I don't play a lot because it is too much like work.

Work has the implied connotation of being play's opposite, lacking most notably the fun. People like Chet are lucky enough to still have both, but for most, what you do for money governs the rest of what you do, which makes even an enjoyable job, work.

So, true play includes near limitless time. The segmentation of the day into units with priorities means the fun gets deprioritized or crammed into a tiny percentage, which, in turn, causes resentment.

I think you have add a time-bound criterion to the mix to understand clearly the difference.

Surachart – I agree that creating play at work is not easy. If it was, we would all be playing games at work. My only hypothesis is that we can bring these worlds together.

My overall thesis, however, is more driven towards products and services. This concept applies to actual work when we use these same services for getting a job done. As an example, email. This is a product someone designed and other people use. The interface (and basic mode of operation) hasn't changed in years. Perhaps there is a way to make it more of a game – resulting in a better result and a more enjoyable experience.

It may seem far fetched, but I think it in an interesting thought experiment if nothing else.

Thanks for the comments!

About work… sure! we can look work is like play… If we enjoy and happy with it. but we have to play with purpose. because we have many conditions with it.

Just work and enjoy to work… they will be happy

I enjoy work, I enjoy what I do. I do it all the time (12-14 hours a day mostly in front of the computer). I try to play at work too, mostly in the form of completely inappropriate comments.

I guess though, by your definition, there is an end goal; learning something new. Not sure how that fits though.

I daily consider myself lucky to do something that I absolutely enjoy and that these people want to actually pay me for it.