[Tad_Ghostly]

I understand the frustration in hearing constant chatter about Minecraft. The amount of energy my kids devote to it is incredible and at times overwhelming.

That being said, the amount of positive coming from their involvement in the game is incredible. Doing any large project requires considerable planning and imagination. "Survival Mode" requires resource management. They develop these skills by doing instead of sitting in a classroom and hearing about them. They read about it because they want to, boosting their reading skills. The run through the whole social scientific process in an authentic way (as opposed to the multi-step process taught in schools). And they even use it as an anchor to discuss other things. My five year old was confused about the word "chest" being used as "things that stores", then the eight year old says, "you know, Chest, like in Minecraft!" Five year old instantly understands. Thats just one example..it happens all the time.

[sdegutis]

> I understand the frustration in hearing constant chatter about Minecraft. The amount of energy my kids devote to it is incredible and at times overwhelming

I'm more concerned about what affect this has on my kids, not how much it drains me (they always drain me, that won't change).

> That being said, the amount of positive coming from their involvement in the game is incredible. Doing any large project requires considerable planning and imagination. "Survival Mode" requires resource management. They develop these skills by doing instead of sitting in a classroom and hearing about them. They read about it because they want to, boosting their reading skills. The run through the whole social scientific process in an authentic way (as opposed to the multi-step process taught in schools). And they even use it as an anchor to discuss other things. My five year old was confused about the word "chest" being used as "things that stores", then the eight year old says, "you know, Chest, like in Minecraft!" Five year old instantly understands. Thats just one example..it happens all the time.

Our kids are homeschooled, so I understand the benefit of ad-hoc learning. But I won't make that into an excuse to let them obsess over a video game for months at a time.

I would much rather they learn the same skills by building real things in real life. The benefit is that they can actually use these things.

For example, we are teaching them how to garden. They will get to eat the fruits of their labor. They helped me actually chop down a few of our trees, and they helped me saw them into firewood.

Having done these things with them, and seeing opportunities for even more fun activities, I just can't see Minecraft as anything more than escaping the real world for no sensible reason.

[Tad_Ghostly]

I don't see it as an either/or proposition if appropriate limits* are set. My wife (a former montessori teacher) was of the same opinion. After observing how they play and interact, and its impact on other activities, she has come around to the power of the game.

Just sharing my anecdotes, not trying to change opinions. I'm sure there's some actual research out there on the topic.

*time played, game modes, who/where they play, etc.

[Kryptor]

>Our kids are homeschooled,

Now it all makes sense. You're fitting right into the home-schooling parent stereotype.

[Tad_Ghostly]

Homeschool parent with a different perspective here! Maybe we can agree to abandon stereotypes entirely? It doesn't really seem like a very HN-friendly strategy.

[sdegutis]

I'd love to hear more about your opinion on what stereotypes I fit into. Please go on.

[NoodleIncident]

Sure, I'll bite.

Many people who homeschool do so for religious reasons. The (comparative) isolation from their peers, combined with the tighter control they have over their children's experiences, makes it possible for them to "force" their children to believe in their religion.

Many don't object to this because of the religion itself; it's the fact that the parents are "abusing" their power to keep their kids from making their own choices.

Also, this isn't really a stereotype, but phrases like "eating the fruits of their labor" sound almost Amish. They homeschool, too.

[sdegutis]

You sound negatively biased against reasons backed by religion.

You also sound negatively biased against parents handing down core values and religious beliefs to their children.

We'll have to disagree about both of these. And anything that stems from them.

Which, in our case, probably means this discussion should politely end here.

[mqsiuser]

My sister is into the next thing beyond homeschooling: unschooling. You are just exposing a stereotype (as she does). My father is into gardening. I am not. Why on earth is it bad to find something you like and stick with it (being obsessed for months?!?... why not let them be into sth they like for years!). Who do you think you are to decide for s/w else based on your guts feeling? IT/Software isn't bad. But people have been believing strange things any time in history and influenced others (with deep, sincere and honest conviction).

I hope your kids just turn out to be fine with it. You are betting on them that they are just like you.

I hope that the ones that get badly affected by your good intension can forgive you (for your strong believes)

[sdegutis]

> Who do you think you are to decide for s/w else based on your guts feeling?

Their father.

> I hope your kids just turn out to be fine with it. You are betting on them that they are just like you.

I trust they see and will always see that I'm doing my best.

> I hope that the ones that get badly affected by your good intension can forgive you (for your strong believes)

I trust that there is nothing to forgive, and that these hypothetical "bad effects" are all in your own worrying mind.

[mqsiuser]

people, people, there are people just like you and discussion won't change them (never did, never will). Otherwise those ppl/opinions won't exist. But you are just a (controversial) stereotype: Many with your queer thoughs exist, you are nothing special and you offend (obviously). And these ppl think even like "I know better and have just to convince the rest": Go home you are drunk.

I hope that a long going process may start running in you mind based on this/your HN experience.

(poor kids, can't play games ;)

[rbsn]

Haha, I read that and thought exactly the same!

[roghummal]

>Our kids are homeschooled,

We could tell.