say is, Korea is very strange in that it will broadcast certain images about itself that it really shouldn’t be too proud of having, ie: plastic surgery capital of the world, and most wired nation. There’s a whole rant waiting to jump out, but I’m going to shut it up a while longer. Can’t have too many wild rants running around, the world would explode that way.

I hope Hunter has otherwise been good to you. I skimmed over some of the earlier posts, yes well, the chain of command can sometimes suck, we all know that. I feel bad I haven’t been able to drop by yet, and I live so close! Give Eliza my best, I called her twice, but she hasn’t called back or anything so I feel somewhat awkward bothering her anymore. Oh yes, and random note, I’m learning very strange little Russian phrases.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving,
Chelsea

On 24 November 2007, Bill inscribed the following thoughts about this post:

CHELSEA!!!!!!!

WOW! I miss you and hope you enjoyed (are enjoying) your holiday. There is something unique about Korean culture, yes? I can’t quite put my finger on it.

I’ll tell Eliza you say hi, and please try to visit!

Spociba! (Russian for Thank you)

Mr. MacKenty