http://m.facebook.com/pages/I-Hate-Ohio/98524688106?id=98524688106&_rdr

Here is the link.

http://www.thelantern.com/campus/winter-blues-contribute-to-ohio-s-high-depression-levels-1.2759560?MMode=true#.Ty4u2rd5mc0

I am still though deeply confused by reading your article. I’ve read Jane’s book, and I found the beginning and end were an interesting collation of a lot of other works that I’ve read into a more coherent picture, with interesting insight and perspectives. I found the middle section where she talked about her own projects more difficult to swallow as she seemed a little bit too pleased with herself for making games that didn’t seem particularly far from what we’ve seen before, and with a fairly limited audience at that. Not to mention some of them being solutions to entirely first world “problems”, like the latte. But though that was used as an example of the solution to a deeply insipid problem it is food for thought on how similar systems could be used for more meaningful tasks and I’m always looking for inspiration from people who do things in a different way.

I took the hint that this was going to be a negative review from the first couple of lines with a torrent of abuse that just doesn’t end. I expected you to highlight some of the same problems I had with the book but I started to lose interest when you descended mentioning alien abduction and the loch ness monster, always a bad sign, But then followed by the picture of the gentleman administering a syringe to his forearm removed any delusion I might have had that this was serious and valid criticism and assigned you full membership of the tin foil hat brigade. After that it was just a kind of morbid curiosity that drove me to continue reading and that was after just the first few paragraphs. I’m completely confused as to how you can read a book which has glaring issues amongst some good material, completely ignore those Issues and go on some anti Jane/game rant which was difficult to take seriously.

I just don’t see where you’re coming from, the point of the book seemed to me at least to be saying that we have a huge number of people migrating their time to playing games rather than other kinds of media or activities,it’s not a trend that’s going anywhere soon, so how can we use that time for good and how can we motivate them to do more with their lives based on the emotions that are already being cultivated by games. Why not take things that people are doing anyway and modify them so that they can make positive social and real world impacts. I agree that suggesting that we should devote more time to game play to solve the worlds problems may be taking it a bit far, but then trying to extrapolate things into the future is pretty much her job so it makes sense.

Even in your comments afterwards “The idea that I should forego shoveling my snow because reality is broken and video games have the answer is preposterous. That “difficult” task doesn’t just mean clearing a much needed snow bank, but I get some exercise, talk with the neighbors, and breathe in the wintry air, while feeling the fine flecks of snow settle upon my coat. ”

If you’re going to clear your snow bank anyway, then good for you, but if you don’t have the motivation too, or perhaps elderly neighbours near by that are unknown to you can’t do their own or their mobility is limited by yours, Surely a game designed to bring the community together to keep the local area free of snow would be a positive thing. I don’t think she’s suggesting that everyone should just plug into call of duty or world of warcraft and spend 90% of their time in these worlds. If she was I’d be the first to share your position, But if people are already choosing to migrate their time to these online worlds then how can we use that to do real world things, and to give people the same feeling of control and agency that motivates them in the game world into other areas of life. I don’t think descriptions of fine flecks of snow is going to motivate someone into doing hard physical work who doesn’t want to do it, but perhaps a community spirited game might encourage people to join those who already get excited about flecks of snow on their coat. Even if the game is as simple as “which neighbourhood can clear their streets fastest” Worth a try at least and infinitely more likely to change things than inaction.

I’m not entirely sure what your motives behind this are But what I took as a light read that’s a hint at what might be possible and where the future of this might go, fair enough she thinks a little too highly of herself and her work, but most of your criticism seems mean spirited if not down right childish. I truly hope that I’ve missed your point in your criticism by a degree as wide as I perceive you to have missed the point of the book. I look forward to having my mind changed.

http://mediamatters.org/research/201103300021

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/planned-parenthood-challenged-on-purported-mammogram-claim/2011/03/30/AFjCFO3B_story.html

Planned Parenthood is a money making business, and is the largest abortion provider in America. 78% of their clinics are in minority communities. African Americans make up 12% of the population, but 35% of the abortions in America. It was a business design aided by its founder, Margaret Sanger, a woman who spoke clearly of her views. “The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.” Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race (Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923)

I’m more white than sour cream, but I happen to be one of the few people who don’t support racial genocide.

Check out the 180 movie on youtube to get an idea of what Planned parenthood does.

Also worthy to note, they got busted again..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq0kBkUZbvQ

I will let other of my breast cancer friends know of this decision.

You are so right about Central Ohio(the Columbus area)..this place is absolutely horrible and if the economy weren’t so bad..I wouldn’t have come here in the first place. This are has hands down THE WORST drivers I have ever seen in ANY city. I’ve already witnessed multiple accidents (as they have occurred) with a lot of them way too close for comfort. The weather is VERY bizarre. One day it can be almost 60 degrees and the next it’s 30 degrees with howling winds and snow. This place and the people who live here are weird, schizo and uninteresting. The city has no culture whatsoever and it just looks like someone decided to build a city on top of farmland.

Ohio in general is just a joke. There are no decent jobs here…every city in this state is an armpit and most of the people who live here are poor or very close to being impoverished. The lack of sun causes serious mood problems such as depression and anxiety (I’m not joking). I honestly hope to be gone from here within the next two years. I am just living here because I need to work and pay off some debts. Once I am debt free, I am leaving this city and state. I can’t see myself tolerating this place for more than two more years.

That could have prevented everything, because really no one is at fault. The actors play a role in the interviews, they say things supposed to be repeated over and over until people swallow. And you wanted to have an honest conversation. The parts were simply imcompatible.

I gotta say though, in my opinion, it’s more far fetched to think you can milk sincerity in a celebrity interview than to think you’ll meet your true love in a bordel, I mean, it can happen, but it isn’t this much of a bet.

The only problem I have with “A matter of trust” is all the anti Catholic rhetoric. The song references first communion, stained glass, the rosary, all the while telling Virginia to ignore her religious upbringing, loosen up and have sex with him. Great message! Did you teach that to your own daughters Mr Joel?
What’s the matter Billy? Did a nun slap you too hard when you were in elementary school?

I hope you’ve grown past this over the years and realize the absolute BS you were peddling in this song.