Thanks to the COM352 students for contributing a bunch of new pages! I'll be moving these pages into the main area of the wiki soon.

From UMassWiki

“Complete Freedom of Movement” – Response Questions Michael Martel 9/17/06

1. I grew up spending hours a day playing video games. I also spent hours a day playing outside. As I have recently come out of childhood, I often think of the prospect of having children as well as remember my own youth. This article applies very directly to things that I consider when imagining procreation. When I read it, what basically went through my head was “Wow, this is something I truly believe in yet I hadn’t organized it for myself until reading this.” I found it reassuring that some adults are in touch with the lives of children, and I found it not surprising that gender segregation occurs in the video game community. As a reader, I simply feel that many of my own thoughts were verified and fleshed out in the essay.

2. The audience targeted most by the author, I believe, is that of the parents (or soon-to-be), and specifically parents living in suburban developments with decreasing ‘wild space’ for kids to play in. A sociologist might read it and be inspired to research. A kid might read it and think “Yeah mom, SEE, video games aren’t all that bad!” However, a parent in a suburban area would read the article and find a little comfort that video games can be beneficial considering the situation and environment, possibly making that child’s upbringing a little smoother. I think this is the effect the author would be most pleased to discover.

3. I have a hard time positioning myself among the already wide audience this article can relate with. The reason for this is because I am reading the article, as I mentioned earlier, right in the middle of adulthood and childhood. I still feel connected with my younger years, and thus can empathize with all the kids whose parents are always on their butts for playing too many video games, as well as all the adults who miss being able to play outside in their own territory (I had both opportunities as a child, since I live very close to a small wood). On the other hand, I consider reproduction the most fulfilling thing a human can do and have been thinking over the past few years about how I would raise a child and such matter. Thus, I can also empathize with parents who have trouble with erratic and boisterous children who are closed in due to suburban life.

4. The effect that placing myself as an audience member has on me is something I don’t think the author should worry about. That effect comes directly from me, the reader, and how I think in relation to the article and its topics. Unfortunately, the only reason I hold this opinion is explained above. I feel like I can account for a wide range of the audience, and furthermore I could have even predetermined my own agreement to the author’s viewpoint. If I hadn’t gone into it knowing I would like what Henry Jenkins had to say, I might be able to decide what he could have done differently were I not convinced.