When I look at my beautiful daughter, I see excitement, innocence and happiness in those eyes. Life is about going to school and playing with her friends. “According to one theory play constitutes a training of the young creature for the serious work that life will demand later on” (Ludens pg 2). Often I wonder what it would be like to go back to a time when I didn’t have to worry about paying bills or have to make important decisions that effect not only me but my little one.

The toughest decision my daughter has to make is whether or not she is going to be picked for kick ball. Play signifies so many things. It is a way to leave your cares behind and focus only on the pure entertainment and fun of the sports or activity that you are partaking in. Why do you think even as adults so many of us flock to amusement parks every year whether it be in our own back yard or if we make the trek to Walt Disney World? The first time I went to Disney world was as an adult. It was way before I had my daughter and we went to relieve some stress and of course, go on some cool rides. Now, I make it a habit to try and take my daughter every year. We both can be kids for a few days and as they say in the movie The Lion King, “Hakuna Matata”, which means no worries. “Play casts a spell over us; it is ‘enchanting’, ‘captivating’. It is invested with the noblest qualities we are capable of perceiving in things: rhythm and harmony.” (Ludens pg 10).

A couple of years ago, our department had our off-site meeting and our key note speaker was Kevin Carroll. He was one of the most captivating speakers that I have listened to. His story spoke about rising above all odds and becoming successful. The things that he endured as a child, brought me to tears. The main concept of his speech was about play and finding passion and excitement for what you do in the work place.

Second Life

In the article, “We Live Here: Games, Third Places and the Information Architecture of the Future” by Andrew Hinton, he talks about the different muves such as Second Life and Quake. These sites allow you to become a part of their online community and essentially be anyone that you want to be in the virtual world. But as the author states, “as the result, the vast majority of actual user activity around the game of Quake wasn’t even playing the game itself-it was in the massive web of relationships, conversations, teamwork and collective creativity that happened in it’s orbit.” (Hinton pg 3).

I went on second life per Prof. Halavais instruction, and I realized immediately that it wasn’t for me. In order for me to feel like I am part of a community and network with people, there’s some form of trust that has to be established. And I have learned that a lot of people that go on Second Life aren’t exactly who they say they are. I guess this leaves room for a larger argument. Do we ever really know people? As we have discussed in class, do we only see what people want us to see?

One of my classmates who I met last semester, raved about Second Life. Over the summer, was the first time I heard about the site. He told me he loved it and felt that it was the best online experience he’s had.  So, I had to go back to him and ask him what the appeal was. “What I like most about it is that it is a whole world created by the people in it. Kind of like the way Facebook is created by its users – except SL is way beyond Facebook” (Hoving, interview 2007). 

I have both Facebook and Myspace accounts and although those sites are also pegged as social environments, I don’t necessarily agree. All of my “friends” on Myspace are people that I know and are close with or are co-workers of mine. I don’t go up to a stranger on the street and try and have a conversation with them so why as an avatar would I feel comfortable doing that? I might be one of the last people to jump on board to this concept. Major companies are investing money to be a part of this society. “Wells Fargo, one of the oldest financial institutions in North America, spent actual time and money building a place in Second Life called Stagecoach Island” (Hinton pg 6).

Am I a bad mom?

I don’t really think so but as I read “Welcome to the Experience Economy,” the author talks about yearly birthday parties and how long ago, mothers went to the store, purchased ingredients and baked cakes for their children’s birthday. Bake a cake from scratch? My daughter’s cake came from Cold Stone Creamery this year. And I can safely say, every year I have purchased a cake for her birthday. “In the 1980’s, many parents stopped baking cakes at all. Mom or Dad simply called the supermarket or local bakery and ordered a cake, specifying the exact type of cake and frosting”  (Pine, Gilmore pg 21).

I laughed when I read the next paragraph, it states that in this day and age, elaborate birthday parties are thrown for children and they are usually at facilities that offer package deals that include, food and entertainment. I have yet to have a party for my daughter at home. I always look to find a cool place that offers exciting features for the children. “The simple saga of the birthday party illustrates the Progression of Economic value. Each successive offering-pure in ingredients (commodities), packaged mixes (goods), finished cakes (services), and thrown parties (experiences)–greatly increases in value because the buyer finds each more relevants to what he truly wants” (Pine, Gilmore pg 22).