I’ll say this… I originally played the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game. Is it immoral? Not really in a utilitarian system (one cannot maximize utility in a zero-sum game), but it was rather fun to enunciate your moves in Japanese.
To segue, computer games might serve an educational purpose, most notably the first *Deus Ex *and
Bioshock (which I haven’t played as it explores Ayn Randian Objectivist philosophy).
Deus Ex, for example, depicted a futuristic dystopia and evokes some basic questions into human nature.
However, I remember something Peter Singer said:
In fact, the average family in the United States spends almost one-third of its income on things that are no more necessary to them than Dora’s new TV was to her. Going out to nice restaurants, buying new clothes because the old ones are no longer stylish, vacationing at beach resorts — so much of our income is spent on things not essential to the preservation of our lives and health. Donated to one of a number of charitable agencies, that money could mean the difference between life and death for children in need.
I personally think it is quite lamentable that I (or my parents) spend hundreds of dollars on a card game, given that people in Africa live on less than one dollar a day.
If you do not want to waste your time, play something mildly didactic. BTW, I still watch Japanese YGO, though, to help me not focusing my mind on disturbing issues. It helps me keep some thoughts in a quiescent state. I do not want to revisit this topic (see
this thread; but if you are easily offended do not see it) and that is why I have to watch Japanese YGO (both GX and the second anime series) about an hour a day. That topic prevents me from applying Singer’s equal consideration of interest and it must be prevented from premeating my mind.
