Blog Post #5

Right from the start, Jane McGonigal answers the “so what?” question. She says that gaming currently takes up 3 billion hours a week. She follows that up saying that it is not enough. We need to take up 21 billion hours a week to solve world issues like poverty, world hunger, obesity and more. People in the audience start laughing and she reiterates that she is serious.

But how? How could she be serious? Well, she shows a picture of a boy (taken by Phil Toledano) who is intensely focused and urgent and intense concentration. She calls his expression “someone on the verge of an epic win”. “An epic win is an outcome that is so extraordinarily positive, you had no idea it was even possible until you achieved it. It was almost beyond the threshold of imagination, and when you get there, you’re shocked to discover what you’re truly capable of.” And that already makes a lot of sense. If people spend 3 billion hours now with this feeling and this level of concentration and urgency and focus, imagine what 7 times that is and on world issues rather than virtual reality ones. She entices the reader with this idea that video gaming could bring about world solutions with a little comedy but mostly intriguing facts. The idea in and of itself is pretty crazy which intrigues the viewer (or in my case reader).

The concept of hooking the reader the way she has is an excellent writing strategy which could benefit any writer when getting their audience. And that is only three minutes in to her 20 minute talk.

She goes on to show what people look like when actually tackling these everyday problems. She calls it the “I’m not good at life” face. This concept of contradicting your point with what is actually going on, makes sense and enhance the writing that much more.

The overall talk, makes the viewer want to get involved in the ideas she has suggested. She made me want to. It is a good way of writing and a good way of extending your cause to the public.