This-essay is a7311083.htm which is available at the
web-site www.essayz.com. See more notes at the bottom.
Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay
By-Months By-Years By-Words
Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One
==========================================================
%PLAY GAMES 731108
We often engage in games for the sake of
entertainment. There are certain rules regarding what
actions participants may take, what the consequences of
each such actions are, and rules about deciding who wins.
The game continues so long as the participants abide by
the rules to their mutual satisfaction---and ends when
somebody wins. The game may be played again, of course.
Within the formal structure of a game---human
relationships are structured. It is usually true that in
order to win there must be an element of secrecy if not
outright friendly deception. To the extent that
participants take the game seriously dialogue is reduced,
or at least restricted to matters which are irrelevant to
the winning of the game at hand. Authentic meeting,
unrestricted creativity, and spontaneity are out of place
while seriously playing a game.
Not all games are played for the sake of
entertainment. In a competitive society many aspects of
life become serious games with certain implicit rules
regarding conduct and winning. The stakes may be high and
include self-esteem, self-image, reputation, a viable
income, freedom, and life itself. Thus the participants
may understandably take the games very seriously. One may
not fail-safe playing such a game. It is essential to
win. For this reason the rules may be constantly
changing, but only implicitly and/or covertly.
There is a certain sense of security in a structured
situation, even if it is not completely to one's liking
and advantage. Life may have hope and meaning---even in
the context of a game which one is unlikely to win;
provided the rules are known and can be trusted to remain
fixed. Even though communications are stylized and based
on ulterior motives, some sort of human community is
possible --- even though with little authentic meeting.
If, however, people are playing games and there is no
power to keep the rules fixed, then anxiety is increased,
as people may feel they are in a can't-win-situation. It
is impossible to develop techniques which assure a pay-
off. Not only is there no hope and meaning in dialogue,
there isn't the assurance that it is possible to win. If
the stakes are particularly high, as in the cold war, the
anxiety and alienation are correspondingly high. No
participant can win---except as all quit playing the game,
and return to authentic meetings.
(c) 1999 by Paul A. Smith in
GO: essayz.com "Search for Integrity and Honesty"
(On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)
==========================================================
Lines beginning with a percent sign are KEYWORDS for use
in ESSAY-System Searches. Their terminal digits are dates
of writing in the format @yymmdd#, where @ = a means 99,
@ = b means 20, and # = is a within-date essay-count.
Links to date-adjacent essays are near page top & bottom.
Find the following links by clicking on CENTER when CENTER
near the top or bottom of a web page of essayz.com
1. Go to HOME PAGE of essayz.com
2. Find brief-essays via keywords
3. Find brief-essay about ADDICTION
4. Search-Helps related to ABOVE-LINK
5. GoTo Action & Information Center
6. Find Regular-Essays via Year/Month
7. Find Regular-Essays via Word-Starts
8. Find Regular-Essay about LOVE
This-essay is a7311083.htm which is available at the
web-site www.essayz.com. These 5 lines echo top lines.
Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay
By-Months By-Years By-Words
Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One