The Sims and Materialism.

After reading the first paragraph, I wasn't really sure what I had gotten myself into. After reading the whole chapter, I went back and read the beginning again and laughed. It seemed so depressing and awful... What was this man really doing? He was just playing The Sims. That's all. I thought it was all kind of pathetic.

I've never played Sims, but my best friend plays religiously. He occasionally tells me all about his little Sim family. His Sim is married and has four kids - one of which just started college. Every time he tells me about his simulated video game life, I get so annoyed that he isn't actually living his life instead. I think this game does offer an escape from real life. Maybe if you create a good life for a little avatar on a screen, your life won't suck so much. Or, your life will suck even more because you're not doing anything to fix it and make it better. Instead you're spending your time living a fake life in a false reality.

When Chuck Klosterman mentioned all of the things he bought for SimChuck to make him happy, it really sickened me. I know it's not real money... But I thought it was just ridiculous. If we can be happy without material possessions, which I believe is completely possible, then Sim characters should be able to live just fine without fancy things, too, right?

I know it is just a game and there probably aren't so many controversial issues involved, but I can't help but think that that ideology is false. Overall, I am happy. Today I got pulled over because the red covering for my taillight broke off, so my right break light is a white light. I have to work in order to barely pay my bills and expenses. I don't have fancy clothes or a nice house... But I am happy. I don't need goods and services to make me feel good about my life, and I think it's sad when people think they do.

>>>Also, I loved that Klosterman referenced Fight Club. :D