Epiphany

…a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

Aha! …and so, it came to me…I had written a previous post…Ever heard of good news? In it, I mentioned an article about how Jane McGonigal believes we can create video games that will improve our world.

I was contemplating this, I won’t tell you where, and the sense in it started adding up.

There is a man, who’s name I won’t insert – only because I don’t care for his outlook, who is constantly going on about the negative aspects of the actions of children who play video games.  He is in the public eye quite often, usually exaggerating and making big of what is small; jumping on any and every negative action that might be able to be, and some that can’t be, attributed to video game playing.

I have been seeing multiple news items recently, all of which have to do with young males who have gone way beyond bravery in saving people from immanent, life-threatening dangers.  I want to know if anyone stopped to ask them if they play video games and I want to know if playing video games can encourage the reflexes and quick thinking it takes to actually get off our duff and lend a hand in an emergency.  I want to know if this human awareness, this bravery is a learned something that we should be considering.  I’m  not talking war bravery, a soldier is expected to perform in a certain manner, I’m talking every day people who jump when it seems unlikely they will succeed.

I believe that there is a huge faction of humanity that wants to do “good”; it is part of their nature; and playing video games will not deter them from that – it may even aid them in succeeding.  This is my epiphany, my sudden insight into reality.  Ya never know when one might strike…

Flickr Creative Commons image credit fairtomiddling.