Things As They Really Should Be

     It was a required assignment that we read and post about Bednar's Things As They Really Are speech. If you happen to dislike homework posts, this would be a great time to skedaddle.

     I'm actually very glad that I was a slacker in writing this post. I read Things as They Really Are early in the semester, and I wasn't all that impressed. I've know for going on forever now that online relationships could create real feelings, and I've personally seen more than a few gamer addicts. It felt like Bednar was stating the obvious when he said that overuse of media was dangerous.

     I was wrong, and I've changed my mind.

     Bednar's thesis is that overuse of media de-emphasizes the role of our physical body in our life. He's right, I've seen that. You ever watched a addicted gamer play? They don't stop. They never stop. Left to their own devices, they will get what minimum of sleep they need, eat what is easily available around them, and occasionally get up to go to the bathroom. If they are particularly considerate, they will also shower and change their clothing.

     Bednar sees this as extremely debilitating. He believes that the human body has potential and significance beyond what we need to play games all day, and he believes that by misusing or de-emphasizing the role of the body by watching the world through a screen rather than living in it, that that potential is wasted.

     Given that my brother is a literal genius who spends many of his waking hours in League of Legends, I think I agree with Bednar.

     This entire semester's seemed to revolve around gaming. I think it's trying to tell me something. Something along the lines of "OH MY WORD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? JUST RUN!"

     I may not like it, but that's the addict in me talking. Everything from my research paper to the speeches we focused on in writing class to the recurring problems of my roommates revolves around gaming. I've seen how bad gaming addictions can get in the past. I think my life is trying to warn me not to get sucked in. Which is good advice, no matter how you slice it.