Jemi's Corner of Simple Commplexities

Weapons of Mass Distraction | August 9, 2009

What do teenagers do when they have a lot of lull and dull time? Some may read a good book or two. Some go to the mall and just wander around, looking at items that they only drool over because of its unreal price tags. Others call friends or classmates, and talk on the phone for hours at a time. These were the activities back then. Simple, laid back, and truly conventional. But technology changed. So did people’s diversionary activities.

In this entry, I would just like to enumerate some of the new pastimes of the Net Gen, particularly those which I was personally exposed to. Some of it you may know by heart, and some maybe totally alien. But regardless of who-knows-what, I am positive that each activity provides fun and entertainment to the bored, yearning generation of today, who, by all means, no longer want to rest during their free time!

1. Social Networking Sites

I first learned of Friendster a few years back, when I was still a sophomore in high school. (A late bloomer I guess.) During those times, the concept was very new: getting contacts and friends online. It became an instant hit among my friends in high school, and it did not take long before every one of us had accounts. I knew, at that point, that Friendster won’t be the last of its kind.

And so it was. Now, the entire world is connected by some sort of social networking site. Majority of North Americans have Multiply profile, and most Southeast Asians have Friendster accounts. Facebook is still the most widespread, spanning almost all continents. Many individuals are appreciating the fun and ease of contacting peers through these sites. All your associates are at the tip of your fingers, and you have the option of talking to one of them, to a group, or to everyone at once. Online social networking gave “socialization” a whole new meaning.

When I still had no profile in Friendster, I remember one of my classmates saying to me, “Wala kang profile?! Gumawa ka na! (You don’t have a profile? Create one now!)” It was as if I am an outcast if I did not have one. Now I realized that that idea is somehow true after all. The design of your account does not need to be extravagant, nor must the number of your friends be in the hundreds; just have a profile, and your connected. That’s it.

2. Multiplayer online games (especially role-playing games or RPGs)

Oh yes. If you are looking for typical and undemanding entertainment, social networking sites are for you. But if you are like me, who wants andrenaline-pumping action accompanied by out-of-this-world visual effects, then try online multiplayer games. Back when I was in fifth grade, Counter-Strike was all the rage. Even the girls of my class play the game. (It was, and still is, insulting when we get beaten by girls.) Nowadays, we are bombarded with tons of online games. Ragnarok, Cabal, Gunbound, Khan, Rose, Flyff, Rohan, Guns, SF, World of Warcraft, Sims Online, Krazy Kart, and O2Jam are just some of the online games available today. If I am not mistaken, among the many games playable here in the Philippines, DOTA All-Stars still reigns as the top favorite. Enter one computer shop with online games, and I am pretty sure one will see at least an individual playing DOTA. By far, Level Up! Games is the most successful at attracting the Filipino market, closely followed by its competitor, e-Games. (I also know that many employees of Level Up! Games are previously casual gamers who then became full-time professionals.)

Playing with friends and family not only encourages teamwork and determination among peers, but it also allows people to communicate and have fun with the people they know in real time. Think of it as chatting with explosions and creatures on the side (or vice-versa). On a lighter, more personal note, I love the satisfaction I get when I shoot and kill “crush stealers” or “teacher bootlickers.” Nothing really comes close.

3. What I am currently doing now

Blogging. This Internet craze is a ‘craze’ for many reasons. First of all, it caters not only to the youth but also to members of the older generation. Not all people like the idea of sniping opposing enemies (SF Online, Guns), and some find the concept of networking online odd. But blogging is different. It simply involves putting one’s ideas on a webpage and leaving the world to read it. It does not involve complex hand-and-eye coordination, and, compared to social networking sites, you also do not need friends to have a blog. (But seriously, people need friends.) Writing has long been done by the young and old, so why not take it to the next level and do it on the Net? Anyone can write blog entries; they just have to be full of thought and slightly computer-literate.

Secondly, blogging is great because you have the freedom and capability to reach out to others at the comforts of your own home. The world is the audience, critic, and fan base of the post. Also, despite having limitations imposed by some blog site moderators, people can practically talk about whatever they wish. I personally like the food blog of Margaux Salcedo, because she presents menus not just as a critic, but also as a genuine enthusiast of good food. I also like the blog of Ben Leffler, a graphic designer and game developer. The Exmortis flash game series rocks.

These activities are not ‘everything’ that people do, but in my opinion, these are three of the most executed pastimes today. I will be amazed if there is one person above 15 years of age who still does not do a single one of these three. (That may be exaggeration, but the fact is that these activities are done by millions of people all over the world.) The funny thing is that, despite these endeavors originally intended to become secondary to work and school responsibilities, many individuals tend to become too attached or addicted to it that it becomes their life. Maybe it is because that for a particular duration in one’s daily life, he/she can create a world totally his or her own, without restrictions and worries, and full of leisurely fun and peculiarity. No longer is lull time boring and repetitive. Having free time these days means enjoying yourself in a totally new, more lively context. If lull time is like that, then I would not mind time being lull at all.

Note: Wow. Now this is long.

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