In a message of Sat, 13 Dec 2003 16:14:38 EST, Jim Harrison writes:

And I don't buy the machine:power/kid:schmuck scenario. When kids can manipulate a simulation to produce a result, they feel empowered. If the result doesn't honor the parameters of the simulation, the kids immediately label the developer/machine "lame" -- not themselves.

Jim Harrison Univ. of Pittsburgh

This may sometimes be a problem. There is a difference between 'being empowered' and 'feeling empowered'. Some studies of children who 'play video games too much' indicate that they do this is because they like feeling empowered -- and it feels better to be the Pokemon champion than a mediocre student. Laura