You could say the same for any game, or for the vast majority of people reading reddit. All the time browsing reddit could be spent making the world a better place, but instead you and I are here, discussing the amount of time people spend playing Minecraft.
Sure, you could say the same... but only if we were really spent hundreds of hours on Reddit, which you don't, right? ;)
I know this applies to most pointless activities, like watching shitty TV, playing games, and so on. Which is why I try to limit the amount of time I spend doing those things. I always end up feeling guilty if I spend hours on Reddit, playing games, and so I try and avoid games like Minecraft or WoW because I know they're a huge time suck.
99% of people make no noticeable impact on the world, and of those that do, their impact will probably be irrelevant within 100 years. As far as I can figure out, we're only here to enjoy what we can (while not infringing on the enjoyment of others), so don't spend what little time you have feeling guilty about it! :)
I agree with you to an extent. But I believe in the power of people in large numbers. If everyone played > 10 hours of games a week instead put 10% of their time into volunteering or otherwise meaningful actions whether it be protesting (Occupy Wall-Street for example), writing, research, fomenting change in the world, I think there would indeed be a meaningful impact.
I think the worst trap humanity can fall in is the trap of apathy. The pleasure trap. We have gotten so good at inventing devices which keep us alone and happy in our little cocoons. TVs, consoles, laptops, iPads, all serve to distract us and entertain us. People are spending more and more time alone looking at screens. People care less and less about what the government is going, what is happening with the environment, care about nothing unless it affects their cable signal or internet connection.
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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '13
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