Illustration: Christoph Niemann For an upcoming house party, I want to break out my Wii so guests can rock out on Guitar Hero III. But my wife objects; she thinks that videogames are anti-social. Who's right?
Not to get too personal here, but did NHL 95 come between your wife and an old boyfriend? Games have come a long way since the heyday of Sega Genesis, and there's no question that Guitar Hero can boost a gathering's fun quotient — much like that tried-and-true party classic karaoke. "People enjoy watching, singing along, and jockeying for the next play," says Ian Bogost, a professor at Georgia Tech University whose research focuses on the cultural aspects of gaming. "Plus, because the songs are short, nobody is playing for too long."
Tell your wife that Mr. Know-It-All says the Wii is kosher, provided that you fulfill all the usual hostly duties. Make sure everyone has a good time — Guitar Hero can backfire as a party game if one master shredder hogs the console. Develop your own house rules to encourage player turnover.
You might also want to think twice about setting up that Wii if your home is short on space. Nintendo's commercials feature players who live in palatial cribs and thus don't crash into coffee tables and lamps while pretending to be Slash. If your living space is on the cozy side, you could run into some issues when guests get over-enthused — especially after they've downed a six or so of the Silver Bullet. Party on!
I have an easy-to-remember email address — my first name and last initial, followed by a common domain. But there's a major downside: I get a ton of messages intended for other people. Am I obligated to reply every time to say, "Sorry, wrong guy"?
Much depends on your definition of a ton. "You can do good deeds for only so long before it starts cutting into your time," says Marsha Cook Woodbury, who teaches a class on computing ethics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She compares your plight to that of a person who's constantly picking up after litterbug neighbors — you're not obligated to correct their misbehavior for all eternity.
But you might rightly worry that one of those misdirected missives contains an urgent message — notice of impending financial doom, for example, or information on a pressing family matter. So should you monitor those emails, even after it becomes apparent that you're not the intended recipient? "Most ethical systems, and even etiquette systems, would allow an invasion of privacy in order to serve a higher good," says Paul Soukup, a communications professor and theologian at Santa Clara University. As long as you keep an email's content in confidence — no telling your spouse about some stranger's boob job! — you're in the clear.
There is, of course, a technological solution to your dilemma: You could set up a filter so your inbox accepts mail only from folks already in your address book. But before you take that step, keep in mind that life is better when there's the possibility — however remote — of receiving a surprise love note from your 8th-grade crush.
Illustration: Christoph NiemannI recently ordered a snazzy new digital camera online. Two days later, the store sent me an email saying my model was out of stock and suggesting I accept a different, far inferior one. May I insist they send me an equivalent camera from another manufacturer?
Unless you're dealing with an especially generous online store, you're probably going to have to settle for a refund or back order. Check the Web site's fine print — does it guarantee that all listed models will be in stock? Don't get your hopes up. Most online vendors know they're bound to make errors of this nature from time to time. According to Beau Brendler, director of Consumer Reports' WebWatch, you have no legal right to demand a comparable camera.
Then again, it might not be an error — the company could be running an elementary bait and switch, hoping you'll opt for the lesser product. Stick to your guns and demand your money back, pronto. "If they don't give you a refund within 24 hours," Brendler says, "start getting concerned." And maybe start looking for a lawyer.
Need help navigating life in the 21st century? Email us at mrknowitall@wired.com.
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