> never underestimate the number of people who have nothing to do and need an outlet
The interesting thing is that people always have an endless amount of things to do.
The problem is that we're usually really VAGUE about what we need to do. And vague todos don't get done a little bit less, or a little bit slower– they don't get done at all! This is pretty counterintuitive.
I have a bookshelf of unread books, and an endless list of work, but it's easier to play a game (or reply to a HN comment!) because the task at hand is much more straightforward. Type, hit reply, get the dopamine.
With the books, or with work, I have to pick something, decide what I want to do, decisions, decisions, decisions. Great video games lay out the decisions for you in a very clear "jump this gap", "pick up that weapon", "shoot that guy" sorta way.
Real life is messier, and so we procrastinate more. The feedback is less immediate and clear (unless we deliberately design it to be so.)
The interesting thing is that people always have an endless amount of things to do.
The problem is that we're usually really VAGUE about what we need to do. And vague todos don't get done a little bit less, or a little bit slower– they don't get done at all! This is pretty counterintuitive.
I have a bookshelf of unread books, and an endless list of work, but it's easier to play a game (or reply to a HN comment!) because the task at hand is much more straightforward. Type, hit reply, get the dopamine.
With the books, or with work, I have to pick something, decide what I want to do, decisions, decisions, decisions. Great video games lay out the decisions for you in a very clear "jump this gap", "pick up that weapon", "shoot that guy" sorta way.
Real life is messier, and so we procrastinate more. The feedback is less immediate and clear (unless we deliberately design it to be so.)