[ChainOfFools]

consider how the same sentiment sounds stated in the inverse. even the most generous formulations, something like: "not every day is enjoyable when I don't have a game to be into," could pass for the opening sentence of a dystopian novel.

I'm reminded mostly of schopenhauer's remark that reading is simply the replaying of another's thoughts, and video games, especially scripted RPGs, extend this notion of "replaying" to its dismal conclusion.

[haswell]

> reading is simply the replaying of another's thoughts

And as it turns out, replaying someone else’s thoughts can be highly rewarding. It transmits ideas and satiates the brain’s need for new information. It helps ideas spread, and can fundamentally alter the direction of one’s life.

Another way to look at this is that the words are a form of program that configures your brain. The act of reading changes the reader. What you choose to read will modulate this change. Characterizing reading as simply replaying thoughts really misses what’s happening, which is a fascinating transmission of information between biological animals who invented a word game complex enough for us to enable us to dismiss it as “replaying thoughts”. And for sake of argument, let’s say it’s just replaying thoughts. That’s pretty interesting/incredible on its own.

Video games usually scratch a different kind of itch. They provide challenging tasks in a structured environment with a clear feedback loop that indicates progress. The ones that include dialogue options layer on an additional level of interactivity/feedback.

What it unclear is why this notion has or must have a dismal conclusion.

[keiferski]

I think the point is more that it’s very easy to go through life only thinking (reading) the thoughts of others, and never truly thinking for yourself. In our hyper-information age, I think this is an especially common practice. Why start from scratch when there are already so many starting points others have thought of? Why build an original LEGO design when there are so many premade ones? Etc.

https://la.utexas.edu/users/hcleaver/330T/350kPEESchopenRead...

[SeanAnderson]

> I'm reminded mostly of schopenhauer's remark that reading is simply the replaying of another's thoughts, and video games, especially scripted RPGs, extend this notion of "replaying" to its dismal conclusion.

Is the implication here that reading books is also bad?

[kevmo314]

The inverse isn't really implied in the statement. In other words, a world where every day is enjoyable without a having a game doesn't violate the sentiment.

That seems like a more generous formulation.

[deadbabe]

I agree it’s somewhat dystopian when referring to video games, however I feel some types of games can offer genuine fulfillment. I used to play tennis and volleyball regularly, and although these are sports they could basically be considered physical forms of games. The routine of training and competing against others definitely added enjoyment to my life and was a welcome distraction from anything else that may have been bothering me at the time.

Mindless video games where you chase dopamine hits and programmed stimulus and have no interaction with others isn’t the same.

[ChrisLTD]

Reading is more interactive than that Schopenhauer quote gives it credit for being. When I’m reading something challenging or interesting, it’s almost like I’m having a conversation with the author.

[mathgeek]

I think it’s important to note that the author specifies that they enjoy the sense of improving rather than just the act of playing.