This appeared in my Crikey news feed today. The Sydney Morning Herald article it refers to can be found here if you want the full story and its attempt at humour: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/comedy/board-games-are-terrible-please-don-t-make-me-play-them-20230103-p5ca15.html
In turn it refers to a Washington Post article which is more informative and less an attempt at comedy: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/24/board-game-popularity/
The SMH piece uses the word "nerd" three times to refer to board gamers. I find this problematic as the word has multiple meanings including:
- a person who is extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about a particular subject, especially one of specialist or niche interest.
- an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person.
Maybe that second meaning should include "overly sensitive and lacking in appreciation of effort that goes into writing humorous newspaper columns"."
Anyway, here's the Crikey article in full.
| ON A LIGHTER NOTE |
| The rising popularity of board games in adulthood is a scourge we must stamp out, SMH’s Kishor Napier-Raman says, or at least start leaving him out of. Board game nights are nearly always suggested by “The Guy Who is Good at Board Games”, he writes for the paper, who spends a painstaking hour explaining the complex and convoluted rules of questionable pursuits such as “slaying a mythical beast, making sushi, or cosplaying as colonisers in a foreign land”. But it’s never enough of an explanation, and befuddling stretches of time are spent with chipper fellow players repeatedly assuring you “the game gets better” as you quickly sober up amid your intense concentration. Sometimes it does get better, sometimes it doesn’t — the question, he asks, is why do we put ourselves through it? “Must social gatherings be organised around activities designed to distract wayward children?” he asks. It might seem like a petty gripe, but Napier-Raman continues that the whole idea of a board game night is at odds with the precious spontaneity of a social gathering that we went without for so long during the pandemic’s lockdowns and restrictions. Who brings a rule book to a group hang, he wonders, declaring it a sort of “hyper-capitalist puritan logic” that we should engage in competitive tasks during our leisure time after a long week spent grinding in our 9 to 5. Plus, by the time you’ve got a tentative handle on the self-contradictory parameters of the game, an elated The Guy Who is Good at Board Games has already had a thumping victory, everyone else is feeling confusingly dejected, and the wine supply is suddenly frighteningly low. “There is no shame in resisting this,” the journalist assures us. “No matter how many nerds accuse you of hating ‘fun’.” Hoping you stand proud and tall on the hill you choose to die on too — and have a restful weekend. |
Can someone with Social Media access immediately start an outrage page focussing on the inappropriateness of the "N" word (by which I mean "Nerd"). We must call out the hurt and harm caused by this kind of denigrating language. I mean the guy wouldn't dream of using the actual "N" word to describe someone would he? Perhaps we should pity the writer as he will soon be made extinct by AI (ironically probably written by some Nerd in between gaming sessions...)
ReplyDeletethat is funny 😁
DeleteI am very annoyed that such a page doesn't already exist on confectedoutrage.com What's the world coming to? I don't know! This calls for drastic action: a letter to the editor. That'll teach 'em.
DeleteI do rather take issue with this writer's 'infantilization' gag - clearly he not only doesn't understand what these game are about; he doesn't want to know. Very well, but he can keep that opinion to himself. The best of these games are designed to make you think. And if he reckons they tend to antisocial behaviour, he hasn't tried 'Diplomacy'.
ReplyDeleteOh... wait. Hang on...
LOL
DeleteIt seems to me that this article is likely to trigger a lot of Nerds out there.
ReplyDeleteIf only there was crisis hotline for this kind of thing. I'm thinking it could be called "Gamers in Crisis -helping you roll with the dice...". 1800 DIEROLL
For bad die rolls -press 1
For overly complicated rules - press 2
For optional rule choice anxiety -press 3
For cheating - press 4
For lost counters - press 5
...of course there would need to be an advocacy group to support and provide oversight to this important work. I'm thinking it would probably need to be staffed (just the basics of course (CEO, receptionist and have an office along with a board of eminent people to set policy) - we don't want to be diverting funds from important front line services . Naturally some kind of government funding would be required. Does anyone have any familiarity with the grants process?....
You might be on to something. Probably need some academic research to secure funding. There's bound to be some papers around somewhere that can be selectively quoted out of context and without regard for peer review or relevance.
DeleteThe commentator would be apoplectic with a real wargame. ! Lets hope he come accross one soon.
ReplyDeleteMaybe. The effort that goes into creating a boardgame or learning to play one successfully versus humorous writing. Sounds like a question for ChatGPT.
DeleteAnd so I asked: Contrast the effort that goes into creating a boardgame or learning to play one successfully versus humorous writing.
And it replied:
Creating a board game typically requires a significant amount of effort in the planning and design stages. This can include researching and playtesting different mechanics, creating and balancing the game's rules and components, and developing a cohesive theme and storyline. Once the game is complete, it may also require effort to promote and market it to potential players.
In contrast, humorous writing may require less effort in the planning and design stages. Humorous writing often relies on a writer's ability to observe and comment on the world around them, and to use language in clever and unexpected ways. However, writing comedy can be a challenging task, and it may take a lot of effort to come up with material that is both funny and relatable. Additionally, developing a comedic voice, writing jokes, and making people laugh can be an art that takes years to master.
Learning to play a board game successfully also requires effort, as players must familiarize themselves with the rules and strategies of the game. This can involve reading the instructions, watching tutorials or playing the game several times to gain experience and hone their skills. In contrast, reading or watching something funny may not require much effort to understand or appreciate.