If you're curious, he's not a good science writer either

[rinue]

Letter to the Editor, Boston Globe*:

The September 18 Ideas section included a "Bibliophiles" interview with John Tierney, who asserted that boys play video games because so many young adult books are about a tomboy rescuing a crippled boy. Perhaps Mr. Tierney would be so good as to list a few of this cavalcade; I have clearly spent my entire life shopping in the wrong bookstores, attending the wrong schools, and submitting to the wrong publishers.

In return, I would be happy to point out a number of specialty titles in which a boy rescues a girl - often a girl with no disability at all! Better yet, in some of these titles, there aren't even any girls present! These books are obscure, I know, but I find they are available in most bookstores, filling almost every shelf. It's almost like looking at videogames! What a wonderful age we live in.

* Written by me; just sent; don't know whether it will be published.

Comments

Honestly

[tao_te_trick]

So, I'd never heard of this Tierney fellow, while searching for the article you referenced (which I found), I did have to look him up. I was disappointed to discover that you were not speaking of the Massachusetts representative but rather of the journalist. The title of your post should have clued me in, but I had forgotten it in the confused, red haze that befell my consciousness after reading the object of your protest.

I work with a man who shares a similar delusion to Mr. Tierney: that modern books and media are poisoning boys into subservient positions to women. That men are portrayed as dainty dandies that must be saved by powerful women. I like to press for examples, but I rarely get any honest answers. I thought, at least, he'd pull out examples like Disney's "Enchanted", Crystal Dynamics's "Tomb Raider" series, or Ellen Raskin's "The Westing Game". (Which contains both a tomboy girl and a cripple boy, though neither rescues the other from anything.) This co-worker, and likely Mr. Tierney, have developed a narrative of the world in which the dominating philosophy of the world is "misandry." They believe, with minimal evidence, that the world has painted all men as rapists and that they, my co-worker and the rest of the "good men", need to resist this narrative by being truly terrible to women.

I have, you might understand, strong philosophical and scientific objections to this world view as well as the plan of action to counter it.

Boys are playing video games instead of reading books because IT'S EASIER! What further imbalances the comparison is that games, by and large, constantly encourage the player. They also stimulate the production of serotonin by allowing players to frequently accomplish small goals. Books have no such capability. (Okay, some books do, but I don't we're really including books ABOUT setting and accomplishing small goals in this argument as they are largely outside young adult literature.) Video games pull the locus of control away from the audience and allow them to bask in the praise and acceptance of an external force.

Really, Mr. Tierney, if you find your son to be uninterested in books and lessons and instead being drawn dangerously close to video game addiction, you should maybe consider giving him some well-deserved praise some time. I think he'll respond well. It's just a guess but an educated one.

Maintaining an internal locus of control can be tiring, and sometimes, you do just want to surrender and let the tides take you away. This can be accomplished with chemicals, movies, or even by literally diving into the ocean. Video games, however, do something very unique. By providing the illusion of audience control, they credit the viewer with responsibility for all the positive outcomes without the stress of actual responsibility or true decision-making. The perceived benefits of self control with none of the tiresome burdens involved with actually developing inner strength.

Re: Honestly

[rinue]

My best theory is that Tierney's son was assigned The Secret Garden and Tierney thought it was boring and decided to generalize wildly. (Son is 12.) Not that the main character in The Secret Garden is what I would classify as a tomboy, given that her major activities include gardening, wearing dresses, taking tea, and nurturing an invalid (all traditional masculine activities!). But she was surly and outspoken, which I guess counts.

With regards to video games (incidentally, finally played through Portal 2 co-op. Love it.), I wouldn't say necessarily easier or shorter than books, but they have a lot more flash and allow you to dominate a space. If you have a console, you are taking over a TV and possibly a room (given the loudness, etc). Whereas with a book you are quietly in a corner. If you're telling a person or a gender that they're supposed to be brash and take charge and outgoing, it's obvious which experience they're going to go for.

I of course say this as both a reader and a gamer who loves bossing people around.

Nice point on The Westing Game. Love that book. Your coworker sounds dreadful. I do like the idea that together we and people like us are working to create counter-narratives that will eventually undermine this culture, but it's crazy hard work to forge a new path. Anyway, you know I'm rooting for you.