I’ve got to train myself to check the comments in my admin screen. Some are email sent, some arent it seems.

I’ll pass along your question to Anson about black lotr.

I don’t read much or often as I have slow visual processing which translates to me taking 4-5 times longer to get through anything than an average adult my age.

Unless it’s for entertainment (like, currently I’m reading World War Z), reading can seem like a chore.

Reading more, in and of itself, is not likely to foster a greater knowledge of geography specifically, although gaming may.

Learning things like philosophy require more than reading to be relevant, they need discussion and/or application. Channels like BET and MTV are, very sadly, more relevant as it is pervasive in the everyday culture that those who imbibe the drivel offered (and their peers) are immersed in. Which brings another decisive factor to mind: what does the local community support? Because that is what is more likely to stick for many. To introduce substance and thought in places where it’s absent (any place/community that considers daytime talk shows gripping human drama, for example) would be engaging a just but Sisyphean undertaking.

If you hang with smart people (IRL or online) you will glean some aspects of greater intellect by osmosis, such as the fact that all my IRL friends are smarter than me or the fact that I have begun frequenting these boards.

I like the notion of storytelling. To borrow a religious example, Jesus taught in parables (read: stories) and those who got, did and those who didn’t were perhaps, at least, entertained.

Internet can be handy but anyone who goes online also has to be immersed in critical thinking so they can weigh the strength of claims and validity of sources. The consequence otherwise would be the thinking that says “it must be true, I read it on the internet”.

I don’t have kids either but it seems that what rewards you withhold are situational, depending on the tastes of child.

Your panelist delineates his beliefs as to why there was not a black LotR written before, but I would be interested in reading his thoughts on why couldn’t one be written now. I don’t know about anyone else but for all high fantasy taking place in the same medieval era of Great Brittan tends to wear thin for me. Many tales of fiction tend to be set in the native country’s most chaotic time, like Feudal Japan or American Old West/Frontier. Perhaps finding the equivalent would be a good place to start.

There just aren’t enough gamers, period. Evangelizing the hobby is one of the themes that tend to come up at FtB.

I loved the sound editing throughout the episode, great work. The use of the PSA was also inspired.