My kids play virtually with their friends, frequently working on Minecraft worlds together. iPads allow Minecraft and FaceTime to run concurrently, allowing them to video chat with each other while playing Minecraft. On the upside, this allows them time to socialize with their cousins who live in other states, and see in person infrequently. When they do this with their friends who live no more than 5 minutes away I fear they are missing out on in person play.
The more I think about this though, I’m not sure I can blame this on the pandemic or the rise of personal screens. Thirty years ago I would play games online with my friends for hours, and the games were far less chill and educational compared to Minecraft. (See: Quake, and later Counterstrike)
I figure I should be thankful my kids are so comfortable with technology and can use it in a healthy way to socialize with their friends.
What to do when a self admitted introvert and misanthrope admits he needs social interaction?
You’d think working from home, remotely, would be amazing. (It is in many regards.) But even I, someone who can happily spend an entire day alone, crave social interaction with other adults from time to time. At some point you are fully charged, and ready to spend that energy on real face to face social interaction with other people.
Thank goodness for gaming stores. One of the best things about living in Chicago is the sheer number of gaming stores in a 10 mile radius. Other cities have one, maybe two, but Chicago has so many good options for the last bastion of the third space. I am grateful that I have the opportunity support local business where I can sit down, play games with friends, and do the exact opposite of sitting by myself in front of a computer screen.
I’m not sure I really have anything insightful to say about the election. Just a deep feeling of melancholy and sadness for what the election says about the country. My kids are still relatively young, but old enough to know what’s happening and understand what it says to live in a country where misogyny and racism is still alive and well. The sound bite of “it’s the economy, stupid” does not resonate with kids who are less than a decade away from being able to vote. They still want to believe we live in a country where morals and ethics matter. They are told these virtues matter every day in school, and yet now they have evidence that it may not be true. This election says loud and clear that it is okay to elect a criminal as long as it puts a few more dollars in their pocket. That’s where we are. I have to explain that to my kids somehow and frame it in a way that still gives them hope things will change.