Videogames make you cooler, cats and dogs living together

by JGordon on Jul. 21st, 2008
in Human Organism

comments

A fun virtual party: with fewer fireballs than I expected.
Courtesy Pathfinder LindenWell, maybe not “cooler,” but new research suggests that using online interfaces (like Second Life, or mmorpgs) actually improves one’s real-life social skills. And we all know that being cool pretty much goes hand in hand with excellent social skills.

Just ask Jim Stark. Or, like, Ryan Atwood.

I mean it. Ask them.

Anyway, contrary to popular belief, these videogames may be making people better at interacting with other people. The charisma stats in darkened, very nearly empty computer rooms around the planet are skyrocketing. Part of the reasoning here is that being thousands of miles apart and disguised by virtual characters makes it easier for people to approach and interact with each other.

Sort of like how if you were drunk and wearing a teenage mutant ninja turtles mask, you might say things you would have never otherwise considered to people you’ve never even met before. Right?

The research also points out, however, that to interact in an acceptable way in a virtual world, you would have to have at least rudimentary real-world interaction skills. It helps, though, if you’ve got wicked hit points.

The PhD student behind the research said that, over the course of the study, she immersed herself in Second Life.

Also, I’ll soon be publishing my research on how drunk people dressed up as ninja turtles have exceptional personal hygiene and 150+ IQs.