Game Should Recognize Game

Yes, I am arguing this life is really no more than play and amusement so lets play and amuse ourselves here.

I would argue this life is a big collection of games where the entities involved are playing these games trying to win something or trying to avoid something. For example a student is playing a university game where he tries to obtain a degree and gain some skills he could use later in life. It is in his best interest to listen to lectures, doing his homeworks, discuss matters with his colleagues, and take his study seriously. He might also playing a game of romance where he is trying to win the heart of his sweetheart, as she is intelligent and took interest in the same areas of his interest and he might wonder what a family he could build with such a beauty and what kind of mother she could be for his would be children. These two games might be in state of synergy, non-synergy, or even discords if he does not play his cards well.

He might consider the study he is pursuing could help him enter the incoming semi-conductor industries where he can be a man of value for himself and for his loved ones, but he might be distracted by her captivating eyes and silky voice inviting him to the nearest mall buying some school supplies. Verdammt, he might say to himself, I have this incoming exam I should take and if I flunked this exam I might need to have another year in uni as the only time I can retake this lecture is only in the even semester. But, he assuring himself again, she might be the one you fool, what if she ask another guy instead with chiseled chin, heavy voice, and more charismatic, then she fell for him? Oh my dear God in heaven, what should I choose? as he talk to himself.

We can consider he is playing two games: a degree and a romance. If we take a good look we could say that those two games are not necessarily against each other, but apparently our galau student might viewed them as such: If I study I could lose this moment with her but if I am with her I might lose time to review these heavy materials and I would risk retaking this lecture next year. I would argue he can take a new position, where he could win in both games or at least not losing too much.

Just hold my coffee cup ☕️. We are going a little bit serious here.

The games we play

In games, as game in game theory, there are set of goals that a set of players seek to achieve. These goals might be some desires like a new phone, a promotion, a prestige, or maybe in our student like a degree or like a sweetheart. The thing is, these goals can also take form in some fear like losing a lebaran ticket home, losing trust of a good friend who is trusting something with you, or maybe flunked exam and lost hard-earned opportunity like accompanying a sweetheart somewhere. Like it or not we humans want something and want something away from us, which I would categorize them as goals of the games in this life. Then I would argue we should pursue these goals with our best effort, as we must play games. Saying that, I am not implying a specific game must be played — but we should curate carefully which games we should play.

In games, there are players who might or might not be against our goal. They can be allies which share the same goals with us, or might be neutral as our interests are not related, or they can be adversaries where it is in their interest to tackle us in our pursuit as their goal is the exact opposite of our goal. It is in our best interest to find these allies and work with them, and overcome our adversaries one way or another if we truly desire the goal of the game we are playing.

I also want to point out everyone is playing multiple games, and if somehow we can negotiate with those neutral players helping them obtain their goal we can also allow them to help us in our game. Or if somehow we know the values of our own games, we can deliberately lose some game to some adversaries in exchange of them not hindering us in another game — or even better helping us achieving it. Voila, that very adversary is now an ally.

The pro gamer move

So back we are to our student in dilemma of wanting to study or accompany his sweetheart. He might need to recognize other games at play, not only his own. He might recognize his sweetheart has exhausted her school supplies so she cannot study properly, and also realized that SHE TOOK THE SAME LECTURE — and it is his best interest to help her get those school supplies and ask her to study together. Ooo, such a pro gamer move he has considered! If he played his cards well, he just helped her in her own game and converted her into his line of allies. And and and, bear with me: HE CAN STUDY-DATE WITH HER. I can hear the Arabian football commentator screaming in awe at our student.

That is my point: as players we should recognize our own games and weigh the values of the goals. It is also in our best interest to recognize other games other players are playing so we can identify our allies and adversaries — and with calculated concession we can strengthen our lines of allies and reduce the effect of our adversaries.

Games should recognize game. Even Shaq is apologizing for not knowing the other player's game.

Source: Know Your Meme