I don't know if I would want to live in a digital world without knowing what I'm signing up for. But I know that, today, some games are really captivating, and make me glad of them existing (although I don't want and don't think you should engage irresponsibly or unsustainably with hobbies or entertainment), and were important for me since my childhood.
So the argument against games because social media is bad seemed to me invalid or very weak. It's true there are predatory practices in the digital world and including games very significantly. So there are predatory practices anywhere you look, including in beautiful beaches and paradisaical places -- and we have to remain watchful against them. I think that would be throwing the baby with the bathwater to discredit this entirely. The digital world does afford adventures and I think that's a distinct advantage of it (and adventures that don't require us killing ourselves, stealing from each other or from other people, suffering terribly on occasion, etc.). I think this is a point only younger generations which got to know the extent to which digital worlds can be compelling first hand get. Again, there are compelling things to do IRL also[1], and spending too much time doing anything unsustainable is again a bad idea. But as we have more material resources available, that seems in the direction of a good future of adventure we dreamed, but adventures consistent with peace and sustainability, and adventures intrinsically well designed with the principles of meaning, fun, joy, etc..
I honestly understand there may be an allure to the assumption that you have to "bear torture and suffer IRL" for life to have meaning (that kind of evokes being an Idea Of The Devil :P regardless of being religious or not). Which for me just obviously isn't true; my most cherished moments were peaceful, moments of awe, wonder, occasionally exciting and engaging, never intense suffering struck me as particularly meaningful for my life (if occasionally unfortunately necessary).
I think we can have adventures that isn't just la-la land, because challenges are intrinsically interesting, but also where we design things carefully so that adventures, both IRL (which include things we might have to/should do, like work, community management, political activity) and importantly the ones we design, don't have just meaningless suffering but are really meaningful, engaging (a challenge compatible[2] with our capabilities), beautiful, etc..
[1] I particularly defend getting to know nature, and having safe adventures in nature. I don't even think you have to go very far, to appreciate local flora and animals. But there are limitations (including damaging where you visit, if everyone decided to visit a certain region) and logistical difficulties. I don't think any exclusionary attitude is warranted -- let's see how each thing we can do is and how it aligns with our principles and fundamental principles of a good life.
[2] I think the term compatibility is very applicable, designing activities that are compatible with our cognitive characteristics and features of our cognition.
So the argument against games because social media is bad seemed to me invalid or very weak. It's true there are predatory practices in the digital world and including games very significantly. So there are predatory practices anywhere you look, including in beautiful beaches and paradisaical places -- and we have to remain watchful against them. I think that would be throwing the baby with the bathwater to discredit this entirely. The digital world does afford adventures and I think that's a distinct advantage of it (and adventures that don't require us killing ourselves, stealing from each other or from other people, suffering terribly on occasion, etc.). I think this is a point only younger generations which got to know the extent to which digital worlds can be compelling first hand get. Again, there are compelling things to do IRL also[1], and spending too much time doing anything unsustainable is again a bad idea. But as we have more material resources available, that seems in the direction of a good future of adventure we dreamed, but adventures consistent with peace and sustainability, and adventures intrinsically well designed with the principles of meaning, fun, joy, etc..
I honestly understand there may be an allure to the assumption that you have to "bear torture and suffer IRL" for life to have meaning (that kind of evokes being an Idea Of The Devil :P regardless of being religious or not). Which for me just obviously isn't true; my most cherished moments were peaceful, moments of awe, wonder, occasionally exciting and engaging, never intense suffering struck me as particularly meaningful for my life (if occasionally unfortunately necessary).
I think we can have adventures that isn't just la-la land, because challenges are intrinsically interesting, but also where we design things carefully so that adventures, both IRL (which include things we might have to/should do, like work, community management, political activity) and importantly the ones we design, don't have just meaningless suffering but are really meaningful, engaging (a challenge compatible[2] with our capabilities), beautiful, etc..
[1] I particularly defend getting to know nature, and having safe adventures in nature. I don't even think you have to go very far, to appreciate local flora and animals. But there are limitations (including damaging where you visit, if everyone decided to visit a certain region) and logistical difficulties. I don't think any exclusionary attitude is warranted -- let's see how each thing we can do is and how it aligns with our principles and fundamental principles of a good life.
[2] I think the term compatibility is very applicable, designing activities that are compatible with our cognitive characteristics and features of our cognition.