dannyjs

You’r absolutely right. I think this is part of the hesitation the APA has with labeling video game addiction as one on par with substance abuse. What I tried to do here is more the discussion away from a comparison with substance abuse (without ignoring the similarities), and instead show the existential or emotional underpinnings of online gaming addictions. I hope I didn’t come off as disrespectful. Thank you for reading!

That’s an important point, for sure. Video games are similar to other forms of entertainment, with the added element of active participation. In the case of online gaming, there’s the social aspect as well. This doesn’t set them completely apart, but it does create a new playground of exploration where we can compare styles of video game playing and styles of life. You’re also absolutely right in that video games are a very new art form. As with anything new, there tends to be a bit of trial and error before we discover how to enjoy some new technology while avoiding pitfalls that come with it. I would attribute the way the media often jumps to conclusions about video games to this uncertainty. I can’t wait to see the new directions video games take us.

I agree!

Thank you!

I couldn’t agree more! Yes, we have to be careful not to impose our own mode of experience on others. That’s why I tried to portray the “correct” way of listening as an openness to experience, and nothing more than that. This way we can enjoy pop and contemporary music equally, with the added benefit of expanding our horizon of experience!

(Read in River Song’s voice) “Rule one: The Doctor lies”. Haha, just kidding. I hope you don’t think I’m trying to push any specific perspective. I really like yours and it feels awesome to see something I’ve written causing others to think on a deeper level. I appreciate your comments. 🙂

I know the feeling, it is the funniest thing trying to explain the show to someone. I usually just give up and tell them to watch it. Even though it does suspend reality at times, in the near distant future we will acquire technology that brings us similar dilemmas that the characters in the show face. So, while it is fun to think about now, it is also very important for the future.

This is a great perspective! I never thought about it that way. I know there are a lot of philosophers who might argue that, over the course of our lifetime, we are constituted of a multiplicity of selves. From a psychological viewpoint, this could be seen as adopting different personalities or personas within different contexts. From this perspective, each Doctor is like an embodied “persona” arising out of the Doctor’s “essence” if you will. This kind of seems similar, yet less organized, than your perspective. Thanks for sharing!