Everybody gets a medal! Great take, Chris. I too got sucked into Duolingo’s vortex, in my case with French. I knew I had to get that monkey (I mean owl) off my back when I moved several rows of seats away from my wife in an airport waiting area, in order to complete a lesson, and keep my streak alive - sad! And, the end result is the only word of French I can recall is “pasteque,” which means watermelon, I think.
I was reading about the gamification trend recently. Apparently, it’s very effective for keeping people engaged, but it’s not great for actual learning. Researchers singled out Duolingo as something that people use all the time without ever actually retaining much of the language. But just think of all the badges!
You know, that’s really interesting because after I stopped, I did feel like I didn’t retain very much of what I’d learned. I chalked it up to getting older, but I like this explanation MUCH better.
This was so damned painful because it’s so damned true. Because I was in instructional design from roughly 2007 to 2021, I played my part by making security and privacy training gamified in the worst possible ways. I’m so ashamed! It all feels like such bullshit now.
I find it hilarious that the only reason I had my phone in my hand at this hour, which led me to Substack, natch, was the fact that DuoLingo started shrieking that I was about to forfeit my streak. And I fell for it 🤦🏻♀️
Sidebar… how many vacations could you take if you invested in a coffee maker?
Spanish because I’m walking the Camino in August. I minored in it in college so I’m proud to say I’m much better than I expected! 👏🏼👏🏼
I have the same philosophy about salads that you do about coffee. Outside salads are delicious. Salads made by me are meh so I don’t bother. But my salad habit isn’t equivalent to a second mortgage 😬
Haha perfect timing. What language are you learning?
I actually have a coffee maker, believe it or not. But I feel like outside coffee always tastes better. Besides, I can’t abandon Team Cuppy—they need me!
Funny and true! I guess marketing departments across America had focus groups who loved getting points, accolades, badges. I see it on FB. If you’ve posted a lot you get a badge. I don’t want that badge.
I'm sure the cosmic overlord monitoring you on their big screen is very proud of your achievement.
The idea of buying anothee coffee in order to get a badge reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with Elaine and the sub. But at least in that case, the 10th sub was free. I have a good collection of those reward cards for coffee from various cafés, but I've rarely gone back enough to get a freebie.
“Halley’s comet of sadness” and “give you another reason to feel bad about yourself” plus “hover over to see if you’re influential or a piece of shit” had me laughing out loud at my funeral home. 🤭 I do not miss those stupid work rewards points. You are f’ing hilarious.
You're absolutely right about this gamify addiction, Chris.
Truth be told, Substack is doing this as well ... with their cute heart-shaped "Like" buttons. Every one I get from my own subscribers (both of them...) leads to a mini dopamine rush. Sadly, that alone is addictive.
Everybody gets a medal! Great take, Chris. I too got sucked into Duolingo’s vortex, in my case with French. I knew I had to get that monkey (I mean owl) off my back when I moved several rows of seats away from my wife in an airport waiting area, in order to complete a lesson, and keep my streak alive - sad! And, the end result is the only word of French I can recall is “pasteque,” which means watermelon, I think.
La première étape consiste à admettre que vous avez un problème, Bill. Viva la pasteque!
When the Times gamified their games, I knew we'd crossed some sort of civilizational Rubicon. Great one, Chris. Team Stanton rocks!
I’m not surprised one bit that you also picked up on that sign of our imminent societal collapse, Amanda. It was a badge too far.
Dopamine orgy!!
That Duolingo owl is a cheeky asshole!
He is, isn’t he? What a pain in the ass!
Fuck ALL of this shit.
Fuck Ben Affleck and Marky Mark.
And thank GOD you finished with that badges line. If you didn’t I might’ve needed to end our friendship.
(We’re friends right?)
If I hadn’t used that badges line I’d deserve to have my Substack license revoked.
We’re friends. That’s my opinion, anyway.
I was reading about the gamification trend recently. Apparently, it’s very effective for keeping people engaged, but it’s not great for actual learning. Researchers singled out Duolingo as something that people use all the time without ever actually retaining much of the language. But just think of all the badges!
You know, that’s really interesting because after I stopped, I did feel like I didn’t retain very much of what I’d learned. I chalked it up to getting older, but I like this explanation MUCH better.
This was so damned painful because it’s so damned true. Because I was in instructional design from roughly 2007 to 2021, I played my part by making security and privacy training gamified in the worst possible ways. I’m so ashamed! It all feels like such bullshit now.
I hear ya, man. So much feels like such bullshit now. Who could have known what a dystopia everything was leading to?
I find it hilarious that the only reason I had my phone in my hand at this hour, which led me to Substack, natch, was the fact that DuoLingo started shrieking that I was about to forfeit my streak. And I fell for it 🤦🏻♀️
Sidebar… how many vacations could you take if you invested in a coffee maker?
Spanish because I’m walking the Camino in August. I minored in it in college so I’m proud to say I’m much better than I expected! 👏🏼👏🏼
I have the same philosophy about salads that you do about coffee. Outside salads are delicious. Salads made by me are meh so I don’t bother. But my salad habit isn’t equivalent to a second mortgage 😬
I have so few pleasures in life. 😆 And at least I’m not buying Starbucks.
Oh, by all means, enjoy yourself. It’s not a commentary on your choice of vice; it’s a commentary on how fucking expensive coffee is.
Haha perfect timing. What language are you learning?
I actually have a coffee maker, believe it or not. But I feel like outside coffee always tastes better. Besides, I can’t abandon Team Cuppy—they need me!
AMEN, Brother!!!!!
🙌
Funny and true! I guess marketing departments across America had focus groups who loved getting points, accolades, badges. I see it on FB. If you’ve posted a lot you get a badge. I don’t want that badge.
I didn’t know FB was doing it too. I guess that was inevitable.
I liked this post, but mostly because I’m busting ass for my “1000 posts liked” badge.
😄
I'm sure the cosmic overlord monitoring you on their big screen is very proud of your achievement.
The idea of buying anothee coffee in order to get a badge reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with Elaine and the sub. But at least in that case, the 10th sub was free. I have a good collection of those reward cards for coffee from various cafés, but I've rarely gone back enough to get a freebie.
Wait, so you’re saying this is a feature of the simulation? DAMN IT! I’m playing right into their hands.
Ha, I forgot about that episode. So good.
Feature or a bug?
We have no way of knowing!!!
“Halley’s comet of sadness” and “give you another reason to feel bad about yourself” plus “hover over to see if you’re influential or a piece of shit” had me laughing out loud at my funeral home. 🤭 I do not miss those stupid work rewards points. You are f’ing hilarious.
Ha, thanks Lyns! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s always great to hear from you.
You're absolutely right about this gamify addiction, Chris.
Truth be told, Substack is doing this as well ... with their cute heart-shaped "Like" buttons. Every one I get from my own subscribers (both of them...) leads to a mini dopamine rush. Sadly, that alone is addictive.
Yeah, and unfortunately those likes affect the algorithm. Ugh.