Gamification: can (and should) everything be fun?

A student of mine recently shared her opinion on gamification in class (and I encouraged her to share it on Twitter for further discussion).

I personally think that gamification can be sort of a lazy escape out of the mundane things in life, life is supposed to be hard and to try to get the easy way out by gamification won’t help you grow as a person #ALM201

— Hams (@hamssayedx) July 11, 2018

We all experience challenges in life. I won’t sugar coat the truth.

This is an interesting take. Isn’t the whole point of life to find the fun in the usually mundane? You only have one life, so why not make it as enjoyable as possible?

— 🌈 Mikyla 🌈 (@mikylalouise) July 11, 2018

Does gamification enable us to embrace these challenges  – or is it just a dopamine enducing escape?

What cannot or should not be gamified?

Maybe making medical surgery gamified wouldn’t be a good idea. But then again, I wonder how many doctors played “operation”.

— Adam Powell (@AdamPow59571578) July 11, 2018

Let’s unpack this by turning back the clock to the late nineties…

via GIPHY

As a child I did not enjoy going to the dentist. I mean, what was there to like? The sterile, unfamiliar environment; the tray of strange and terrifying metallic instruments; the harsh, screeching sound of the dentist’s drill.

Luckily, my Dad figured out a way to make trips to the dentist enjoyable for my sister and I through his own gamification strategies.

Whilst the term ‘gamification’ had not been conceptualised yet, the theory of classical conditioning (see behaviourism) was decades old by 1998.

There were a number of things my Dad did to entice my sister and I to the dentist’s chair.

• We would leave school early for the day – much to our classmate’s envy.
• The dentist’s secretary would give us a sticker after our appointment. Usually stating something motivational (‘I was a great patient!’ or ‘I was brave!’) with a tooth pictured next to it.
• My sister and I were allowed to choose a sweet treat at the bakery next door to the dentist’s office. (Yes, I see the irony!)
• But most importantly, we were allowed to pick one wrapped mystery present out of the lucky dip box at the toy store pharmacy next door.

 

The lucky dip mystery prize was (in my child mind) the most positive and important aspect of visiting the dentist. There was something about the process leading up to it. The suspense as I carefully shook,  measured  and even smelt each present to ensure my choice would not disappoint was exhilarating!

via GIPHY

Looking back, most of the the presents would contain a collection of pretty ordinary things.  A box of musk sticks, a sheet of stickers, a doll, chocolates, a necklace or a flimsy budget lego equivalent.

But that was beside the point!

Perhaps it was the mixture of emotions leading up to and during?

Or the release of anxiety?

Funnily enough, a recent phenomena on Ebay is the ‘Mystery box’ craze, with some boxes even selling for $1000. I suppose one person’s trash is another person’s treasure?

“These were the most exciting boxes I’ve ever opened. Even though they contained trash, they were very fun to open.”

20 years on, I can honestly say that I LOVE visiting the dentist. (I mean sure, I don’t enjoy being poked and prodded with needles, but there is a satisfaction that comes with enduring short term pain for long term gain).

An unpopular opinion? Yes, but one that will save myself a lot of unwanted stress (and money) in the long run.

It’s interesting to note how this collection of positive childhood experiences solidified a good behaviour in adulthood.

that’s a really good point! in my opinion, i feel that life needs a balance, because we have enjoyable things, we should also have the bad things, just like light needs dark etc.

— Hams (@hamssayedx) July 11, 2018

I do wonder, if everything in life could be gamified for enjoyment, what experiences would we have left to provide contrast?

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I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. What motivates you to face life’s challenges? Does mystery make you excited? What can’t or shouldn’t be gamified? Please leave a comment below or shoot me a tweet @DTeychenne. Be sure to visit Our Gamified World  for more gamification related content!