Week 8: Gaming

An unexpected benefit of this week's exploration: experiencing the confusion and apprehension of a first-time user.

Treating a frustrated computer-user with patience becomes rote. I remember only vaguely a time when I didn't know how to double-click or where to type the website address. When I say sweetly, "it just takes practice" or "you'll get the hang of it," it's because I know I should, not because of an outpouring of empathy (ain't I a stinker?).

I signed up for RuneScape, created a character with pink hair, went to the orientation place, and immediately thought, Well durn, now what? I completely failed to follow Louise's always-appropriate "RATS" advice and so clicked randomly around and felt frustrated. Then I remembered "Read All The Screen"! and scrolled down a little to see the text directions. "Yuck, I have to talk to people?" Well, it seemed that I only had to "listen," and I exited before I found myself having to talk to someone.

I play word games on Facebook and on Merriam-Webster's website. I can (usually) hook up CHPL's Playstation 2 and play a slightly-awful session of Dance Dance Revolution. I get that gaming involves text, critical thinking, following a story, esteem-building, etc. I uphold the right of 11-year-olds to "waste time" on our PCs and prevent Conspiracy Theory Guy from doing his "important research." I don't see myself closing NP's lab to do an event that's just online gaming, though.

And don't look for me in any MMORPGs -- I'm a little too timid for those, I think. Or, who knows, maybe I will "get the hang of it."