Mission Impossible Becomes Possible Through Play

Play is our brains favorite way of learning.
Diane Ackerman, Contemporary American author

Perhaps Steven Nachmanovitch says it best in his book Free Play: "Play cannot be defined, because in play all definitions slither, dance, combine, break apart and reconnect. ... In play we manifest fresh, interactive ways of relating with people, animals, things, ideas, images, ourselves. It flies of social hierarchies. We toss together elements that were formerly separate. Our actions take on novel sequences.  To play is to free ourselves from arbitrary restrictions and expand our field of action.  ... Play enables us to rearrange our capacities and our very identity so they can be used in unforeseen ways.

"Play" is different from "game".  Play is the free spirit of exploration, doing and being for its own pure joy.  Game is an activity, defined by a set of rules like baseball, sonnet, symphony, diplomacy.  Play is an attitude, a spirit, a way of doing things, whereas game is a defined activity with rules and a playing field and participants."

I find joy whenever I read  Nachmanovitch's words. His words emulate his thesis of free play.  My mind does its own dancing and hopping, connecting, and enjoying new spaces, new possibilities. 

Play has played a vital part in all of my work, which began with seven and eight year olds in public education.  It wasn't what I learned from adults that set me on my search for meaning, but what these young minds offered.  When given the opportunity their play was incredible and wonderful.  They learned very serious things from play, in their own time, with their own rules and with each other.  More than anything else, play is about relationships that provide pure pleasure and meaning through interactions that surprise and delight and deepen understanding of our humanness, as opposed to the rules that constrict and close us down.  

Through the unfolding of The Learning Exchange, MG Taylor Corporation, and Tomorrow Makers I have learned how easy it is for adults to engage together in collaborative play.  Simulations, Inventions, Design of the Impossible are modules that are built into this work and people find themselves shedding inhibitions, assumptions, and engaging in new and remarkable ways. The art of creating together and collaborating in ways long forgotten resurface. Change happens. 

So I was delighted to see Jane McGonigal's Ted Talk on how games can make a better world.  I have now finished reading her book, Reality is Broken, and am convinced that Jane is on to something important.  Nachmanovitch invites us to play with him on every page of his book.  McGonigal provides research and a deeper understanding of why games could help reconceive and rebuild our world. 

Jane researches and explores such things as:

* Why games make us happy and what exactly is the happiness factor
* Stronger social connectivity
* Becoming something bigger than ourselves
* Reinventing reality
* How very big games can change the world
* The Engagement Economy
* Saving the Real World Together

In 1979 Matt and I created a long now scenario 25 years into the future.  Our scenario ended with "Rebuilding the Earth as a work of Art.  The real adventure begins." In deed, this is Jane's proposal and the promise of games.

In 1979, when we proposed our vision, there was no Internet, let alone any understanding of social media, virtual games, global citizenry, paradigm shifts, etc.  Over the years, all of this has come to be.  The adjacent possible is available and waiting. 

Anyone want to take part in creating the next great game? Let us know. we can do it together!



Oh No! Not Another Election!

Squander: To spend lavishly or profusely; to spend prodigally or wastefully; to use without economy or judgment; to dissipate; as, to squander an estate.

I cringe at the reality of another election! Is there anything more insidious than billions of dollars being spent on lies and sound bites?  Reality shows which are, in my mind, mostly stupid, stand head and shoulders above national elections.  And they are very difficult to get away from.  They permeate our minds, bodies, and souls.  We recognize the lies and the silly bickering for what they are and yet as almost all are born to breed fear and loathing about the other candidates, our culture, our weaknesses, our future ... and on and on.  By the time the election is finally decided, all we know is that someone won.  And, for sure it is not the American people. 

But, could it be? Could we have a different kind of election?  President Obama says he will spend a billion dollars on his campaign to win a second term.  And much of it will be raised by grass root efforts. So what if we changed the game.  What if we could talk one candidate to not squander his or her money on stupid TV adds, but rather to give it back into the community to improve the health and wellbeing of the American people and all that goes with them? 

Here are just a few of the ideas that need help and renewal: Our environment, our health systems, education, infrastructure, etc.  Sure dumping dollars into the ongoingness of these systems is pretty useless, but what if we could use the money to transform our way of thinking and allocating resources to one of these pressing problems?  What if campaign dollars could change the game and set a new pattern for engaging citizens in creating a more fit 21st Century mission?

This seems like a natural of Obama, but then he seems to be owned by other forces.  Is he strong enough, if he had the help of the Second Super Power (grass roots vision and know how) to turn this squandered resource into a healthy asset? Is there a real way to work together? I know he wants us to work with him ... but it is to raise money for ads and other stuff ... a real, tragic waste of our souls and talents. 

Media companies thrive during elections. It is to their gain to distort and game the system.  It is all they know how to do.  I know this idea will be dismissed and said to "be too difficult." How could we ever decide what to support when we are so fractured as a society?  Yes! It will be difficult ... but I know in my heart of hearts that as humans we have an innate desire to work together, to solve difficult problems, to live within complexity, and to co-design our way into a new world.  It is just that the existing systems hold us in place. 

How can we push this idea into reality?