The OP is attempting to make 3 core arguments with this post:
1) Language that conceals the truth, attempts to impress others or coerce people is bullshit.
2) Creating a word such as "gamification" is attempting to conceal the truth, impress others or coerce people.
3) The word "gamification" is used to conceal the truth, impress others or coerce people.
The first argument holds water but the other two are half truths at best.
Words are created all the time, but they are not just used to try and conceal the truth, impress others or coerce people. It is often used simply to make concepts easier to digest and understand. It gives people a common vocabulary so that they can have more in-depth discussions.
Yes, the words will be bastardized and used by people who really have no idea what they are talking about but to use them as the baseline of how you treat everyone using the word is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Simplifying a concept into a word so it's easier to understand is far from attempting to conceal the truth, impress others or coerce.
I agree. The author seems to be caught up in the semantics here. The way I read it, the criticism stems from its use as a buzzword instead of its implementation as a concept. The word itself just allows us to have a conversation about it without detailing it in full each time. Gamification is no more bullshit than SEO or UX. Its simply utilizing things weve learned from other fields to create better experiences for users.
1) Language that conceals the truth, attempts to impress others or coerce people is bullshit.
2) Creating a word such as "gamification" is attempting to conceal the truth, impress others or coerce people.
3) The word "gamification" is used to conceal the truth, impress others or coerce people.
The first argument holds water but the other two are half truths at best.
Words are created all the time, but they are not just used to try and conceal the truth, impress others or coerce people. It is often used simply to make concepts easier to digest and understand. It gives people a common vocabulary so that they can have more in-depth discussions.
Yes, the words will be bastardized and used by people who really have no idea what they are talking about but to use them as the baseline of how you treat everyone using the word is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Simplifying a concept into a word so it's easier to understand is far from attempting to conceal the truth, impress others or coerce.