Slashdot Mirror
Does Gaming Reduce Productivity?
Scott Taulbee writes "Bob Mandel of AVault has given us his interesting views on why playing games does not reduce productivity, but rather is a stimulating alternative to 'snoozing, daydreaming, overconsuming food and beverages, or sitting like a mindless slug waiting for time to pass.' He suggest that '..compared to other forms of recreational activity that could be enjoyed during work breaks, computer gaming has the greatest chance to hone skills useful for productivity in the workplace.' Should we all take this article to our bosses with requests for installing a GameCube on every desk?"
my employer won't even let me read the article because it's a potential waste of time to go to 'those' websites. So I would say that the time would be much better used on work! I don't but my co-workers do spent a good amount of time playing minesweeper though.
Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
Or perhaps, say, actually working?
"True, some offerings are more draining than others, as, for example, some intense action titles leave me limp."
Access to this web page is restricted at this time.
e =reducprod
Reason:
The Websense category "Games" is filtered.
URL:
http://www.avault.com/articles/getarticle.asp?nam
funny munging
I disagree with him, between couterstrike and neverwinter nights I haven't any time to contribute to open source projects. Daaaaammmmnnnn you Transgaming and Bioware.
I should have added that Slashdot also reduces productivity significantly, but at least then hopefully you are thoughtfully responding to posts. :-)
Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
Where I work, we spend most of the day running down ramps, jumping off springboards and collecting gold rings. I guess that's why I never got into Sonic the Hedgehog... it always felt to me like I was back at work. Ah well...
I'll let you know right after I beat this level.
Instead of installing a gamecube on your desk, your boss will probably install a small rectangular pink piece of paper on your desk instead.
-- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
FP! Sorry, I would have gotten around to it sooner, but I got caught up in a wicked game of quake.
"Quoting famous computer scientists out of context is the root of all evil (or at least most of it) in programming." - K
But watching TV and reading slashdot will turn you into a brain dead zombie, while playing games will stimulate... something or other.
Stupid sexy Flanders.
And buy it a drink, and then another. Tell it it's pretty and you want to show it your etchings. Slowly unzip it's ...I'll just be walking away now.
I asked my boss and he said that putting quake 3 on the cash registers didn't sound like a good idea to him.
Luddite.
Read Errant Story.
I'm still waiting for the "Sleeping Does Not Reduce Poductivity" and the "Avoiding Work At All Costs Does Not Reduce Productivity" articles to surface. Then we all will be free.
..to be a blacksmith, but after crafting fucken 1000's of daggers in Ultima Online I gave it up.. ..to be a carpenter, but after crafting 1000's of fucken tables I gave it up... ...to be a programmer, but after... oh, nevermind
- Arwen, I'm your father, Agent Smith.
- Well, you're just Smith, but my father is Aerosmith!
There's something rather amusing about reading a Slashdot article about gaming increasing productivity while sitting at my desk at work, avoiding writing some annoying error-checking code...
Ignorant comments like that have made my life very difficult. I had one guy try to get me written up claiming that I was playing Quake at work. He didn't know the difference between Lightwave and Quake, even though Quake doesn't have a bunch of buttons labeled as tools surrounding the play area. That guy INSISTED on trying to get me fired even though I met all my deadlines and exceeded their expectations.
You're name's not Dan, is it?
Type memos or use spreadsheets to calculate interest rates just for fun? :)
Faith can move mountains. I prefer dynamite.
>Let's make a deal: you game on your time, I won't call you during dinner and ask you about your TPS reports, ok?
How about this deal: You keep your nose out of my cubicle, I'll everything you expect of me and more, and still have time to play games at work.
Don't like that deal? How about this one: Keep your yap shut while I'm playing games, or I'll send your email that I've been logging to your wife, the police, and the SEC.
steve
Exactly what useful skills am I honing?
Depending on the game:
Logical reasoning, puzzle solving, improving reflexes and, yes, hand-eye coordination, and social skills a la GTA3.
OK, that last one might've been a joke.
"computer gaming has the greatest chance to hone skills useful for productivity in the workplace"
Yes it does! Because in my job I often have to use a chain gun, trade with elves and drive 100 mph in urban settings.
Insert witty sig here.