While appreciating the collaborative and creative aspects of Minecraft, too often this mother noticed that her kids channeled their gaming energies into violence. However, she also says she realizes that violence is part of human nature — or perhaps, we might say, Mars-like aggression and assertiveness are part of human nature — so she compartmentalized it. An interesting approach.

It reminds me of my work as a peace activist, back in the early ’80s. I felt frustrated with the soft, kind, emasculated men who worked with me, and would mutter to the women, only somewhat facetiously, that we should have a button that says “Wimps for Peace.”

We might begin to culturally address the problem of how to work with male testosterone in a creative manner if, like aboriginal peoples, we create and hold initiation ceremonies for young men coming of age. Some sectors of our society are beginning to realize this, and act on it. See, for example, Male Initiation in America.

In any case, I very much appreciate this techie mother’s proactive attitude to help address her kids’ real needs. Rather than kvetching about all the violence in on-line games (like I do, when I see my grandson play them), or forbidding them to play these games (like I would tend to do, if I were their parent), she imagined a new game and brought it into manifestation. YES!

A Mother Wasn’t Happy with Minecraft So She’s Making Her Own Game

Minecraft gave her kids nightmares, so Allison Huynuh decided to create MyDream