Sharpening the mind

[Mythsaje]

I was just sitting here reminiscing about my leisure activities a couple of weekends ago, namely, table-top role-playing with the 3.5 version of Dungeons and Dragons. Back when Katrina happened and we all watched in horror at the absolute ineptitude of those entrusted with the task of managing the emergency response, it struck me that any decent group of gamers could've worked out a better plan and implemented it in a hurry, given the resources that the government possesses.

I don't know how many people here have ever done any gaming, or had any interest in it, but this line of reasoning has brought me to an interesting point.

Gaming sharpens the mind. It allows the insightful player an opportunity to explore various scenarios and make causal connections between abilities, resources, and potential outcomes. I have been fortunate enough to play with some very good people, and have always been amazed at some of the remarkable problem-solving skills that can be illustrated in a decent game.

Take a gamer to a horror movie at your own peril. I recently watched a movie called Mindhunters, which revolves around a group of FBI profiler trainees placed on an island and cut off from the rest of the world in order to solve a fictitious crime. As it turns out, however, one of their number is a killer.

The killer sets up elaborate traps designed to take out specific members of the group, in order, and it takes a while for the survivors to figure out how it works. I commented to my wife that decent gamers would've had a better chance of survival than these admittedly intelligent people who weren't accustomed to dealing with such circumstances. A good gaming group would've had a MUCH better chance of surviving than these folks did, in my opinion.

Setting aside the ridiculous "Satanic" condemnation D&D and gaming in general gets from the fundy element, I think that role-playing is a wonderful tool for teaching problem solving and causal connections that we'd do well to consider as a educational tool. I've thought this for a long time, frankly.

I've had the privilege of gaming with some remarkably intelligent people, and have more than once driven a dungeon master to distraction by using tools in ways that simply were never considered in the rules. Last week a couple of us spent about half an hour considering ways to take on a seemingly daunting task and were able to carry it off without any serious injuries to our characters. We simply analyzed our resources, put them together in concert, and carried out our plan to the letter.

I think it drives our DM a little nuts, frankly. A DM has to be incredibly adaptable to deal with a thinking group. Very intelligent people design a lot of the scenarios, and yet, those things that seem too overpowering on first blush turn out to be easily defeated if one considers one's options and resources.

I truly think we could use some of these kinds of minds in government. Adaptable, creative, able to work within the structures of existing rules, and able to form multiple connections of causality very quickly.

Now if we could just get the fundies to shut up for a little while, we might be able to make use of this resource in our education system. Maybe not D&D, per se, but role-playing games in general.

Any thoughts?

[MadMaddie]

1. I agree with your thoughts...the thing is

those people that you talk about were there in government, thinking outside the box focusing on realistic problems and solutions....thinking outside the box....

They have taken early retirement, have been fired or demoted....due to the corruption of this administration...

What I hope is that when the Dems get back in power that we search for these people with their combined experience and entice them to come back and help fix the mess that * has created...along with them some new blood like the gamers that you talk about to help think outside the box and help improve the system....

In order for us to make the fundies shut up...we have to remove them from power!! We have to disect the religion out of government like a cancerous tumor and make sure that it never happens again. Seperation of Church and State must be a priority!!

[Mythsaje]

2. Separation of Church and State

is absolutely one of the most important things we need to address. It's ludicrous that they've been able to hijack the dialogue so well in the past couple of decades in particular.

[MadMaddie]

3. I think that the tax exempt status will have to be reviewed...

many of these mega churches have received tax payer dollars and are promoting their hate and using the money not to help the poor but to promote their agenda...

I think the churches must be taxed on a sliding scale...so the smaller churches won't have to close their doors....

I don't want to hear the President say that he prayed to God on if he should go to war or not...I want to know if he talked to the military professionals and other countries to determine if it was the right decision...(I am not anti-religious).

The hijacking started with buying up media outlets....they currently buy stations that air Air America is on and change the programming to religious programs..

[Mythsaje]

4. It's definitely an issue...

I don't LIKE the idea of playing with tax exempt status simply because I think it could be too easily turned into a tool to silence opposition. But I don't have any easy answers to this question.

[Sammy Pepys]

5. Does something like that necessarily need to come from D&D?

Not slamming D&D, but it seems like a lot of the same types of thinking could be cultivated in engineering, math, law and science.

[Mythsaje]

6. Gaming incorporates a lot of different skill sets.

Most gamers are at the highest rankings of language and math aptitude. They're also generalists rather than specialists.

We already focus a lot on the value of specialists. We see it every day. Nothing wrong with engineering, math, law, and science. A lot of gamers COME FROM or go into these professional arenas. But we're talking about people who make problem solving a hobby and learn that there's more than one way to, as they say, "skin a cat."

The really good gamers are very good at thinking outside the box, not necessarily trapped by generalized assumptions as to what would work and what wouldn't in any given situation.

[porphyrian]

7. Gaming definitely develops mental acuity.

Despite the fantasy setting of RPGs, playing them gives you practice creatively solving problems, in ways most people would never dream of in mundane life. By assuming roles different from ourselves, we can explore perspectives we might never enjoy otherwise, helping us be more empathetic to those unlike ourselves. We can also explore topics such as violence without real world consequence, other than the enjoyment of interactive storytelling shared by those involved.

[Mythsaje]

8. All true...

I think gaming is a potential educational tool that has been ignored for far too long. It allows exploration of ethical issues, problem solving, and stimulates reading and math skills.

[NightOwwl]

9. I'm a rare breed...

A forty-something woman who absolutely LOVES computer gaming. I've been a gamer since the old arcade days, then I graduated to Nintendo and there was no looking back.

When I was very young (before computers!!!)I loved logic puzzles and mazes and any pen and pencil games I could find.

I completely agree with you...gaming develops skills such as logical thinking, and analyzing and developing solutions for a myriad of problems. Non-gamers think we are wasting our time, when in reality our brains are getting intellectual workouts!

[Mythsaje]

10. I like computer gaming too

though I think there's an inherent limitation in that format that doesn't exist in the person-to-person interaction in a table top game. By necessity the games designed for computers and gaming systems like Nintendo aren't open-ended. You can't do something within the realms of possibility, but not specifically covered in the rules.

But, yes, I agree that these games are also very good for mental acuity.

[EFerrari]

11. An amazing teacher at my son's school developed a game

that early teens ADORED. They'd stay AFTER SCHOOL to keep playing. I never got to play myself (working and single) but did those kids like it. Even my kid, who had a couple of learning problems that annoyed all his teaches because he was so smart. This teacher got it and set him gaming.

I would have loved to do something for her but I didn't want to give her my "mom" kooties at the time.

lol

[EwokMyWeewok]

12. please roll a skill check

persuade check v. DC 22

Also: Bush rolls INT check to open milk - (8 + (-3)) = 5 v DC 6 FAIL

/obscure

[EwokMyWeewok]

13. IN FACT

Bush can't even take 10 on a skill check in a quiet room with moderate light and no noise or distractions or enemies to attempt screwing in a lightbulb

/real obscure

[Mythsaje]

14. ROFL!!!

It's too bad you can't make a critical fail on a skill check...he'd probably drown in the process of opening his milk. LOL