Supposed 11 year old genius claims that video games are a waste of time

[Khuutra]

Torillian said:

Khuutra said:

Torillian said:
Of course video games are a waste of time. Same with every other hobby people do for fun. Technically while I'm wasting my time playing Trash Panic or Cross Edge I could be doing research, I could study and better myself every waking moment of every day. But I don't because I like to have fun, apparently this kid doesn't have time for fun. Doesn't make him wrong though.

That the arts do not have tangible benefits does not make them a waste of time. Any enriching experience can benefit the person who goes through them.

If all you are looking at is what your effort will achieve and how it will better the world at large then sure creating art isn't a waste of time, but enjoying it could definitely be seen as such.  Like I said, I play and enjoy games, but I could definitely do something more useful with my time.

Utilitarianism does not work that way. In order to enrich others, one must enrich oneself. Experiencing the arts is just as useful, just as necessary, as more traditional forms of education. In order to justify art's production, we must partake - when we partake, we necessarily contribute to production.

I am not overly concerned with the kid's ideas - I'm sure he's very smart - but I hope he ends up expanding his horizons enough to see that the arts are important, too.