C. Thi Nguyen: Enjoyment in activities shouldn’t be sacrificed for efficiency, the distinction between games and practical tasks is crucial, and social media’s gamification misrepresents engagement

Key takeaways

• Enjoyment in activities should not be sacrificed for efficiency or higher scores.
• Games are defined by voluntarily taking on obstacles to create struggle.
• Not all life activities can be framed as games.
• Practical activities differ from game activities in their goals and motivations.
• Intrinsic motivation is key in activities like mountain climbing, rejecting shortcuts.
• Motivation distinguishes games from non-games, focusing on process over outcome.
• Social media’s gamification influences behavior without being true games.
• Scoring systems in games provide objective performance measures.
• Scoring systems can misrepresent the complexity of communication and art.
• Metrics often replace nuanced understanding with simplified measures.
• Outsourcing values can lead to a lack of personal understanding.
• Health and well-being metrics are context-dependent and hard to quantify.

Guest intro

C. Thi Nguyen is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah. He is the author of Games: Agency as Art, which explores games as an art form centered on human agency and striving. His recent book, The Score, examines how scores and metrics capture our values and reshape what matters most.

The balance between enjoyment and efficiency in activities

• “The enjoyment of a game should not be sacrificed for efficiency or higher scores.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Efficiency often conflicts with the intrinsic enjoyment of activities.
• “I find it miserable… but you got to do it because you catch more fish.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• The pursuit of higher scores can detract from the original purpose of an activity.
• Efficiency-driven approaches may lead to a loss of meaning in recreational activities.
• The balance between enjoyment and efficiency is crucial in maintaining motivation.
• “What is the goddamn point?” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Understanding this balance is key to satisfaction in both games and life.

Defining games and their role in life

• “Games involve voluntarily taking on unnecessary obstacles to create the possibility of struggle.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• The definition of games helps analyze behaviors and choices in life.
• Not all activities can be considered games, challenging the gamification of life.
• “I don’t think everything is a game.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Games are distinct from other life activities based on their motivations.
• The philosophical definition of games applies to various life aspects.
• Games create opportunities for struggle and personal growth.
• Understanding games’ role in life can enhance decision-making and engagement.

The distinction between practical and game activities

• “The world just quickly divides into what suits calls normal practical activity and game activity.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Practical activities focus on efficiency and goal achievement.
• Game activities emphasize enjoyment and challenge.
• “In normal practical activity there’s some goal you want and you just do as efficiently as possible.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• The distinction helps analyze motivations behind actions.
• Understanding this difference is crucial for evaluating value in different contexts.
• Practical tasks prioritize outcomes, while game activities value the process.
• Recognizing this distinction can enhance satisfaction in various pursuits.

Intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation in activities

• “The mountain climber who’s playing a game will reject the helicopter.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Intrinsic motivation focuses on the process rather than quick rewards.
• The metaphor of mountain climbing illustrates intrinsic versus extrinsic motivations.
• Intrinsic motivation enhances the enjoyment and meaning of activities.
• Extrinsic rewards can detract from the satisfaction of achieving goals.
• Understanding motivation types can improve engagement in various pursuits.
• Rejecting shortcuts highlights the value of intrinsic motivation.
• The distinction between motivations is crucial for personal fulfillment.

The impact of gamification on social media

• “Social media operates with game-like mechanics, particularly through its scoring systems.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Gamification influences behavior without being true games.
• Scoring systems motivate behavior in game-like ways.
• “It’s not a game in a really profound way but it’s superficially game like.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Social media’s gamification can misrepresent user engagement.
• Understanding this impact is critical for analyzing social media’s influence.
• Scoring systems shape user perceptions of success and value.
• The distinction between genuine games and gamified systems is crucial.

The role of scoring systems in games and social interactions

• “A clear scoring system in games provides an objective measure of performance.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Scoring systems eliminate ambiguity in competition.
• “Real games you have that a lot but you don’t have to have them.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Scoring systems create clarity and agreement in competitive contexts.
• The role of scoring systems is relevant to both gaming and social media dynamics.
• Scoring systems can misrepresent the complexity of communication and art.
• Understanding scoring systems’ impact is crucial for evaluating engagement.
• Scoring systems influence perceptions of success and value.

The limitations of quantitative metrics

• “Quantitative metrics can be misleading if used inappropriately.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Metrics often lack context needed for proper understanding.
• “The problem comes when we don’t like find the appropriate one or balance them.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Quantitative metrics can obscure important qualitative factors.
• Understanding the limitations of metrics is crucial for informed decision-making.
• Metrics can replace nuanced understanding with simplified measures.
• The balance between qualitative and quantitative insights is essential.
• Recognizing metrics’ limitations can enhance decision-making and understanding.

The impact of outsourcing values and decisions

• “Outsourcing values leads to a lack of personal understanding of what truly matters.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• External value systems can impact individual identity and priorities.
• “You’re not developing a sense of what matters to you.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Outsourcing decisions can lead to less meaningful actions.
• Understanding the implications of value outsourcing is crucial for personal development.
• External influences can shape personal values and decisions.
• Recognizing the impact of outsourcing can enhance personal fulfillment.
• The balance between external and personal values is essential for satisfaction.

The influence of societal scoring systems

• “The scoring systems we engage with can either control us or serve as tools for our own pursuits.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Societal metrics influence individual behavior and decision-making.
• “A lot of the world’s scoring systems have a deep impact on us.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Recognizing the influence of societal metrics is crucial for personal agency.
• Societal scoring systems can impact personal goals and satisfaction.
• Understanding the implications of external metrics can enhance personal fulfillment.
• The balance between societal expectations and personal goals is essential.
• Navigating societal metrics requires awareness and agency.

The role of playfulness in navigating societal pressures

• “Playfulness can help individuals distance themselves from societal scoring systems.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Playfulness encourages a mindset shift towards enjoyment and creativity.
• “Playfulness is a habit that can help you regularly distance yourself.” – C. Thi Nguyen
• Understanding playfulness’ role is crucial for coping with metrics-driven environments.
• Playfulness allows flexibility in rule interpretation and engagement.
• Recognizing playfulness’ impact can enhance satisfaction and creativity.
• Playfulness can mitigate the pressures of societal metrics.
• Encouraging playfulness can improve engagement and personal fulfillment.