Comments on: An Amusing Halloween Anectote. and Some Vague Attempts at Thoughts http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/ Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:27:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-381 Bonnie Sat, 05 Nov 2005 16:52:08 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-381 Anyone know the answer to that Second Life question? qDot, if you're out there, I'm sure you're in the know. Anyone know the answer to that Second Life question? qDot, if you’re out there, I’m sure you’re in the know.

]]> By: Nic Jones http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-380 Nic Jones Sat, 05 Nov 2005 06:51:24 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-380 A little of column A, a little of column B. Mothers Day, Fathers Day and Valentine's Day were certainly excuses in commercial exploitation, but Independence Day seemed more about the joy of getting together and blowing things up than a display of jingoism. It's very difficult to apply generalisations to the US because it contains an incredible cross-section of people with sometimes widely differing views. I imagine had I been in the south during April my experience would have been very different. Australians treat something like Queen's Birthday or Melbourne Cup day as excuses for four-day weekends far more than a show of patriotism. Getting back on topic, it'd be interesting to find out what happened in, say, Second Life for Halloween. Blizzard was responsible for the Halloweening up of WoW, but that's not how Second Life works. It might be a better indicator of what significance an external cultural events have to in-game worlds. A little of column A, a little of column B. Mothers Day, Fathers Day and Valentine’s Day were certainly excuses in commercial exploitation, but Independence Day seemed more about the joy of getting together and blowing things up than a display of jingoism. It’s very difficult to apply generalisations to the US because it contains an incredible cross-section of people with sometimes widely differing views. I imagine had I been in the south during April my experience would have been very different.

Australians treat something like Queen’s Birthday or Melbourne Cup day as excuses for four-day weekends far more than a show of patriotism.

Getting back on topic, it’d be interesting to find out what happened in, say, Second Life for Halloween. Blizzard was responsible for the Halloweening up of WoW, but that’s not how Second Life works. It might be a better indicator of what significance an external cultural events have to in-game worlds.

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-379 Bonnie Sat, 05 Nov 2005 04:03:50 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-379 But, in your experience, did that contrasting, American "pomp and ceremony" seem sincere, or commercial? But, in your experience, did that contrasting, American “pomp and ceremony” seem sincere, or commercial?

]]> By: Nic Jones http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-375 Nic Jones Fri, 04 Nov 2005 23:12:12 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-375 <i>Nic, where are you from? That's another interesting point (the hegemony of holiday culture) that, as an American and a born Halloween fanatic, I hadn't even thought of.</i> I'm Australian. The drop in trick-or-treaters does seem cultural - we've actually had a number of families with kids move into the surrounding area over the last year, so it's not simply a result of kids growing up. There were a few scattered Halloween parties in my social circle, but these were treated mostly as an excuse to hang out with friends more than anything specifically Halloweenish. <i>Tell us more about your experience"¦</i> I'd say that Australians are less glamourous about their special events than Americans are. I have only a few months I spent touring the US in 1998 as first-hand data to compare, but in general I'd say there is significantly more importance placed on pomp and ceremony in the US than here. Nic, where are you from? That's another interesting point (the hegemony of holiday culture) that, as an American and a born Halloween fanatic, I hadn't even thought of.

I’m Australian.

The drop in trick-or-treaters does seem cultural - we’ve actually had a number of families with kids move into the surrounding area over the last year, so it’s not simply a result of kids growing up. There were a few scattered Halloween parties in my social circle, but these were treated mostly as an excuse to hang out with friends more than anything specifically Halloweenish.

Tell us more about your experience"¦
I’d say that Australians are less glamourous about their special events than Americans are. I have only a few months I spent touring the US in 1998 as first-hand data to compare, but in general I’d say there is significantly more importance placed on pomp and ceremony in the US than here.

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-344 Bonnie Wed, 02 Nov 2005 22:09:29 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-344 Huh, that's a really good question - is this about age? I think that, for us (as in, modern Americans) it is - but I would venture to say that previously, in other times and other cultures, it hasn't been. If you think about it, we've taken things a step farther, and really infantalized the holidays themselves; we've made getting into the holiday spirit a childish thing. I wonder why...? Huh, that’s a really good question - is this about age? I think that, for us (as in, modern Americans) it is - but I would venture to say that previously, in other times and other cultures, it hasn’t been. If you think about it, we’ve taken things a step farther, and really infantalized the holidays themselves; we’ve made getting into the holiday spirit a childish thing. I wonder why…?

]]> By: Mike http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-332 Mike Wed, 02 Nov 2005 06:24:01 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-332 I was actually having a conversation about this with some friends. Is it really that holidays like Halloween and Christmas have lost their significance or "feeling" because of how commercial they have become, or have we simply grown up and grown out of the magic of the holidays? Do most people grow out of the holidays, only to be briefly sucked back in when their children are young enough to feel the magic for a few years? Having several (significantly) younger siblings, it is fun to watch them get excited over a holiday, but they're mostly concerned about what presents they want (but aren't we all?) I was actually having a conversation about this with some friends. Is it really that holidays like Halloween and Christmas have lost their significance or “feeling” because of how commercial they have become, or have we simply grown up and grown out of the magic of the holidays?

Do most people grow out of the holidays, only to be briefly sucked back in when their children are young enough to feel the magic for a few years? Having several (significantly) younger siblings, it is fun to watch them get excited over a holiday, but they’re mostly concerned about what presents they want (but aren’t we all?)

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-308 Bonnie Tue, 01 Nov 2005 16:05:38 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-308 Patrick, you make me laugh. And interesting point about the way we use the word game. But what the heck does "I'm spit some game" mean? Michael, thanks for the WoW details. In a way, it seems like those types of in-game holidays are actually bringing an amount of specialness back to something like Halloween. Nic, where are you from? That's another interesting point (the hegemony of holiday culture) that, as an American and a born Halloween fanatic, I hadn't even thought of. Tell us more about your experience... Patrick, you make me laugh. And interesting point about the way we use the word game. But what the heck does “I’m spit some game” mean?

Michael, thanks for the WoW details. In a way, it seems like those types of in-game holidays are actually bringing an amount of specialness back to something like Halloween.

Nic, where are you from? That’s another interesting point (the hegemony of holiday culture) that, as an American and a born Halloween fanatic, I hadn’t even thought of. Tell us more about your experience…

]]> By: Nic Jones http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-303 Nic Jones Mon, 31 Oct 2005 22:39:31 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-303 Dana Massey wrote a piece [1] for The Escapist on the issue of US morals being exported through games. When a game like WoW goes as all out as it did with the Halloweening of in-game content, it's clear that far more than just US policies on acceptable levels of sex and violence in games is being exported - cultural practices on every level are imposed on international gamers. (Halloween is a big deal in the US, but not so much elsewhere - I didn't even have a single trick-or-treater show up on my door, down from three last year) I'm all for Halloween, so I don't mind this particular US cultural import. At one point though, we're going to have decent in-game translators (hopefully linked to decent speech to text and text to speech systems) and we're going to see a real clash of global cultures. Instead of the imposed factionalism of Alliance vs Horde, there's going to be more than enough tension for specific racial / regional lines to be drawn in the sand by players. That's going to be an interesting day. [1]: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/link/454 Dana Massey wrote a piece [1] for The Escapist on the issue of US morals being exported through games. When a game like WoW goes as all out as it did with the Halloweening of in-game content, it’s clear that far more than just US policies on acceptable levels of sex and violence in games is being exported - cultural practices on every level are imposed on international gamers. (Halloween is a big deal in the US, but not so much elsewhere - I didn’t even have a single trick-or-treater show up on my door, down from three last year)

I’m all for Halloween, so I don’t mind this particular US cultural import. At one point though, we’re going to have decent in-game translators (hopefully linked to decent speech to text and text to speech systems) and we’re going to see a real clash of global cultures. Instead of the imposed factionalism of Alliance vs Horde, there’s going to be more than enough tension for specific racial / regional lines to be drawn in the sand by players. That’s going to be an interesting day.

[1]: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/link/454

]]> By: Michael http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-302 Michael Mon, 31 Oct 2005 19:19:12 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-302 World of Warcraft has had events centered around various holidays, the most recent one being Halloween. For the past couple of weeks the towns have been decorated with jack-o-lanterns, hanging ghosts and the like. The inns have had bobbing for apple tanks and you can trick or treat with the innkeeper. Treats are things like candy and costumes. Tricks generally involve turning you into something else for a minute. There are also special holiday quests to set off a stink bomb in an alliance town and to put rotten eggs in their beer. This weekend my guild organized an event to get as many people together as possible to do those quests together. It was a ton of fun and made a nice break to do something silly and frivilous. It was also a great chance for characters of widely differing levels to play together. In a social game holidays don't have to lose their specialness. An argument could be made that they can be less comercial in nature then their real live expression. Other types of games I'm not so sure about however. Is there really a point to inserting holidays into Project Gotham, Splinter Cell or World Poker Challange? World of Warcraft has had events centered around various holidays, the most recent one being Halloween. For the past couple of weeks the towns have been decorated with jack-o-lanterns, hanging ghosts and the like. The inns have had bobbing for apple tanks and you can trick or treat with the innkeeper. Treats are things like candy and costumes. Tricks generally involve turning you into something else for a minute. There are also special holiday quests to set off a stink bomb in an alliance town and to put rotten eggs in their beer.

This weekend my guild organized an event to get as many people together as possible to do those quests together. It was a ton of fun and made a nice break to do something silly and frivilous. It was also a great chance for characters of widely differing levels to play together.

In a social game holidays don’t have to lose their specialness. An argument could be made that they can be less comercial in nature then their real live expression. Other types of games I’m not so sure about however. Is there really a point to inserting holidays into Project Gotham, Splinter Cell or World Poker Challange?

]]> By: Patrick Dugan http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-301 Patrick Dugan Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:00:19 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/10/31/an-amusing-halloween-anectote-and-some-vague-attempts-at-thinking/#comment-301 Losing the sense of speciality to holidays was a big part of my angst between the ages of 11-13, but by HS I sort of just enjoyed the presents without worrying about the feel. Halloween in College is no different, now the pagan freedom I revel in has to do with sex and booze instead of costumes and candy. Speaking of which, sociosexual dynamics can be well described as a game, right? Like, "hes got game" or "I'm spit some game" or, "yeah, I don't really feel like playing games right now," you get the picture. Halloween, for all its Sex/Death reverie, its a holiday particularily for the game of sex: inhibitions are lowered, girls (particularly in college) are walking around in two peice nurse/schoolgirl/secretary/scientist/cellophane outfits. Its kidna like Lineage II giving away magic items on the games year aniversary, except replace magic items with partial nudity all over the place. Maybe this phenomena could be isomorphic to online games. So yeah, I had a good weekend. Losing the sense of speciality to holidays was a big part of my angst between the ages of 11-13, but by HS I sort of just enjoyed the presents without worrying about the feel. Halloween in College is no different, now the pagan freedom I revel in has to do with sex and booze instead of costumes and candy.

Speaking of which, sociosexual dynamics can be well described as a game, right? Like, “hes got game” or “I’m spit some game” or, “yeah, I don’t really feel like playing games right now,” you get the picture. Halloween, for all its Sex/Death reverie, its a holiday particularily for the game of sex: inhibitions are lowered, girls (particularly in college) are walking around in two peice nurse/schoolgirl/secretary/scientist/cellophane outfits. Its kidna like Lineage II giving away magic items on the games year aniversary, except replace magic items with partial nudity all over the place. Maybe this phenomena could be isomorphic to online games.

So yeah, I had a good weekend.

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