Playing by the Rules"Lighten up, it's just a game." "It's all in fun."I won't even get into the level of revulsion I feel every time I see these phrases used to justify some of the crap that appears on this list. I would however like to point out some things that are understood about games in the real world. Games have rules. Most games require specific equipment. These aren't brain-teasers, they're givens. Here's some examples: You and your buds have decided that you're going to get together to play softball every Saturday. Everybody gets out their gloves and their bats and softballs. Some even bother to brush up their skills before the first game, a little catch, a little batting practice. The first game, one of your buds shows up, not with bat, ball, glove, etc... but with a snorkel and a butterfly net. "Lighten up," he says. "It's only a game." Question: Should he be surprised when everyone else is pissed off at him? The gals have decided that they're going to get together for a night of Bridge. Things are going great, until Mary Jo flips a card over and yells, "Gin!" The others yell at her for screwing up the hand, and she indignantly defends her right to do as she pleases, regardless of what everyone else is doing, besides, she doesn't know how to play Bridge, and their inability to allow her this freedom is hurting her feelings. Question: Did Mary Jo give two shits about the feelings of the others, the ones who bothered to learn how to play the game and were actually playing Bridge? Obviously, both Mary Jo and the goon with the snorkel are in the wrong. Now far be it for me to stifle anyone's creativity, but what I want to know is this: If they're wrong, why the hell isn't it all right to say the twinks are wrong? Yes, this may be "just a game," but as I said, games have rules. Even "Rock, Paper, Scissors" has rules. Part of the challenge of writing for this list is finding a way to tell a story within the framework of those rules. You know, like part of the challenge of basketball is NOT using a stepladder to make the points. Those of us who have bothered to read the material and work within the rules have every right to feel like those who can't be bothered are just plain inconsiderate and insulting. still not Fred |