Not all who wander are lost…

Others still, are just lost causes

As I was finishing up “The Art of Losing” yesterday, the vibe it brought forth carried a certain finality to it, as if it was one of the last great insights I had the ability to muster, in sharing my deconstruction of Mario Kart World with you. Like most things I say, do, or write, the conclusion from this reflection is a paradoxical one, as it is in fact, a multiple choice take away, involving a nuanced answer along the lines of “well yes…but no” kind of scenario, as I’m sure I can muster more thoughts to share with you involving MKW, but at the very least, “The Art of Losing” looked as if a solid enough green flag of closure, that I feel contented with my breakdown of MKW, and feel as if it might be about time to shift gears again.

So consider this an epilogue, as I want it to act as a stepping off point, and not a moment that throws even more inspiration and controversy into the ether on Mario Kart’s behalf, but a final word about the context involving MKW is in order, before moving on from our “greener grasses”, as it were. To that point, I’ve been starting to create video content alongside my articles, which has been an enlightening creative challenge, and helps to furthermore frame my own sense of reference point to MKW (and games at large), in my approach of dressing down any title with a different flair of mindfulness. It is worth mentioning, part of my goal and aim in discussing any singular game on ATE, is that the analysis should kind of act as a focal point onto itself, so while any article I write most certainly aims to pay tribute to the game in question, the desire is to create something that is insightful, thought provoking, entertaining in its own right, and not just a laundry list of likes and dislikes of a game in question, as I feel as if that would act as if an extraordinarily shallow example of engagement, which I am adamantly against.

I’ve run into an interesting notion recently, where after I’ve created some content, or discussed the ideas surrounding my writing, or even just the idea of what I write about, I get asked a loaded question, either explicitly or implicitly, and that is the ever powerful but radically simple: “Why?” Which is such a fascinating inquiry to me. I’m not sure if it’s related to the notion that I’m tickled raw in considering that some folks are so stricken by the ideological toxicity of capitalism, they simply don’t see a point in motivating themselves to do anything if money isn’t involved, or if they just truly lack any intellectual curiosity whatsoever, and therefore are simply bereft of imagination in the affair. I don’t want to say this whole consideration has been bothering me in an actual, visceral sensibility, but its been floating around my head long enough, I feel as if I should get it down on the screen for further review.

I could easily turn the question around and ask the person who asked initially, the very same question: “Why?” Why do you care? Or, maybe more importantly, why do anything? Which, might sound dismissive or absurdist, but when one boils it down, it does act as a legitimate question, and a reminder of basic realities of day to day life. Like, why did that person see fit to read my article/watch my video, comment, engage in conversation, play the same game and come up with a totally different opinion, etc. This level of introspection does push one to reassess personal value propositions, and truly consider ourselves and what we care about in that process, and why it is relevant in our everyday.

The simple answer of course is as easy as: cause that’s the way it is. A much more complicated answer involves whether or not one subscribes to the theory of free will in our universe, or If they find determinism to be the more convincing of the two. Perhaps a synthesis of both works, and they might even buy into compatibilism in the grand scheme of things, in rationalizing how the universe operates. Which means the reason “why” they do anything, is either down to a set of value propositions they’ve gained throughout their life, dictating to them what they should engage in, and the great journey led them to me. Or, some form of fate beyond their control inexorably hurtling them towards the encounter, and they had no say in the matter, as it was always going to happen. Perhaps a mix of both.

I know this point may seem aimless or without clear direction, but my address of reality at large, sense of self, value, truth, lived experience, etc, that’s all relevant to the macrolevel picture of this event, and certainly gets me to the heart of the matter. A pertinent reason I do this is as some kind of personal affirmation of self, proof of existence, verifying what I think matters, registering myself as thoughtful within the grand spectrum of reality. In one major way, my want is to inspire others to consider maybe what they haven’t, or similarly explore themselves through the ideas of discovery through story (inventio per fabula), in understanding both the little picture and the big one, in making sense of existence and consciousness itself. Far too often, we busy ourselves with monotony or brain dead entertainment, to pass the time, draining any possible value out of it by never thinking more critically about what it has to offer, what it means to the culture…and so much more.

I think the more drive we have in creating and understanding reasons to find and or generate value is what helps to contribute to the building of great character for anyone involved, and a more meaningful conscious entity as a result, and I think, to that point, if we can find such gratification, value, truth, reason, and worth in something as small and ultimately inconsequential as playing a video game, I think that helps someone refine their own sense of self, in putting forth positive motivations to enhance one’s self, and get ever closer to the greatest aspiration of all, and that is self-actualization itself.

Sometimes, that all starts with the curious nature of a blue shell.

–Pashford