PLAY

For those of you that don’t know, which is pretty much everybody, I majored in Recreation Management in college. Why? Because play is everywhere.

Over on ChurchCrunch John posted a video (I have it on here after the jump); take time to watch it- Jane McGonigal is making a preposterous claim that the world’s problems can be solved through video games. Or is it?….

I said this in response on ChurchChrunch.com:

I want to go to there.

For me- a history fiend- her insite into human history is great.

I was a Recreation Management major in college. I learned how to play. Play is such an amazing and essential part of our society, and I believe this is what she’s talking about.

Throw the “gaming or gamer” jargon out and this is what you get.

Little kids learn how to fight and be assertive and brave by playing “army” (have you ever played real paintball, you know you won’t die, but it’s such an adrenaline rush!). Other kids learn how to take care of a family and those around them by playing “house” (you “make” dinner and then you have to “clean up”).

We learn through play.

And on here (ChurchCrunch.com)- this is play. I learn from interacting, “playing”, with those in the community.

Play isn’t silly, non-de script happenings, it’s carefully chosen movements that produce a desired outcome.

So yeah- don’t just think of this talk in terms of video games, think of it in terms of play.

Word. Have you played today?