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JacksonFive's Free "Path2English" Newsletter,
http://www.path2english.com/
Issue: 56
"Naughty or Nice?"
Dec 23, 2001
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Dear Readers,
"What did you do this year that was naughty or nice?"
If I was asked this question by Santa, I would answer, "Santa, I was
only testing it for the children. I didn't mean to spend so much time
playing Neopets (Internet game that has over 23 million players)."
There are many games on Neopets each with 5-10 million players. Many
of these games are based on old arcade games that I played when I was
a child. After playing intensely for 2 weeks, I scored first place in
"Nimmo's Pond", which is based on the old "Astroids" game (I wonder
if any of you remember this game). Can you imagine beating out 10
million other players to be the champion of the world? I guess I
know what that Taiwanese champion felt in Korea.
This brings us to the next discussion, "Are playing these computer
games naughty?" I think computer games are modern people's form of
high-tech board games (i.e. chess and checker). Isn't it? It serves
the same recreational purpose. I especially like the strategic and
tactical games because they require great amount of planning and
reasoning. They are not games of luck, but need a sharp mind for
positioning pieces and predicting what your opponent will do next.
Doesn't it sound like chess?
Why are grand chess masters so well respected and top computer
players not? Why are people so biased against computer players? Is
it because they spend a lot of time playing their games? Don't top
players of any sport or musical instrument also spend a lot of time
practicing?
I think the real issue is this. It isn't computers or computer games
that "corrupt" our children. It is children's inability to prioritize
their time. Just like you wouldn't want to play the piano 10 hours a
day when you should be at school, you wouldn't want to spend 10 hours
a day in front of the computer every day.
You can't blame computers and their related games. Computer is only a
tool (a very good tool). Isn't it the parent's responsibility to teach
children how to use tools productively and responsibly? The big
problem is parents might not know computers very well. If this is the
case, the child needs to be sent to a responsible computer expert to
be taught. This is exactly what I tell parents when they want to buy
their first computer for the home, but are worried as well. If you are
going to provide them a powerful tool like a computer, send them to
someone (like me ^_^) to be taught how to use this tool productively.
"Santa, am I naughty or nice?" (What do you think?)
Wishing you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!
JacksonFive
P.S. This is from our fellow friend and reader, Jane, in China (issue
54 and 55):
"Hi JacksonFive,
Thanks for your newsletter in the coming Christmas. To my bid excited,
you kindly created a web page for me to collect so many readers'
encouragement, this is really the best Christmas gift in my whole
life, and your all words actually give me great support to carry out
my dream, I am deeply moved by the atmosphere around Jansonfive
members. I will cherish the all mails in my favorite as beautiful
memory. In spite of the teacher dream is not easy for me, there are
still a lot of difficulties for me to overcome, trust me, I will do
my best to get it.
Originally, I wanna send you a group of lovely Christmas cards, but
being afraid of bringing virus to you careless, otherwise my name
will be remove out of the members list, that will be too terrible.
^_^
I envy the other members who live in Taiwan can have a nice Christmas
party with you, Anyway, I'd like to say:
'Best wishes to you, your family and all Jacksonfive members!'
Regards!
Jane"
NEXT ISSUE's FEATURED TOPIC:
"It's a girl"