224: Gaming Isn't Brain Surgery

[RadioOntheRadio]

Wait, someone else has played Chaos Gate?! God, I need to set up a Windows 98 virtual machine just so I can play that again. BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD.

I'm a college junior right now, and when I work at my summer job, I fall into the trap of eating dinner as soon as I get home and then playing TF2 for the rest of the night (or doing something similarly productive). Sometimes I think to myself, "This might be my routine after graduating..." albeit with a different job. Apparently, I've got it good!

 

[Troy Goodfellow]

Interesting essay, mostly because I think a lot of people assume that their gaming habits will continue unchanged until they are faced with something a little more important. Brain surgery is pretty high in the stress/time category, but it's probably only an exaggerated state of what most people go through when they find a "real job" or have kids.

 

[Ironic]

This is definitely a tad worrying.

I am a medical student myself and as such I get the pleasure of jumping between different specialities. Whilst many do allow a reasonable work-leisure balance, there are others that are far more demanding. A good example is a recent surgical placement that had me start at at 7.00am, leave at 4.00am the next day and then start back on the ward at 7.00 three hours later! It didn't help that the canteen closed at 7.00pm too!

Personally, I am of the opinion that there is little harm in such extremes in the short term. In fact, long hours, grillings and even the occasional dressing-down by your seniors all seem to be part and parcel of medicine. Heck, I've heard it said that it's good for the soul!

However, to be in a state where there ?isn?t a minute to spare? in a long term context cannot be healthy. It is an understandable situation for games to take a backseat. It is perfectly logical for releases, forum entries and articles to slip by as responsible prioritisation rears its mundane head. It is sensible to argue that there is little merit to beginning complex games or those requiring long time commitments when you have little time yourself. But, the tone of this article seems to imply that 15 minutes of Dwarf Fortress and maybe a documentary or two per week provide the sole non-work activities of a doctor! In this light even the once monthly shop seems an overt luxury!

Perhaps I am reading into the piece too much, but there just seems to be no tempering to the points made, no scope or insight to the notion of time away from work or even just acknowledgement that even the busiest specialities allow for some downtime, even if only for the staff?s sanity!

?.. Also, as a last aside, an SHO once gave a very good piece of advice. Always make time for breakfast. You never know if you?ll get lunch.

I suggest you read up on the uberman sleep schedule

 

[Syntax Error]

At least you're not complaining. As I read your article it hit me that you just love your job more than games, and I, for one, am glad you had your priorities straight. As for me, I don't have the luxury of playing all the latest games (no gaming pc or current-gen consoles). I am one of those people you mentioned: the type of guy who keeps current by reading on sites like this.

This is a real eye-opener, and I can't shake feeling that I might go down this path, albeit a bit less.

 

[Desert Tiger]

Rich Retractor, if you're reading this...

You have the best name on Earth. Ever.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Perhaps I am reading into the piece too much, but there just seems to be no tempering to the points made, no scope or insight to the notion of time away from work or even just acknowledgement that even the busiest specialities allow for some downtime, even if only for the staff?s sanity!

The staff's sanity? What about the patient's safety. I think you're right about the health risks of such a schedule on the long term for the doctor himself, and those risks directly count for the patient as well. After all, a worn-down human is much more prone to make mistakes. And even though I'm not a medical student, I sure as hell know that you dón't want to make mistakes when you're screwing around in someone's body.

Rich Retractor, if you're reading this...

You have the best name on Earth. Ever.

Sorry Desert Tiger, that title is already given to Max Fightmaster, Staff Sergeant Max Fightmaster no less. Yes someone's actually called that. You just can't beat that, really, it's impossible.

 

[Fasckira]

To quote Mitchell and Webb;

"Brain surgery? ...still, its not exactly rocket science is it..."

(Note to all potential QQ'ers; this is intended as a joke, and does who have seen the episode of Mitchell and Webb that this relates to will no doubt chuckle in recollection. Thank you for your time in reading this.)

 

[Uncompetative]

May I recommend Robotron 64 on the N64. It's cartridges mean that it loads instantly, simple controls, deep challenging gameplay, yet the difficulty curve isn't too steep (like with Geometry Wars). Probably the best game I've played.


Not convinced? Watch this review.

 

[Russ Pitts]

..But you do have the time to write this article?

We had to adjust our deadlines to accommodate Dr. Retractor's schedule. At the time I was a little peeved, being an editor and all. After reading his article, however, I was shocked and grateful he took the time to work with us. Not only does Rich clearly love his profession, but he loves gaming and the gaming community enough to want to sacrifice what little free time he has to share his story. Deeply moving.

 

[Deleted]

I respect this man, I would never want to be a brain surgeon because if I get good at it I will have put a burden on my shoulders. People will think that its my responsibility to save someones life and if I fail its basically murder and its my fault, my whole life would be saving others but who will save mine from this sentence?

I imagine if his colleagues saw him playing video games they'd berate him on how he is a shame to the world because he isn't doing what hes supposed to.

 

[Therumancer]

Patient:
"Ever since surgery all I can hear is J-pop music in my head and something that sounds like growling demons. I think something went wrong..."

Doctor:

<Does X-ray of head> ought oh, I wondered what happened to my DS. I was playing Devil Survivor while operating on you... damn! I hope I don't lose my save data...

Patient:
"WTF! I'm going to sue grrmph"


Doctor:
"An accidental labotomy for you... yessss. I'm coming Yoohoo my love. Soon I shall level you up some more... What a relief you have been my pretty. Sure my malpractice suits are rising due to accidents, but I definatly am relieved".


I can just see gaming doctors becoming the news headlines of tomorrow. Society will become much more interesting... especially if socialized healthcare removes a lot of our choice about who to see, and every doctor suddenly becomes overworked leading to much less picky enforcement of policies.

One day we shall see a DS deeply lodged in someone's brain... mark my words.

 

[shMerker]

"Once and a while" is a mondegreen. The expression is "once in a while".

 

[AC Medina]

Nice article. It's great to see stuff like this to counteract the mainstream-ish opinion that gaming is for losers with no ambition.

 

[Dark_Lemon]

The staff's sanity? What about the patient's safety. I think you're right about the health risks of such a schedule on the long term for the doctor himself, and those risks directly count for the patient as well. After all, a worn-down human is much more prone to make mistakes. And even though I'm not a medical student, I sure as hell know that you dón't want to make mistakes when you're screwing around in someone's body.

Ah! Sorry if my post came across as callous in any way! The patient is always the primary concern.

 

[zoozilla]

So your life isn't like House the TV show?

Really, though, the dedication that the medical profession requires is nothing to scoff at. Kudos to you for caring about other people (as well as games).

I'm sorry, but the GameStop article really can't compete.

 

[The Big Eye]

Whenever I read about people in the medical profession, I always end up feeling like I've been reading about starving third-world orphans. "We have to help these poor people!" I think.
Then I realize that, sleep deprivation be damned, they love what they do. I honestly have no idea how they manage, by and large, to escape dementia and death by exhaustion. (The Team Fortress medic has no idea how good he has it.) But somehow they manage to survive and attend to their patients with a kind word and a bright smile.
Personally, I wouldn't last 48 hours. Kudos to you, sir. Kudos.

 

[samsonguy920]

..But you do have the time to write this article?

We had to adjust our deadlines to accommodate Dr. Retractor's schedule. At the time I was a little peeved, being an editor and all. After reading his article, however, I was shocked and grateful he took the time to work with us. Not only does Rich clearly love his profession, but he loves gaming and the gaming community enough to want to sacrifice what little free time he has to share his story. Deeply moving.

Thank you for your patience in getting this article done, Russ.

 

[TheAmazingHobo]

I really enjoyed the article, a lot. Not only was it well written, it also offers a rather unique perspective on gaming.

However, I always saw the general situation doctors seem to face (or at least doctors in such high-performance specialities seem to face) as more worrying than anything else.
I simply cannot believe that you can work hours like these and still persistently perform at the peak of your ability.
Not doubting anyones dedication, mind you, it´s just.... I would prefer if a well-rested person sliced around in my internal organs, instead of a dude who is so overworked and underrested that he is probably at the same level of cognitive competence as someone who just downed half a bottle of scotch.

Edit:
Aaaaaand this is why you should always check your time-stamps before posting in a thread kids.
This act of necromancy probably cost me a fuckton of black mana.

 

[mordar]

and THAT'S the reason I don't want to be a neurosurgeon and instead focus on orthopedics