Speaking News

Just a quick update on some news around here: I have switched lecture agents, and will now be represented by the Leigh Bureau. Giving talks is steadily approaching 50% of my job, and it's something that I really enjoy doing, so if you're putting together a conference or doing some kind of corporate event that you think I could be helpful with, drop Wesley Neff a note at the Leigh Bureau. His email is WesN at Leighbureau dot com. (But please -- only contact Wes if you're interested in having me do a speech somewhere -- for media interviews you should contact the Riverhead publicity department, and if you want me to write something, you can just email me directly.) Between now and November, I literally have about fifteen speeches to deliver, some of which are open to the public, so I'll try to keep the site updated with news about these events as they come up.

In terms of media appearances, I'm going to be on Charlie Rose sometime this week or next. (We taped a very fun conversation last week.) I'll try to post a note when I know the exact air date, but we're going to be away for most of the next week with spotty net access, so I might not get a chance.

Finally, it's very satisfying to see more mainstream publications coming around to the "games might be good for you" argument. The Economist cover story from last week has this subtitle: "Critics of video games say they encourage addiction and violence, but research does not support the claim." And Tara Parker-Pope's health column in Tuesday Wall Street Journal ends with this very sensible piece of advice:

Play the games yourself. Parents who do take the time to learn about the games children play will be surprised at how much skill it requires -- and how much children enjoy watching their parents struggle to play. "It's no different than anything else children do, a parent should be involved," says Dorothy Salonius-Pasternak, a Harvard research associate who has studied the impact of videogames on children. "And it can be a really positive experience for children to develop a level of mastery that their parents don't have."

Comments

[Frank Church]

I am a regular poster at the HarlanEllison.com site, which is a testament to the award winning Science Fiction/fantasy/essayist. Harlan is a hoot of a guy, but gets very angry at stupidity in society. He has a distinct dislike for pop culture and thinks that most American's are quote, "rock, stone stupid." He is also an avid hater of the internet and everything it stands for. The only reason he goes online is to read the postings there and occasionally respond.

I will go to his site and see what he thinks of your defense of popular culture. I doubt you will like his response. He is one tough cookie; and since he has worked in Hollywood for about 35 years, I think it would be best not to debate him.

[Monte Davis]

"And it can be a really positive experience for children to develop a level of mastery that their parents don't have."

I can trace the arc from my two sons' peeking timidly between their fingers as I played Doom (the younger couldn't take it for more than a few minutes) and last year, when they blasted through Half-Life 2 in long sessions that would have left me exhausted and wrung out. I finished the game too, but at a *sensible*, *mature* pace :-)