Author Topic: Is life like a video game?  (Read 2428 times)

wageslave23

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Is life like a video game?
« on: December 03, 2018, 05:00:59 AM »
I'm always trying to think of life from a new perspective and I think I've found one that fits.  It's like you are playing a Mario Bros arcade game and you just put in your one and only quarter.  So far in my game I've traveled through the first 3 world's and then stopped at a brick that gives you coins every time you ram your head into it.  I want to build up a stockpile  of money and lives so I've been sitting here banging my head against the brick for the last 6 yrs and have about 4 or 5 more to go.  Is this the best approach?  It might be if your objective is to play the game the most efficiently and conservatively.  But considering it's just a game and in this magical game there are 1000s of different worlds to explore and there is a global game timer that runs out at 90 yrs regardless of how many coins or lives you have stockpiled, it seems to make more sense to just run around exploring as many of the different worlds as possible and doing whatever side games that look interesting along the way in order to get the coins you need to stay alive.  Once the side games get boring you move on to another one.

I hope this analogy is painfully obvious.  But I will spell it out anyway.  I get really bored but generally try to stick to the same industry and employer in order to get to FI because it's the most efficient way.  But maybe I should be job hopping and switching industries and moving to different states and countries because why not?  I'm an accountant but I think it would be interesting to be an HVAC person, psychologist, teacher, carpenter.  To live in Brazil, France, Mexico, etc.  What do you guys think?  Is this an accurate analogy and does it point to my conclusion?
« Last Edit: December 03, 2018, 05:07:46 AM by wageslave23 »

soccerluvof4

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2018, 05:15:11 AM »
I feel for my life is more like an old fashion pinball machine. You try to keep things going, your constantly bouncing of different obstacles in life while trying to rack up the score (which represents $) in challenges life throws at you,  and you try to go as long as you can without hitting bottom. Your on the right track you get bonus ding ding ding Bucks and other times your just trying to flip yourself back into the game.  That kinda sounded depressing but thats not quite what I had in mind.

wageslave23

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2018, 07:03:27 AM »
I feel for my life is more like an old fashion pinball machine. You try to keep things going, your constantly bouncing of different obstacles in life while trying to rack up the score (which represents $) in challenges life throws at you,  and you try to go as long as you can without hitting bottom. Your on the right track you get bonus ding ding ding Bucks and other times your just trying to flip yourself back into the game.  That kinda sounded depressing but thats not quite what I had in mind.

That does sound a little depressing.  You must have kids or health issues.  I have neither to distract me from the monotony of a 9-5 job, for better or worse.

OtherJen

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2018, 07:22:13 AM »
I feel for my life is more like an old fashion pinball machine. You try to keep things going, your constantly bouncing of different obstacles in life while trying to rack up the score (which represents $) in challenges life throws at you,  and you try to go as long as you can without hitting bottom. Your on the right track you get bonus ding ding ding Bucks and other times your just trying to flip yourself back into the game.  That kinda sounded depressing but thats not quite what I had in mind.

That does sound a little depressing.  You must have kids or health issues.  I have neither to distract me from the monotony of a 9-5 job, for better or worse.

Are you young? At 40, this just sounds like life, and I have neither kids nor significant health issues.

wenchsenior

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2018, 07:32:32 AM »
I feel for my life is more like an old fashion pinball machine. You try to keep things going, your constantly bouncing of different obstacles in life while trying to rack up the score (which represents $) in challenges life throws at you,  and you try to go as long as you can without hitting bottom. Your on the right track you get bonus ding ding ding Bucks and other times your just trying to flip yourself back into the game.  That kinda sounded depressing but thats not quite what I had in mind.

That does sound a little depressing.  You must have kids or health issues.  I have neither to distract me from the monotony of a 9-5 job, for better or worse.

Are you young? At 40, this just sounds like life, and I have neither kids nor significant health issues.

No kidding.  Life tends to happen while you are making other plans.  It would have been helpful had I recognized how true this is by my early 20s instead of late 30s lol.

wageslave23

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2018, 07:39:54 AM »
I feel for my life is more like an old fashion pinball machine. You try to keep things going, your constantly bouncing of different obstacles in life while trying to rack up the score (which represents $) in challenges life throws at you,  and you try to go as long as you can without hitting bottom. Your on the right track you get bonus ding ding ding Bucks and other times your just trying to flip yourself back into the game.  That kinda sounded depressing but thats not quite what I had in mind.

That does sound a little depressing.  You must have kids or health issues.  I have neither to distract me from the monotony of a 9-5 job, for better or worse.

Are you young? At 40, this just sounds like life, and I have neither kids nor significant health issues.

I'm 34, but without health issues or kids, my only issues in life are if a renter doesn't pay rent one month, a client speaks rudely to me, my receding hairline.... all issues that are very minor in the grand scheme of things.  What are some major pitfalls that you all deal with absent kids and health?  I'm assuming because you are on this forum that money or work stability aren't one of them either.

OtherJen

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2018, 07:55:47 AM »
I feel for my life is more like an old fashion pinball machine. You try to keep things going, your constantly bouncing of different obstacles in life while trying to rack up the score (which represents $) in challenges life throws at you,  and you try to go as long as you can without hitting bottom. Your on the right track you get bonus ding ding ding Bucks and other times your just trying to flip yourself back into the game.  That kinda sounded depressing but thats not quite what I had in mind.

That does sound a little depressing.  You must have kids or health issues.  I have neither to distract me from the monotony of a 9-5 job, for better or worse.

Are you young? At 40, this just sounds like life, and I have neither kids nor significant health issues.

I'm 34, but without health issues or kids, my only issues in life are if a renter doesn't pay rent one month, a client speaks rudely to me, my receding hairline.... all issues that are very minor in the grand scheme of things.  What are some major pitfalls that you all deal with absent kids and health?  I'm assuming because you are on this forum that money or work stability aren't one of them either.

Well, elderly parents and their illnesses are one example. The unstable political climate around health insurance and taxes is another, as I’m a freelancer (you’re right that with steady clients and income, money itself is not a big issue). In the last 10 years, we’ve dealt with my spouse’s job loss while I was in grad school and our home losing 80% of its market value. Life happens.

GuitarStv

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2018, 08:10:06 AM »
Life is like playing Super Mario Bros. in that the goal is not the accumulation of coins (which really don't amount to much in the end) . . . it's to have fun.  Sometimes you want to spend the earliest stages banging your head against bricks in order to have some extra lives to maximize your play time, but getting enough 1-ups to finish the game is doable without making it all about drudgery.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2018, 08:12:13 AM by GuitarStv »

wageslave23

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2018, 08:23:01 AM »
Life is like playing Super Mario Bros. in that the goal is not the accumulation of coins (which really don't amount to much in the end) . . . it's to have fun.  Sometimes you want to spend the earliest stages banging your head against bricks in order to have some extra lives to maximize your play time, but getting enough 1-ups to finish the game is doable without making it all about drudgery.

I agree with its not about accumulating coins... its to have fun.  That's why I'm questioning whether choosing the monotony of working in one career for 10 yrs that has become boring is wise - even if it is the most efficient.  Also, is settling down in one place in general, long term, logical?
« Last Edit: December 03, 2018, 08:29:19 AM by wageslave23 »

wenchsenior

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2018, 08:31:41 AM »
I feel for my life is more like an old fashion pinball machine. You try to keep things going, your constantly bouncing of different obstacles in life while trying to rack up the score (which represents $) in challenges life throws at you,  and you try to go as long as you can without hitting bottom. Your on the right track you get bonus ding ding ding Bucks and other times your just trying to flip yourself back into the game.  That kinda sounded depressing but thats not quite what I had in mind.

That does sound a little depressing.  You must have kids or health issues.  I have neither to distract me from the monotony of a 9-5 job, for better or worse.

Are you young? At 40, this just sounds like life, and I have neither kids nor significant health issues.

I'm 34, but without health issues or kids, my only issues in life are if a renter doesn't pay rent one month, a client speaks rudely to me, my receding hairline.... all issues that are very minor in the grand scheme of things.  What are some major pitfalls that you all deal with absent kids and health?  I'm assuming because you are on this forum that money or work stability aren't one of them either.

In our case, dysfunctional family in all directions, with accompanying stress and financial burdens.  My chronic health issues that flared up in my late 30s and have been problematic since. The fact that my husband's dream job has us living for the past 18 years in one of the few places we always joked we would never move to under any circumstances (that was before we were subject to real financial stress that made the location acceptable).  The resulting unfortunate trade-offs I had to make between a 'career' and maintaining the most work flexibility to get out of the place we live as often as possible. 

I mean, it's fine and our life is objectively good. But it's radically different from what I ever envisioned when I was finishing college, that's for sure. In a few ways it's better.  In many ways it is not.

Boofinator

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #10 on: December 03, 2018, 08:36:38 AM »
I hope this analogy is painfully obvious.  But I will spell it out anyway.  I get really bored but generally try to stick to the same industry and employer in order to get to FI because it's the most efficient way.  But maybe I should be job hopping and switching industries and moving to different states and countries because why not?  I'm an accountant but I think it would be interesting to be an HVAC person, psychologist, teacher, carpenter.  To live in Brazil, France, Mexico, etc.  What do you guys think?  Is this an accurate analogy and does it point to my conclusion?

No comment on the video game analogy, but I would like to comment on the spelt out version. There's nothing inherently wrong with job-hopping, but I'm not convinced career-hopping (as your description is more aptly termed) brings greater happiness (unless it results in a major step up in the social hierarchy). A career doesn't necessarily need to be boring. It can remain relatively fresh, as you get more experience, more skilled, and attain greater responsibility. A new job within the same career can be great in that you are using your learned skills in new ways and learning something new at the same time (and perhaps traveling to new places to employ your skills if that's a desire).

On the other hand, I know of very few people who have successfully career-hopped. MMM might be a good example, but he fell into the professional blogger profession after he was FI. But it should be noted that he had acquired financial skills and writing skills well before he entered the latter career, so there wasn't much of a learning curve. (His other-other career, the house business he started immediately after quitting his job, did not turn out very well as he describes it and lasted two houses (his construction projects since then are probably more hobby-ish than career-ish).) The career changes you describe require a significant investment of learning to even break into the entry level, let alone to become proficient. Meanwhile you will be using very little of the skills you have already mastered as an accountant. The only reasons for which I'd advise on a career change prior to FI would be (1) a significant increase in earnings potential, prestige, etc., or (2) if you do not like your current career so much that it would be worth delaying FI by at least a decade.

TL;DR: Job-hopping: potentially good. Career-hopping: not recommended unless you have significant skills in that area to begin with.

GuitarStv

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #11 on: December 03, 2018, 08:46:04 AM »
Life is like playing Super Mario Bros. in that the goal is not the accumulation of coins (which really don't amount to much in the end) . . . it's to have fun.  Sometimes you want to spend the earliest stages banging your head against bricks in order to have some extra lives to maximize your play time, but getting enough 1-ups to finish the game is doable without making it all about drudgery.

I agree with its not about accumulating coins... its to have fun.  That's why I'm questioning whether choosing the monotony of working in one career for 10 yrs that has become boring is wise - even if it is the most efficient.  Also, is settling down in one place in general, long term, logical?

You've already answered your own question though.  If you're not having fun, then change what you're doing.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you should quit your good paying job and take up ditch digging.  Maybe start looking for another related job that you would enjoy more.  You might even find that the pay is higher at the new job.  Even if it's not . . . in the long run, who cares if you retire in ten years or twelve?  Being miserable for ten years vs happy for twelve will make a really big difference to your life.  Minor efficiency gains don't matter in that situation.

wageslave23

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #12 on: December 03, 2018, 08:51:03 AM »
I hope this analogy is painfully obvious.  But I will spell it out anyway.  I get really bored but generally try to stick to the same industry and employer in order to get to FI because it's the most efficient way.  But maybe I should be job hopping and switching industries and moving to different states and countries because why not?  I'm an accountant but I think it would be interesting to be an HVAC person, psychologist, teacher, carpenter.  To live in Brazil, France, Mexico, etc.  What do you guys think?  Is this an accurate analogy and does it point to my conclusion?

No comment on the video game analogy, but I would like to comment on the spelt out version. There's nothing inherently wrong with job-hopping, but I'm not convinced career-hopping (as your description is more aptly termed) brings greater happiness (unless it results in a major step up in the social hierarchy). A career doesn't necessarily need to be boring. It can remain relatively fresh, as you get more experience, more skilled, and attain greater responsibility. A new job within the same career can be great in that you are using your learned skills in new ways and learning something new at the same time (and perhaps traveling to new places to employ your skills if that's a desire).

On the other hand, I know of very few people who have successfully career-hopped. MMM might be a good example, but he fell into the professional blogger profession after he was FI. But it should be noted that he had acquired financial skills and writing skills well before he entered the latter career, so there wasn't much of a learning curve. (His other-other career, the house business he started immediately after quitting his job, did not turn out very well as he describes it and lasted two houses (his construction projects since then are probably more hobby-ish than career-ish).) The career changes you describe require a significant investment of learning to even break into the entry level, let alone to become proficient. Meanwhile you will be using very little of the skills you have already mastered as an accountant. The only reasons for which I'd advise on a career change prior to FI would be (1) a significant increase in earnings potential, prestige, etc., or (2) if you do not like your current career so much that it would be worth delaying FI by at least a decade.

TL;DR: Job-hopping: potentially good. Career-hopping: not recommended unless you have significant skills in that area to begin with.

That's a good point, I probably need to focus more on getting into a different area within my career, and maybe in a different location.  Would probably be a better compromise.  I wish there wasn't so much of a hurdle to start new careers.  I have a ton of interests but like you said there is significant schooling etc, to switch careers.  I have a bachelors in psychology and worked in the field for a couple years.  I enjoyed it but got bored and didn't want to do graduate school at the time.  So I switched to accounting because I like business and finance.  I enjoy it, but I still feel like I have so many interests and I end up wasting time doing the same things over and over again, which is how most jobs are set up.  I got my real estate license a few years ago and did real estate on the side for a while which was fun and interesting while I was learning it, but I could see how that would get old as well after 10 yrs. 

wageslave23

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2018, 08:57:11 AM »
Life is like playing Super Mario Bros. in that the goal is not the accumulation of coins (which really don't amount to much in the end) . . . it's to have fun.  Sometimes you want to spend the earliest stages banging your head against bricks in order to have some extra lives to maximize your play time, but getting enough 1-ups to finish the game is doable without making it all about drudgery.

I agree with its not about accumulating coins... its to have fun.  That's why I'm questioning whether choosing the monotony of working in one career for 10 yrs that has become boring is wise - even if it is the most efficient.  Also, is settling down in one place in general, long term, logical?

You've already answered your own question though.  If you're not having fun, then change what you're doing.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you should quit your good paying job and take up ditch digging.  Maybe start looking for another related job that you would enjoy more.  You might even find that the pay is higher at the new job.  Even if it's not . . . in the long run, who cares if you retire in ten years or twelve?  Being miserable for ten years vs happy for twelve will make a really big difference to your life.  Minor efficiency gains don't matter in that situation.

I think you're right.  I have a lot of margin in my financial future, so if changing locations, jobs etc costs me some money its not that big of a deal.  It just seems like I always have people in my ear cautioning me about job hopping, but I get bored after about two years and the job growth doesn't move quickly enough to keep my interest. 

GuitarStv

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2018, 09:11:27 AM »
Life is like playing Super Mario Bros. in that the goal is not the accumulation of coins (which really don't amount to much in the end) . . . it's to have fun.  Sometimes you want to spend the earliest stages banging your head against bricks in order to have some extra lives to maximize your play time, but getting enough 1-ups to finish the game is doable without making it all about drudgery.

I agree with its not about accumulating coins... its to have fun.  That's why I'm questioning whether choosing the monotony of working in one career for 10 yrs that has become boring is wise - even if it is the most efficient.  Also, is settling down in one place in general, long term, logical?

You've already answered your own question though.  If you're not having fun, then change what you're doing.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you should quit your good paying job and take up ditch digging.  Maybe start looking for another related job that you would enjoy more.  You might even find that the pay is higher at the new job.  Even if it's not . . . in the long run, who cares if you retire in ten years or twelve?  Being miserable for ten years vs happy for twelve will make a really big difference to your life.  Minor efficiency gains don't matter in that situation.

I think you're right.  I have a lot of margin in my financial future, so if changing locations, jobs etc costs me some money its not that big of a deal.  It just seems like I always have people in my ear cautioning me about job hopping, but I get bored after about two years and the job growth doesn't move quickly enough to keep my interest.

Just make sure you get the new job lined up before you quit the current one and there's really not much to worry about.

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #15 on: December 03, 2018, 09:18:58 AM »
I have a bachelors in psychology and worked in the field for a couple years.  I enjoyed it but got bored and didn't want to do graduate school at the time.  So I switched to accounting because I like business and finance.  I enjoy it, but I still feel like I have so many interests and I end up wasting time doing the same things over and over again, which is how most jobs are set up.

Sounds like you could probably transfer careers to something related to psychology without having too much downtime as "the new guy".

Doing the same things over and over again can be monotonous (especially so in certain professions), but has also allowed for the possibility of FIRE (through the wealth accumulation that is only possible through the division of labor).

wageslave23

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #16 on: December 03, 2018, 09:43:03 AM »
I have a bachelors in psychology and worked in the field for a couple years.  I enjoyed it but got bored and didn't want to do graduate school at the time.  So I switched to accounting because I like business and finance.  I enjoy it, but I still feel like I have so many interests and I end up wasting time doing the same things over and over again, which is how most jobs are set up.

Sounds like you could probably transfer careers to something related to psychology without having too much downtime as "the new guy".

Doing the same things over and over again can be monotonous (especially so in certain professions), but has also allowed for the possibility of FIRE (through the wealth accumulation that is only possible through the division of labor).

I could but I would take a major paycut and it would be low level stuff unless I got a doctorate.

Very true.  I never considered that the monotony of modern life is what allows FIRE to be possible. But I wonder if its worth it though?  Like maybe I should trade FIRE time for less monotony.  What would I do if I was FIRED?  Probably very similar to life before division of labor.  So I feel like the Mexican fisherman sometimes.

Boofinator

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #17 on: December 03, 2018, 09:54:59 AM »
But I wonder if its worth it though?  Like maybe I should trade FIRE time for less monotony.  What would I do if I was FIRED?  Probably very similar to life before division of labor.  So I feel like the Mexican fisherman sometimes.
The division of labor has been known to have dystopian elements since the beginning. Unfortunately, the alternative (hunter-gatherer culture?) is not efficient enough in the Darwinian world in which we live.

wageslave23

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #18 on: December 03, 2018, 10:27:01 AM »
For those who have had family issues, financial setbacks to deal with, I am very sorry for your difficulties and I realize that my boredom is a very privileged problem.

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #19 on: December 03, 2018, 11:48:40 AM »
Counter point: life is not like a video game because there are no extra lives in real life. You get one shot at this, so slow down, analyze, be considerate, have adventures but keep your head screwed on, when setbacks happen, gather yourself and keep going and never forget to appreciate the journey and all the good people along the way for whatever kindness shown, and the bad for whatever lessons they are forcing you to learn.

wageslave23

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Re: Is life like a video game?
« Reply #20 on: December 03, 2018, 12:14:12 PM »
Counter point: life is not like a video game because there are no extra lives in real life. You get one shot at this, so slow down, analyze, be considerate, have adventures but keep your head screwed on, when setbacks happen, gather yourself and keep going and never forget to appreciate the journey and all the good people along the way for whatever kindness shown, and the bad for whatever lessons they are forcing you to learn.

That's what I was trying to get at with the "one and only quarter" concept.  You only have 1 life and a limited amount of time so don't waste any of it doing mundane things you don't enjoy if you can help it.  And I guess you can add that "its only a game" or in 100 years everything you know and care about will no longer exist anyways, so don't stress about the setbacks.

 

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