“The best things in life cannot be experienced virtually.” - Michael O’Neill

When Pixels Can't Replace Play: Why Real-World Moments Matter

Why Lived Experience Still Matters

I remember when I got to take a virtual tour of the Kremlin and several other landmarks. I was in awe as I got to see what it would be like inside. This was before VR but via the internet I could see what the rooms would look like if I was there. That glimpse of the Kremlin showed me how technology can simulate travel, but it also raises a deeper question.

In today's world, we no longer have to go places and do things in order to have experiences. All we have to do is go online. Very quickly, we find alternatives to lived experiences. While that may be fine for some things in life, like taking a tour of some far away landmark that we may be unlikely to be able to experience in person, is it fine for everything? Do we want to spend our entire lives behind a screen?

Take, for example, chess. If I want to play chess, I can go online or to the app store and there will be plenty of options that allow me to play the game. But I want to raise the question, will it be the same as living the experience of a chess game?

When I was growing up, chess was one of my favorite games. The one person who I could consistently get to play it with me was my Dad. I would ask him if we could play, and as soon as he said yes I would go with excitement to set up the chess board. I can still hear the clinking of the pieces as I dump them out so we could play. I would carefully line them up on the board, making sure each piece was in the right place. Once it was ready we would sit down and play.

I would think through my moves, hoping that I could beat my Dad. I picked up my piece and set it down again in just the right spot. After I made my move I would watch him quietly contemplating his next move. When I think back, that time became more than just playing a game; it was also a chance to make memories with my Dad.

Now consider the app store or online experience. Even the best online engine lacks the tactile ritual of laying out the pieces together. It can be great for its purpose and can definitely help improve gameplay. But, at the end of the day, it is much more transactional. Does it really create lasting memories in the same way?

There is more to life than a screen. There are life experiences to be had, of many kinds. Whether it is cooking together, painting, building, hiking, or reading aloud as a family. All of them can become shared encounters that have the potential for us to make memories with those who matter.

Something else to consider as a parent. When you're no longer here on earth, will people remember the items you leave behind, or the memories you create? Just as the clink of chess pieces stays with me, the memories we create become the legacy we leave behind.