Why We Play (Motivations)

Stress reduction is discussed as a motivation to playing video games in the article Why We Play, as well as Jane McGonigal's lecture. In the article, college age guys lives were reviewed. The author discussed how in today's culture, college guys are expected to be successful in college as well as when they graduate. Success today is much more difficult to obtain. A college graduate may not be able to become successful finding a career related to his college degree. Stress relief discussed as a major motivation for these college guys. Being able to forget about the expectations put upon them by playing video games can reduce this common stress. McGonigal also talked a great deal about how "playing games" makes us happier, ultimately reducing stress.

Social contact is another motivation for playing video games. College guys can have the social contact they are needing by playing video games with their friends. It is a common past time that they all enjoy and can participate in together. McGonigal talks about how people even miles away can have the social contact with each other through playing video games online.

Men vs Women

One similarity in the way men's bodies and women's bodies are portrayed and treated in our culture is that both are expected to be ridiculously "perfect". The definition of sexy in our culture is pretty much impossible to obtain. For men, they must workout religiously for hours a day and have a rigid diet to achieve this perfect body. Women also have to live this life of deprivation in order to have this unrealistic body.

One difference between men and women in American culture it the specific idea of sexy. Men are to be extremely muscular. They are to look in control and confident. Women are expected to be very thin and non muscular and also looking submissive and meek. I think these ideals of what is sexy in the bodies of American men and women is saddening because this leads to children growing up seeing these unrealistic body images and the pressure to attain these unattainable bodies.

BIRGing and CORFing

After reflecting on the video The Football High I can see the birging and corfing. There is a lot of birging with the family, friends, and fans. These people who are not even on the team talk as though they are using terms like "we" when referring to their football team. I would also call it birging when a family moves to become a part of a better team. It could also be corfing by moving to leave the team doing poorly.

When the team lost to the Texas team the media focused on why they lost. They really lost for reasons out of their control such as the Texas team was much bigger in number and size of the players. The team was pushed to do their best but in the end they lost so the team, family, and friends were corfing, or pushing away related failure, by making excuses for the team.

Sports in America

My personal opinion on sports in America is that we have taken things way too far, especially with our children. After watching the football video I was surprised that people actually move across the country for high school sports. I think that that much pressure on a child to preform cannot be a good thing. I like that sports teach children how to work with others, is good exercise, and can be motivating for children to reach a goal, but when is it too much? Kids also need to be kids and not treated like professional athletes. It is also disappointing to hear about parents putting everything on the line for the child's sports career and then the child not making it because someone better comes along.

In professional sports I was shocked to find out the average salaries and length of career. I always assumed professional sports players made a ton of money based on their extravagant lifestyles. Knowing now that most are in debt after only 3 years after playing I actually feel bad for them. It is unfortunate that these players don't have any foresight to recognize their future financial downfalls. Maybe investing those millions and living off interest would be a good idea. Also, I think these players need big time education on their finances.