Why Would I Write

Category: Thoughts

  • Video games don’t make murderers

    I think video games get way too much flak for being negative influences on people. When there’s someone who shoots up a school? “I bet he plays Doom/Quake/Call Of Duty.” Kid runs over someone? “I bet he plays GTA.” Kid lands a plane? “I bet he plays flight simulator.”

    It’s like saying, “this guy used Facebook and killed people. Facebook must be a negative influence on him!” It’s stupid. Playing video games isn’t some top-secret, super-underground pastime for social recluses. Everybody plays video games these days. Even athletes like Jeremy Lin have professed their love for gaming. It’s become part of mainstream culture for some time now.

    Non-criminals play video games too. I play ultra-violent video games and I enjoy them. But I haven’t shot up a school, and neither have I any intentions to.

    If a video game can convince someone to shoot up a school, they’ve probably had a few screws in their head loose to begin with and would’ve been convinced to do it by anything or anyone. Voices in their head, something they saw on TV, a passage from a book they read or just dares from their peers – it doesn’t matter what gave them the ‘instructions’ – they would have done it regardless.

    However, I do believe that video games, like any other pastime or hobby can be detrimental to a person’s life if they become addicted to it and let it overtake them. This can be said about other activities like smoking, bingeing, doing drugs and so on. The only difference is that, it’s easier to obtain video games than the former. And video games usually aren’t illegal. Maybe that’s why we hear so much about them.

    Why don’t we ever read news about successful town planners were driven to become one because of their love for Sim City, or successful doctors who were inspired by Surgeon Simulator or Theme Hospital? I’m sure there are some of those people who exist somewhere.

  • Blacker than Black

    Never thought I’d blog about a Kickstarter here, but since I’ve been running out of words these days, I thought it’d be a nice change of pace. What I’d like to share about today is the Viperblack.

    I came across this project while browsing through my Twitter feed when it caught my eye. “The first blacker than black t-shirt.” Now you must be wondering, what the hell is that supposed to be? You’re right, which is why I clicked on the link.

    Anyway, these folks in Germany figured out a way to come up with a T-shirt which is ultra black in color. While it’s not the darkest material ever created (that title belongs to carbon nanotubes – which are apparently not suitable for skin), it’s supposedly pretty damn close. Now I’m not one to ask why anybody would want such a thing (I smoke – why the hell would anyone do that? I know right?!) but because the Kickstarter has been successfully funded, we know that people do want ultra black T-shirts.

    So here I am, trying to think of reasons why people would wear a shirt like this. The best reason I can think of is to have a conversation opener at gatherings (did you know the shirt I’m wearing is blacker than your t-shirt?). Maybe it could be used to revive ninjas (they’d need to fashion shoes and pants with the same material though – it would look weird if they were in different shades of black). Then again, who says they need to be revived? They could be around and just really good at hiding.

    Cyclists will avoid this unless they intend to get hit by motorists. I have a wardrobe full of black T-shirts so I don’t need another one. Maybe it’s good for people who live in cold countries? Maybe one day when ultra black shirts become common, I’ll find out.

  • Is there a point to owning a home?

    A while ago, this interesting topic came up in a discussion between me and my friends.

    I said that there’s no point in owning a home – unless you want to secure a home for your future generation. And for guys like me who don’t want kids – there’s really no point. You die, your home gets reclaimed if there’s nobody else to take it. Right?

    Sure you may get kicked out of a house if the landlord decides to kick you out – you just find a new one.

    Anyway, back to owning a home – there are advantages to owning one. You get to do whatever you want to it (renovations etc), nobody can kick you out, and the peace of mind you will have knowing that you and your family will always have a place to call home (as long as you pay off the mortgage at the end of the day).

    But if you don’t care about customizing it, if you don’t have a family, and you don’t own tons of possessions, renting a place is the way to go. You can move to a new place as often as you like – that means a change of scenery if you get bored with one place, you won’t have to deal with the hassles of home ownership, you don’t have to spend so much money.

    Then I realized what a hypocrite I was because I am currently paying off a mortgage for my house. Yes that’s right, I have a house in my name. Well, to be fair, if given a choice, I probably wouldn’t be in such a position. But long story short, due to circumstances out of my control, I have a home which I’ll be paying off for the next 14 years (topkek).

    I don’t know, maybe I’m just undervaluing what it means to own a home because I didn’t ask for it. Or I’m not the kind of guy who sees himself staying in one place for long periods of time. Also, I didn’t do any research before writing this post, so feel free to school me if you think I’m ignorant.