Sim City

Dylan took his saved allowance (about $50) to the school book fair and spent it on computer software. He was trembling with anticipation to play Sim City 4, in which he could "build and magnage huge cities, establish vast transportations networks, keep Sims on the go by road and rail, airways and waterways," and so forth as the mayor of Sim City. But first he had to build the city.

He was busy at the computer for an hour, during which time he uttered comments like, "Awesooooooooooooome," and "Holy Mother of God!" so I knew he was engaged. After another hour, he wanted to show me the city, and so I received a guided tour by the 8 year old mayor.

There was a jutting cliff on the side of which is an active volcano, surrounded by water. A robot walks up and down the cliff, throwing plates into the abyss of the volcano.

I asked, "Where are the Sims going to live? Where is the city?"

"Oh, who wants to build that?" he said.

So this is what the world would be like if eight year old boys were in charge. The robot is still flinging plates; I guess the simulated world is functional, so maybe he did not do so badly!