Over Hype

Thanks to Amos for showing me the link on overmarketing and overhype. Apparently some guerrilla marketing campaigns are too successful that they cause social panic and generally disorder to the point of criminality.

Which brings me to be a little concerned abt persistent reality games. In the past, we are were so fearful on games like Dungeons and Dragons etc coz we were afraid that people (esp kids) would emulate their behaviour and thus kill their parents etc. This argument has been going on since the invention of TV where violent behaviour has been frowned upon. Now when games cross the borders between reality and game space, what would happen?

Another interesting thought is where is the realm between real and game? it is so clear as online and real life? or is it the spaces they occupy. EG. the GAME TIME i have is when i come home and relax after dinner where my WORK TIME is where im in the office working. A persistent reality game is actually just that...its PERSISTENT. which means that it would INVADE other spaces such as social, work and maybe even religious. Hmm are these games what we really want? thing is, the VALUE of such a game is in its pedagogical aspect, where such behaviour actually teaches people to adopt these attitudes and values and continue to grow and reproduce them.

At one extreme, people would treat life as one big game. Social normative control would breakdown and the rules of social engagement would change. In a sense, life would be more interesting and less mundane. In another sense, we may lose the security and order we all have been accustomed to. The spaces will collide into each other, work will be play, play will be work, there is no social, no formal etc. sounds like anarchy in a sense.

Is this an ultimate expression of the internet and its freedom in real life?