Comment by michaelbuckbee
18 days ago
I have kids, there's no need for simulation. We have Roblox.
Which has been a surprisingly useful [1]real-world/low-stakes financial literacy course for them.
- They have been scammed.
- They have blown money on stupid useless stuff and cried with regret.
- They've applied for jobs (seriously, there was an application process and interview).
- They've made hundreds if not thousands of decisions balancing entertainment, commerce, utility, and budgeting.
It's all of the true feel-it-in-your-bones financial literacy that the article advocates for being delivered to them in the guise of blocky figures and them playing with friends.
1 - You buy Robux (the in-game currency) with real money, and for years, it's been the number one thing they've asked for as a gift.
Unfortunately you run the risk of your children learning "financial literacy" of the form "scamming people is lucrative, and gambling is fun and zero-consequence because it's all funny money anyway".
I mean I cut my teeth on RuneScape and it was the same kind of deal. I learned that cow hides rose in value as you bring them closer to the crafting centres and that middlemen who want to do it for you can take a generous cut for themselves.
I still don't understand how the Robux stuff is legal.
That sounds like RuneScape for me as a kid. I got scammed, made money, made friends, had pathetic swipes at romance etc.
What are the downsides to Roblox in your experience? It feels like crack cocaine for kids
Read the Hindenburg article about Roblox
Or this video, by Quintin Smith (People Make Games): <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gXlauRB1EQ> (with follow-up: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTMF6xEiAaY>)