Comments on: Making a difference in the world http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/ "You never paint what you see or think you see. You paint with a thousand vibrations the blow that struck you." --Nicholas de Stael Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:09:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Aaron http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1698 Aaron Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:44:24 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1698 Most people find fulfillment in the things they do outside of work. It's great if your work is fulfilling, but just something to make the ends meet can be fine if you have time and energy for other things. This has actually been one of my main concerns when considering applying for jobs in the game industry. I feel compelled to do something noble with my life, and it's hard for me to think of games as being a noble cause most of the time. There is value to simply raising moods, but it's a fine line between a little relaxation and avoiding life. I have a pretty Aristotelian view of the arts, so doing more than merely entertaining is important to me. I can appreciate mindless entertainment, like <i>Pac-Man</i>, but I feel like meaningful entertainment is more important. I'd like to see games be capable of teaching and entertaining at the same time, similar to films like <i>Schindler's List</i> or <i>Pay It Forward</i>. In some ways, I think games are even more capable of doing that than films or literature. Anyway, I've decided to apply for some design jobs, but I'd be just as content (if not more) living near family, holding a mindless job, and coming home to blog each night. =) Most people find fulfillment in the things they do outside of work. It’s great if your work is fulfilling, but just something to make the ends meet can be fine if you have time and energy for other things.

This has actually been one of my main concerns when considering applying for jobs in the game industry. I feel compelled to do something noble with my life, and it’s hard for me to think of games as being a noble cause most of the time. There is value to simply raising moods, but it’s a fine line between a little relaxation and avoiding life.

I have a pretty Aristotelian view of the arts, so doing more than merely entertaining is important to me. I can appreciate mindless entertainment, like Pac-Man, but I feel like meaningful entertainment is more important. I’d like to see games be capable of teaching and entertaining at the same time, similar to films like Schindler’s List or Pay It Forward. In some ways, I think games are even more capable of doing that than films or literature.

Anyway, I’ve decided to apply for some design jobs, but I’d be just as content (if not more) living near family, holding a mindless job, and coming home to blog each night. =)

]]> By: heather http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1662 heather Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:59:39 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1662 I think it depends on what you do with that profit. At least, that's my personal take on it. Part of what I wrestled with for so long is the fact that it's tough for me to hold down any kind of 'regular' job due to tendonitis and bipolar disorder, so I don't contribute to the family finances nearly as much as I'd like. I dealt with that partially by finding ways to make a bit more money with the web site (although it was also important to me that, for example, I not totally clutter it up with ads all over the place), partially by finding other ways to feel like I was contributing to the household, and partially by just learning to deal with it. :) To me, making that extra money is about doing my part to pay for things like the mortgage, rather than an end in and of itself. I think it depends on what you do with that profit. At least, that’s my personal take on it. Part of what I wrestled with for so long is the fact that it’s tough for me to hold down any kind of ‘regular’ job due to tendonitis and bipolar disorder, so I don’t contribute to the family finances nearly as much as I’d like. I dealt with that partially by finding ways to make a bit more money with the web site (although it was also important to me that, for example, I not totally clutter it up with ads all over the place), partially by finding other ways to feel like I was contributing to the household, and partially by just learning to deal with it. :) To me, making that extra money is about doing my part to pay for things like the mortgage, rather than an end in and of itself.

]]> By: springraise http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1637 springraise Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:08:29 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1637 This is an interesting post. If you find your contribution to the world to be noble and worthy, who is anyone else to judge? Each of us has our calling. What's not discussed is the profit motive and whether there's some nobility in that. Is pursuing profit a worthwhile cause in itself? I think we individually have to do things that provide us intrinsic value, but in doing so, we have to remember to help others. If we don't our lives will never be rich no matter how much money we make. This is an interesting post. If you find your contribution to the world to be noble and worthy, who is anyone else to judge? Each of us has our calling. What’s not discussed is the profit motive and whether there’s some nobility in that. Is pursuing profit a worthwhile cause in itself? I think we individually have to do things that provide us intrinsic value, but in doing so, we have to remember to help others. If we don’t our lives will never be rich no matter how much money we make.

]]> By: heather http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1631 heather Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:23:22 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1631 *grin* My husband for a while stopped working as a software safety expert (ie, someone who makes sure software that runs everything from cars to air traffic control, space shuttles to amusement parks, trains to medical equipment, doesn't hurt or kill folks) and went back to being a software developer. He just couldn't do it---he found that he missed knowing that he was making that difference and helping to ensure that folks didn't get hurt by software design flaws, so he went back to software safety, even though the hours are longer and it involves more business travel. It was worth it to him. I can understand that, even though my goals are hardly so lofty. I think everyone just has to find their own level of "difference" and its place in their lives. *grin* My husband for a while stopped working as a software safety expert (ie, someone who makes sure software that runs everything from cars to air traffic control, space shuttles to amusement parks, trains to medical equipment, doesn’t hurt or kill folks) and went back to being a software developer. He just couldn’t do it—he found that he missed knowing that he was making that difference and helping to ensure that folks didn’t get hurt by software design flaws, so he went back to software safety, even though the hours are longer and it involves more business travel. It was worth it to him. I can understand that, even though my goals are hardly so lofty. I think everyone just has to find their own level of “difference” and its place in their lives.

]]> By: Bush Mackel http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1621 Bush Mackel Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:51:37 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1621 Hm. I like this post. It makes me think. ... Though I'm still not sure my day job is bringing happiness to other people. Perhaps I should quit and start over. (#);) Hm. I like this post. It makes me think. … Though I’m still not sure my day job is bringing happiness to other people. Perhaps I should quit and start over. (#);)

]]> By: heather http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1608 heather Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:32:39 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1608 That's kind of a big question, now isn't it? :) After all, there can be so many potential causes behind that issue---depression comes to mind as a big one, since it tends to make all things seem bleak and futile. Really that's entirely too large and individual an issue to have one answer, IMO. That’s kind of a big question, now isn’t it? :) After all, there can be so many potential causes behind that issue—depression comes to mind as a big one, since it tends to make all things seem bleak and futile. Really that’s entirely too large and individual an issue to have one answer, IMO.

]]> By: www.theHAPPINESSblog.com http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1596 www.theHAPPINESSblog.com Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:51:50 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2007/07/27/making-a-difference-in-the-world/#comment-1596 What do you say to people who don't think any job will make them any happier? What do you say to people who don’t think any job will make them any happier?

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