Home’s Generation Gap
Pyramus and Thisbe versus Darby and Joan
Some say Home is like being in high school, and in many ways that might be true.
Nearly everyone’s striving to be popular; you have loners and cliques and far too many hormones (particularly from the boys). Then there are your bullies, and hallway monitors willing to report anyone whom they consider out of line.
But to a teenager, Home is not so much a virtual high school as it is a place to get away from the real world.
Sometimes the real world is a scary place. Particularly to a teenager. We have to worry about peer pressure and grades, we wonder if there will be any jobs when we graduate, and watching the news only makes us believe the real world is falling apart…
I discovered PlayStation Home when I was fifteen. That was two years ago. I remember running into through the sunlit Central Plaza and doing a few laps around the saucer pop pond. My avatar was a crude little thing in pigtails and default clothing — not so innocent as she was naive.
I wanted to make friends. After all, that’s what this Home thing was about. But it was hard for me as a teenage girl to make friends, because most boys wanted to skip the whole friendship process and go right to dating and beyond. Then there were guys that asked my age, and once they found out, ran away screaming as if the To Catch A Predator cameras were looming in the background, waiting to pounce on them.
And meeting fellow girls for possible friendships was no easy task, either! First of all, back then, most all female avatars looked alike — so it was hard to tell if the human behind the avatar was female or not. On top of that, there was this strange vibe that encompassed Home: it was as if females were trespassing on sacred male ground. The video game world, even today, is aimed primarily at the male gender: all of the advertising in Home, the cool costumes, the environments…all aimed at a male population. Back then, being a girl in Home was the equivalent of being an extra on a movie set.
Then something changed.
Girls started buying clothing and apartments and furniture. And not all of that is attributable to men with female avatars. Home is a for-profit enterprise, after all, and money talks.
I found the PlayStation forums, and with others like Joanna Dark we rather vocally asked for equality in Home. At first, there was a general perception (accurate or not) that Sony was reluctant to release virtual commodities aimed at females, and what we did get, quantitatively, seemed lacking compared to what was offered for men. As an example: there were times when mini-games didn’t even offer a female version of a simple T-shirt prize. The point is not the prize itself, but the fact that an entire gender was excluded from obtaining it.
But, in the end, girls spending their money is what talked. And discrimination walked.
Like most teenagers, I rely on my parents for the majority of my money. And there was no way my father was going to be willing to pay real money for virtual items so my little avatar could rock the latest fashions.
His exact words were, “You want virtual clothing? Find yourself a virtual job. See if that Threads store is hiring!”
I was so angry that I could spit fire; how can he not understand the importance of clothing on Home?
Then I discovered Sony PSN cards: the greatest thing to a teenager since getting a driver’s license. I didn’t need any stinkin’ dad to buy my clothes. I took every babysitting job in a ten-mile radius and bought my first PSN card the following week. I spread the word to every teenager I knew about PSN cards, and soon we were wearing Home mall clothes which hitherto had only been available to the hard-working people with good credit.
Finding your niche in Home can be hard for anyone, but as a teenage girl it’s probably the hardest of all the age groups. The simple fact is that, if you are a teenage girl, you are going through some of the most dramatic changes in your life at this time. The transition from little girl to woman is tumultuous to say the least, so it takes a very patient and special person to be my friend.
Now: it is an acknowledged fact that most of HSM’s audience is at least in their twenties and up. To understand teenagers, you must understand the present-day teenage mind. Yes, you were a teenager yourself, once, but here’s where the generation gap becomes very apparent: someone who is, say, seventeen — on the verge of becoming a legal adult — would have been born in the mid 90’s.
Multitasking
In 1994, the internet already existed. The world had already gone digital. I fall into a group alternatively known either as Generation Y or the Millennials. Teenagers today are a little more advanced then when most adults were teens; from the time we were toddlers, we were bombarded with information and images at an alarming rate, and even though we might seem mature and knowledgeable, we lack experience. That’s something that cannot be taught or learned from the latest blog. It’s something each and every one of us has to go through, and that comes with time.
In a social context, being a teenage girl has some advantages over being a teenage boy, because we can talk and express and even reason. Teenage boys, if they feel lost or can’t keep up with the conversation — or just don’t feel like taking the time to understand you — will, more often than not, call you a name and body-pop in your face to show their “dominance” over you.
This also applies to not being able to strike up a conversation with females to begin with. It’s not always an attention thing: sometimes a teenage boy will feel no other option but to call you a name or dance on you, because they lack the social experience. If you argue with a teenager — particularly in Home — it’s more than likely that you are going to go away mad and disgusted. The teen, on the other hand, has just had ten minutes of entertainment and is moving on to look for the next stimulating thing to do.
As a teenage girl, I am used to walking through school hallways with boys that say things and do things to try to get a reaction. So I know how to laugh it off or snub them before they can even get started. But you reading this, as an adult, are probably not used to that kind of nonsense. And even though some of you may have teenagers, it’s doubtful they will act that way in front of you. But on Home, anything goes. And if you’re a jerk to begin with, then you can be a jerk-times-ten whilst wearing a turkey cap, clown coat, robot legs and glowing sneakers.
There isn’t enough pixelated steel and concrete to bridge the generation gap in Home, simply because not everyone is going cross the bridge in an orderly fashion. Some won’t even bother with the bridge, and will prefer to troll under it. Sony and Home can only do so much as far as entertaining us, but when the teenager gets bored and starts looking to make his or her own fun, you as adults have to remember, if confronted by a bored teen, to try to not to take it personally.
Most teens aren’t evil little demons with braces: they simply don’t know how to deal with boredom, and haven’t developed the social skills or worldly experience to keep up a conversation. Some of us have, though — or at least are further along that path. And that should not be discounted or ignored.
So always keep one thing in mind: ask yourself, “Who is the adult here?” And if you can conduct yourself as such, then you already have the upper hand — because you have the maturity we teenagers don’t.
March 2nd, 2011 by LiLBlueEyes | 13 comments
LilBlueEyes is a Home citizen and high-school student in the United States.
Very interesting read and well done LilBlue!
Really glad you wrote this article, LilBlue. Something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, is that sometimes we (Home users) are getting upset with each other over behavior that isn’t even intentionally meant to offend, but is instead the result of cultural differences, or generational differences, as you so well explained.
Great read, Lil. Personally have 3 teens, one your age, and two younger. They all have (or have had) account on Home. Two of them are Homeling. The ability to be actively Homeling and a teen, is a feat in itself, and says something about the maturity level of said teen. Often times, being Homeling tests your resolve and patience, and it has been a pleasure and an honor to have been introduced to some grand young minds.
Have known you a long time, Lil. You are a very insightful, thoughtful, and intelligent individual.
As leader of a group of older gamers in Home I want to say that I treat all people equally until they give me a reason not to. I have a few teenage friends on my list as well as older people and I find that there are some very respectful young people in Home. Also I think that not all of the trolls out there are teens.
I know that many are socially inept. That includes some older people as well and it is one of the reasons that some of them come into Home. They use it to hone their social graces.
Many times when I have been confronted by a troll I will offer them some advice instead of taking offense. I will warn them of the consequences of the behavior they are displaying as well, since it seems to me that they sometimes don’t know. Only after telling them this will I report them if their behavior continues to be bad.
Home is a place where we should all be respectful of each other no matter the ethnic group or age or any other factor that comes in with the avatars we create. This is a place to learn tolerance of each other if I ever saw it, because it is virtual and can sustain more bad choices than the real world will. Here you may only get banned, there you may get into a great deal more trouble.
Great article Lil, it needed to be said.
Very well written Lil. I have to disagree a bit though and say as an older person I have the intelligence to know that some of the kids are just adjusting and learning how to be social but as long as I have been going on home I have seen it all. I dont get upset or offended but I will report anyone out of line. I have run into alot of kids (and adults) that have some false sense of entitlement and think that since they havent had to face consequences for their actions anywhere in life a video game console is an amusement park. I feel that reporting and them actually suffering a punishment prepares them in a mild way of what can happen in the real world. I can be understanding until they show they have no intention of respecting anyone. Lots see this as a game but the truth is there r real people behind those avatars and some people can suffer in real ways from someof the things going on, ive witnessed it and had to help scared kids before. More people should be reported. I didnt have the internet in grade school like some but i choose to know as much as i can about todays tech so growing up on line shouldnt have anything to do with it. Ive said my piece and respect you and ur article very much. =)
Thank you everyone,
I was a little nervous as this was my first time writing for a magazine -- your kind words helped ease the jitters… And I have to wholeheartedly agree with Nugget that being a teenager should not give you a hall pass for any mean spirited actions, bullies (for a better word) come in all ages and should be reported.
Quite a well-written article.
At a recent production meeting, the team discussed a rather interesting question: just who exactly is the target audience for HSM?
We all agreed that we’re going after a Home audience that’s mature and literate. But as we got deeper into the discussion, we talked about how various other factors — income level, educational level, age range and so forth — were all largely irrelevant.
This article proves that point very neatly. To my knowledge, we have no other teenage voices in HSM — and, *generally* speaking, our audience psychographics skew older — and yet here is a wonderful article which examines Home’s generation gap in a very well-reasoned and interesting manner, written by someone who was born when *I* was in high school.
Thank you, LilBlueEyes, for a fantastic guest contribution. It is my sincere hope that you will offer more.
Nice article, Lil’. Thanks for attempting to shed a little light on the subject (after all, us old folks need a little more light so’s we can read).
A slight disagreement, if I may. You mentioned in your article that, “Teenagers today are a little more advanced then when most adults were teens”. I don’t believe that is true. Going back 100 years, for example, there was no internet or television and radio was in its infancy. But teens that actually went to school were required to read and comprehend books that the vast majority of modern adolescents simply wouldn’t understand. Additionally, many teens were already learning a trade. Sure, a modern teen can surf the net, but can they make a shoe or run a printing press? Not likely.
This is not to denigrate the current crop of teens, but to point out that what is expected to be known is vastly different from generation to generation. It’s not a matter of more or less advanced, but a matter of what knowledge is/was both available and practical. The main difference (besides the technology) at play, is that information was very specialized in the past and now (with the advent of the internet) it is more generalized. We have not, as of yet, evolved into anything superior than what we were in the last few handfuls of generations. Simply spend a few hours at your next monster truck rally, and you’ll see what I mean.
Again, nice article (your first! Congrats). Keep ‘em coming.
I understand your feelings johneboy,
There are many students in my class who can’t read or write past the 6th grade level, but they are pushed through the system because our school needs the room.
But you have to understand also, when my generation gets out of school, we not only have to compete with each other, we have to compete with the Asians and the Europeans in a global scale, I am not sure if there will be jobs to make shoes or car parts when I get out, as I believe most of those jobs have been shipped overseas.
I think in simpler times you could get by with just a high school diploma -- but now the stakes are much higher and the future of our nation depends on real leaders with new ideas that will make this country great again, of course you are right in saying the average teen has not evolved into a super computer wearing tennis shoes, (Wasn’t there a Disney movie about that once?) I don’t know what school was like when you went, I assume it was more peaceful and a lot less dangerous, but now there is a great disparity in those wanting to learn and those just floating along in my opinion.
Anyway thank you for bringing that to my attention, but then again as a teenager and think I know everything according to my mom, hey that’s another thing that hasn’t changed over the years LoL.
Excellent article Lil’. I’m in a fam on Home and we have a Junior division in which we sponsor those Home users who are 17 and under in hopes of giving them an opportunity to belong to a responsible, respectable family. Families are becoming popular yet most won’t accept younger members. We hope to give some of the younger people on Home a comfortable place to hang out and a great group of people to belong to. We older members must realize that we have a responsibility to be tolerant and accepting while setting a good example. That being said, it’s all about fun!
LilBlueEyes,
To adults real life is sometimes a scary world. I remember when as a teenager the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred and the world was on the brink of nuclear was. For years I thought that time was the scariest time there ever was in my life time. I don’t think so anymore but it does still rank up there, maybe tied for #1.
I do believe there is a generation gap both on Home and in real life. Always was one, always will be.
However, having said the above I do not disagree with your concerns. It was a well written article.
ummm… try creating an avatar for your “stinking dad” and have him give HOME a try if he will. But buy him some virtual soap.
~Kid~
“nuclear was” should be “nuclear wars”
oh my do I wish there were an edit ability for these posts. Yes I do, indeed I do.
Nice article Lil, although I think one point hasn’t been mentioned:
Home isn’t about age, gender, nationality, creed, religion, sexual preference, or any other demographic category us humans like to place ourselves in. Home is, and probably always will be, first and foiremost a game; allthough it is a game with social aspects. Games are intended to be a fun escape from the realities of life. They’re meant to be entertaining and enliightening.
No matter what the age or generation gap, the same holds true in Home as it does in any social situation: Respecting oneself through respecting others. The old adage “Do unto others as you would have done to you” holds equally true online as it does off. I claim no organized religious belief, but this tenet is carried through most of the cultural divides, etc, people claim are obstructions. No one will fault you if you’ve treated them kindly and with respect.
I’ve been online since the mid-90s and I’ve seen it in every social venue there is online: from IRC (Internet Relay Chat), to IM (Instant Messaging), to social networking sites; you name it, the behaviors are still the same. And these behaviors are in no way limited to the current or your generation. They have been present since the internet went public. When the Net was more closed to only educational institutions and businesses, it was more socialble and respectful. When the floodgate of the public was allowed in, the offline behavior patterns followed.
In the end, it all boils down to respectfully dealing with your fellow humans. One of the benefits of being online is it’s practically anonymous; which is also one of its pitfalls. When people meet you online, they don’t know you’re 15, from a poor family, failing in high school, working babysitting jobs to get PSN cards, etc. They see the “virtual you” and that is what they react against: How the virtual you treats them. If you later choose to divulge the background information of your real life to them, it won’t make any difference if you’ve already built up a relationship on mutual respect and trust. Online interactions give us the benefit of getting to know you from teh inside out, and if you show your insides aren’t worthy of friendship, nothing on the outside will change that.