Such a fun rant! I hate board games too--I always have--but my entire family of origin LOVES them, and card games too. I grew up constantly saying no thank you to whatever game was being dragged out at every family and social occasion. So your essay makes me feel vindicated. Then again, I read your essay after getting back from a hike for which I ascended more than 2700ft over 3-1/2 miles, so I am not averse to effort for effort’s sake! But I content that a hike in the mountains is way better than a board game.
I'm very glad that I'm not alone in this disdain for board games, nor the only person who has a hard time fully escaping them!
As for hiking, I dare say that it is NOT effort for effort's sake. Hiking is a way to get in touch with nature. Hiking is a marvel of the human body and human ingenuity. Hiking, like art or writing, has many rewards that aren't monetary.
And, for some people, the same could be said for some board games: I know very talented Scrabble players. I know very talented chess players. I even know very serious Dungeons and Dragons players. They take the games seriously, and there's a very real element of mastery.
That's one thing. It's not my thing, but I can respect it and appreciate it for what it is.
On the other hand, if there's an entire closet of board games, common sense tells me that only so much thought has gone into each game. Then? Then it becomes effort for effort's sake. And while I suppose that is fine, I cannot for the life of myself see the point of any of it!
Haha, as I mentioned, my love for you two far beats my disdain for effort! However, I do reserve the right to point out the irony of paying good money to do MORE work on Labor Day.
The day in which workers died for the right to not have to do so much damn work…
Such a fun rant! I hate board games too--I always have--but my entire family of origin LOVES them, and card games too. I grew up constantly saying no thank you to whatever game was being dragged out at every family and social occasion. So your essay makes me feel vindicated. Then again, I read your essay after getting back from a hike for which I ascended more than 2700ft over 3-1/2 miles, so I am not averse to effort for effort’s sake! But I content that a hike in the mountains is way better than a board game.
I'm very glad that I'm not alone in this disdain for board games, nor the only person who has a hard time fully escaping them!
As for hiking, I dare say that it is NOT effort for effort's sake. Hiking is a way to get in touch with nature. Hiking is a marvel of the human body and human ingenuity. Hiking, like art or writing, has many rewards that aren't monetary.
And, for some people, the same could be said for some board games: I know very talented Scrabble players. I know very talented chess players. I even know very serious Dungeons and Dragons players. They take the games seriously, and there's a very real element of mastery.
That's one thing. It's not my thing, but I can respect it and appreciate it for what it is.
On the other hand, if there's an entire closet of board games, common sense tells me that only so much thought has gone into each game. Then? Then it becomes effort for effort's sake. And while I suppose that is fine, I cannot for the life of myself see the point of any of it!
So I guess this means you don’t want an invite when we play escape rooms in your town in September?
Haha, as I mentioned, my love for you two far beats my disdain for effort! However, I do reserve the right to point out the irony of paying good money to do MORE work on Labor Day.
The day in which workers died for the right to not have to do so much damn work…