Subject: Tr: Daumier-Smith and Empathy/play hard/Wheel of Salinger
From: Jive Monkey (monkey_jive@hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Jul 31 2001 - 02:42:30 GMT
If life's a game, what's the prize?
I think you're totally right, as far as those who play along all the time,
for them that's how it is. I like to believe that, if only for little bits
of time, that I don't always play the game, but somehow I can't shake the
feeling that I am still playing no matter what. I think that if you want to
see life as a game, then it is one, and if you want to see it differently
then you see it that way instead. It seems though, that if your whole life
is lived following out the rules of some game, then you would have a pretty
shitty life (unless, of course, you won a lot). To me, the people who
"play" aren't being real, and when someone doesn't play, that's when they
are themselves.
What's the game, or games, that we play on this list? Who wins? What's the
prize? Are we all just trying to show off how smart we are, or think we
are? Are we just amusing ourselves, passing the time?
I think the fundamental difference is that anyone can change the rules of
their own life if they want to, if they try hard enough. A football player
can't change how many downs his team gets or how many points a touchdown is
worth, but a person, in their day-to-day life, can decide to pack up and
leave and live in the hills if they so desire. You can decide for yourself
what counts as a touchdown, and how much it's worth. The definition of
success varies depends on who you talk to.
I hate the sports analogy, but I used it to try to prove my point. Ironic,
yes?
andy
From: "Sean Draine" <seandr@microsoft.com>
Reply-To: bananafish@roughdraft.org
To: <bananafish@roughdraft.org>
Subject: RE: Daumier-Smith and Empathy/play hard
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 17:47:21 -0700
Jive:
"I think, life is a game, for people who want to play it. For me, it
isn't a
game at all, it's life. More importantly, it's MY life. These people
who
say "life is a game," as Old Man Spencer does, they seem to be the types
who
chuckle endlessly at the headmaster's jokes and never get anything from
it
but a lack of respect both from their peers and themselves."
I hadn't given this particular metaphor much thought until reading this
thread, and now that I have, it seems especially apt. Think of it - life
has all the silly rules, referees, teams, criteria for success and
failure,
score cards, rewards, punishments, coaches, fans, different colored
jerseys,
fight songs, stars, bench warmers. Really, what's the fundamental
difference
between the little missions and projects the world throws at us and the
offerings of, say, Parker Brothers or the NFL? Honestly,I can't think of
any.
-Sean
(I'd hate to think my old highschool football coach was right all along,
so if you see the difference, I beg you to share it with me!)
-
* Unsubscribing? Mail majordomo@roughdraft.org with the message
* UNSUBSCRIBE BANANAFISH
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
-
* Unsubscribing? Mail majordomo@roughdraft.org with the message
* UNSUBSCRIBE BANANAFISH
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b25 : Mon Sep 10 2001 - 15:29:40 GMT