Once in a while, I read about an experienced game designer wondering about his career choice. “If only I’d become a policeman or a doctor” he muses “I could have made a real difference in the world.” Another variations on this theme is people complaining that John Carmack should have spent his spectacular intelligence trying to find a cure for cancer rather than programming video games. You hear the same thing all the time, about how entertainers are not really important (even outside games), it’s the people who extend life that really matter: policemen, firefighters, doctors, etc.
I’m tired of these arguments. I believe entertainers are just as important as doctors and firemen to our society.
It’s a quality vs. quantity thing. Yes, a cure for cancer might extend your life for a few years, but it’s not going to make your life better, it won’t make it more enjoyable. We could all live in white, featureless and perfectly safe buildings that would keep us alive longer, but how fun would that be?
Living a long life is important, but so is living a good life. Doctors help you with the former, entertainers help you with the latter. Both matter.