I think this is the beginnings of an economy based on perpetual growth and fossil fuel energy running headlong into geological energy constraints. Basically I see an undulatory downward path for the rest of my life. From here out, I think any rallies in our economic condition are going to be met with spiking commodity prices that knock us right back down.
Whatever you make think about World of Warcraft, I wouldn't be in too big of a hurry to dismiss online gaming as "nothing but a waste of time":
Quote:
One such entrepreneur is Julian Dibbell, a contributing editor for Wired magazine, who in 2003 challenged himself to spend a year making a living as a retailer in the massively multiplayer game Ultima Online. Dibbell sold in-game items, currency and real estate on eBay, eventually making almost $4,000 a month in profits, translating into roughly a $36,000-a-year salary. And Dibbell says that his income only qualifies as lower-middle class among virtual businessmen.
"There are people making six figures," Dibbell says. "One-man operations, basically, doing seven figures. It's not hard to make money doing this."
The upshot, Dibbell says, is that as more users find ways to wring dollars out of gold pieces, games like World of Warcraft develop sophisticated economies, with measurable GDPs and exchange rates.
Not too shabby for just "wasting time"...
It's that old saying do what you love and the money will follow. I never knew one man jobs could make seven figure salaries on the web *drool*. EDIT: err correction six figures LOL
Another thing to look into thanks for the link. _________________ "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."
-Italian Proverb
While I agree with letting him be a hooligan as opposed to an honor student, the online games really are a tremendous waste.
Embarrass him, by getting him to play ProgressQuest. PQ coupled with a chat program is identical to WoW. It lays out pretty clearly just how pointless and time-wasting all MMORPGs are.
Since time before time the Vorlak had held the Crosshutch at Thraeskamp. The ancient reckoning held that the Five Skrelkampi (and their Truebine) would return when the great Trond-feast could be held anew and the Belnap reunited. But this legend became lost to all but the Papperboxen at Horbug. One of their own was Yallow the Speldrig, who found an unlikely pupil in Torbole Understeady, the discarded illigitimate waif of Wainthane Topknox, whom Yallow renamed Grumdrig and began to school as a boar-pulmet's apprentice. ...And, as it was said by some, in aberdoxy.
While I agree with letting him be a hooligan as opposed to an honor student, the online games really are a tremendous waste.
If I had enough money to retire, I would "waste" every second of my life.
Playing games, drinking and hanging out with friends, on the beach, reading fiction and non fiction watching movies, listening to music and other totally wasteful activity skateboarding or rollerblading talking with friends, taking long drives (gulp sorry guilty pleasure ever more wasteful in PO terms) etc..
It may sound strange but some of the best times in my life have been wholly unproductive. *shrug* go figure. _________________ "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."
-Italian Proverb
...It lays out pretty clearly just how pointless and time-wasting all MMORPGs are.
No argument there. I don't understand the appeal at all. Is it true that something like 9 million play WoW? _________________ "Thank you for attending the oil age. We're going to scrape what we can out of these tar pits in Alberta and then shut down the machines and turn out the lights. Goodnight." - seldom_seen
I just got through that aritcle. Simply awesome, I couldn't concur more with the general sentiment. Thank you. _________________ "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."
-Italian Proverb
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:16 am Post subject: Re: "You won't."
Concerned wrote:
I just got through that aritcle. Simply awesome, I couldn't concur more with the general sentiment. Thank you.
Kinda gets you thinking about just how much of an oxymoron the phrase "work ethic" is don't it? _________________ "It means buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, because Kansas? Is goin' bye-bye... "
I just got through that aritcle. Simply awesome, I couldn't concur more with the general sentiment. Thank you.
Kinda gets you thinking about just how much of an oxymoron the phrase "work ethic" is don't it?
Not to mention the volumes of conditioning in society, to study, follow orders, turn up on time etc... Funny how excess work is seen more as a virtue than literally sapping your life away.
I've also had direct experience of one symptom described where you have to stay at work even though you have completed all your work for the day. So literally you sit in a cubicle until 5PM it's crazy but how can we break out of this system?
Hopefully PO will clean out many cobwebs. Im not saying it's going to be pretty but there could be some good come out of the energy Tsunami heading our way. _________________ "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."
-Italian Proverb
Embarrass him, by getting him to play ProgressQuest. PQ coupled with a chat program is identical to WoW. It lays out pretty clearly just how pointless and time-wasting all MMORPGs are.
LOL this is hilarious. Im running four instances of progressquest as we speak.
Oh the irony how rebels to Everquest now have their own time wasting device Check out the forums there is a whole community competing to see who has the best characcter *grins*
Nothing is a waste of time if you enjoy it, take surfing the web for hours and reading up on global hydrocarbon depletion. _________________ "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."
-Italian Proverb
Joined: Mar 09, 2007 Posts: 226 Location: No. Calif.
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject: I find the topic rather depressing for younger ones
and besides, my college age daughter does not like to discuss the topic at all, but when pressed, will freely admit that yes, we have screwed the world for them. So, I think she knows. She hangs out with a mostly intelligent crowd. Do you expect them to dwell on it??? Of course, not. We are the ones that created the mess and we ought to be the ones dwelling on it and getting depressed over it.
It may sound strange but some of the best times in my life have been wholly unproductive. *shrug* go figure.
No figuring required.
I find that very sad indeed.
The concept of having a good time while being "unproductive" is referred to by most people as "fun". Surely you've heard the term before. _________________ "Thank you for attending the oil age. We're going to scrape what we can out of these tar pits in Alberta and then shut down the machines and turn out the lights. Goodnight." - seldom_seen
It may sound strange but some of the best times in my life have been wholly unproductive. *shrug* go figure.
No figuring required.
I find that very sad indeed.
But then again you are a pretty sad person aka tragic _________________ "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."
-Italian Proverb
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thanks for the link.
Check out the forums there is a whole community competing to see who has the best characcter *grins*
