Automation, a curse or a blessing?

Thanks to the fast miniaturisation in microelectronics, started by space travel, some games possess greater computing power and memory than I had at my disposal less than twenty years ago when I was finishing my dissertation. Computer games can be roughly divided into three categories: mind games, memory games and games of skill.

Computer chess belongs to the category of mind games. The legitimate question we can ask is whether the purpose of playing chess is to play a game together or whether it is a competition of human cleverness? Krishnamurti warned us against the latter time and time again: ‘Do not compare yourself to others; it only leads to envy and frustration.’ With computer chess, would we be frustrated by the comparison to a dead piece of iron?

Memory games give me the same feeling as Hermann Hesse got from crosswords. One person is creating a problem for another to solve, as if there were no other ways of killing time one could think of that would be more fun.

Games of skill, especially those involving speed, never cease to amaze me. When people are playing such games, you can actually smell their adrenaline level going up, and the hot-bloodedness of the thinking mind grows to proportions unseemly of a reasonable being.

What these games all have in common is the tendency to isolate. By saying this, I mean that from now on we can play games without facing an opponent made of flesh and blood, something that has become the fashion since the beginning of the Walkman era. To have our own, snug spot in creation, without running the risk of coming into contact with our fellow creatures. It is quite easy for the parents, who can do what they want. It seems attractive for the child, who can score without having to fear public defeat. If a game is lost, we just start again, and again, and again. The apparent attraction lies in endless repetition of what is known, within the limited frame of mind of the inventor. That seems fun, but in fact it is nothing but going through the same groove of a record over and over again, up to the point at which man is bored to tears and realises that his unlimited nature does not fit within the boundaries of a game.

Automation: curse or blessing? Are computer games beneficial to the mental health of the public? Do you feel the forceful attraction of such games? Do you think that computer games will lead us to true insight? Would the possible beauty behind those games outweigh the addiction? What do you think?

Why devote special attention to computer games, you may wonder. Because we use some so-called serious information systems in the exact same way as the games mentioned above. To play is a wonderful thing in itself. Isn’t the entire creation one superb Game? But whenever the game is clouded by power, addiction strikes. Look at your own attitude with which you use your information systems.