Innocent fun
Apr. 13th, 2008 04:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stephbg"I'll bark at you like a dog if you teach me to play games"*
As said to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rdmasters and in the presence of his wife and beloved leecetheartist. This afternoon, Kings Park, Swancon fundraising picnic. This persuasive pair somehow managed to convince me (by ignoring the muffled protests) to play a game of Hive. It's a bit like dominos with bugs. Anyone familiar with my fear of games should be impressed. ("Would you like to play a game?" "Hell, no!") Leece also managed to let me win without being too obvious about it.
"Save the Queen!"
"Which one's the Queen?"
"I'm the Queen!"
"No, I'm the Queen!"
"It's me! I mean, 'tis I. I am the Queen!"
What is it that bothers me most about new games? I don't think it's fear of looking stupid. I had to conquer that in my professional life long ago when I learned to ask even the "obvious" questions and then absorb as much feedback as I could collect. No, from my brief experience this afternoon I think I've nailed the problem: I don't like making a move without purpose.
If I understand the game strategy I can make a move deliberately, but without a strategy all I could do was follow the rules and a process of elimination. I made a move because I could, without knowing if it was the best possible alternative. I was frustrated because I knew that somewhere there was the knowledge that I should be placing my ants early, or placing my grasshoppers nearby to guard the queen, or keeping my beetles in reserve until the enemy (hi Leece) did such-and-such.
IOW, I had novice-level explicit knowledge, but I recognised the expert-level implicit knowledge that was just out of my reach. I just didn't have it within my grasp. Yet. Not yet.
Bad brain. Bad education *shakes fist at crippling psych degree*.
Some day I'll post about the way I play Patience (Solitaire) before bed, and what happens when the drugs start to kick in. Useful thing, Patience. It can teach you to avoid casinos and recognise when your decision-making ability is shot. Can't recognise a pattern? Can't drive a car.
Now there's a roadside test I'd like to see: The Patience Paddywagon. "I'm sorry sir, but you failed to locate the Queen of Diamonds even though it was right there in front of you. You will need to accompany me to the station. Arrangements will be made to tow your vehicle."
*strokes psych degree*
I am a nut sometimes.
(*) It was an offer, not a threat. An innocent offer. Really.
As said to
rdmasters and in the presence of his wife and beloved leecetheartist. This afternoon, Kings Park, Swancon fundraising picnic. This persuasive pair somehow managed to convince me (by ignoring the muffled protests) to play a game of Hive. It's a bit like dominos with bugs. Anyone familiar with my fear of games should be impressed. ("Would you like to play a game?" "Hell, no!") Leece also managed to let me win without being too obvious about it."Save the Queen!"
"Which one's the Queen?"
"I'm the Queen!"
"No, I'm the Queen!"
"It's me! I mean, 'tis I. I am the Queen!"
What is it that bothers me most about new games? I don't think it's fear of looking stupid. I had to conquer that in my professional life long ago when I learned to ask even the "obvious" questions and then absorb as much feedback as I could collect. No, from my brief experience this afternoon I think I've nailed the problem: I don't like making a move without purpose.
If I understand the game strategy I can make a move deliberately, but without a strategy all I could do was follow the rules and a process of elimination. I made a move because I could, without knowing if it was the best possible alternative. I was frustrated because I knew that somewhere there was the knowledge that I should be placing my ants early, or placing my grasshoppers nearby to guard the queen, or keeping my beetles in reserve until the enemy (hi Leece) did such-and-such.
IOW, I had novice-level explicit knowledge, but I recognised the expert-level implicit knowledge that was just out of my reach. I just didn't have it within my grasp. Yet. Not yet.
Bad brain. Bad education *shakes fist at crippling psych degree*.
Some day I'll post about the way I play Patience (Solitaire) before bed, and what happens when the drugs start to kick in. Useful thing, Patience. It can teach you to avoid casinos and recognise when your decision-making ability is shot. Can't recognise a pattern? Can't drive a car.
Now there's a roadside test I'd like to see: The Patience Paddywagon. "I'm sorry sir, but you failed to locate the Queen of Diamonds even though it was right there in front of you. You will need to accompany me to the station. Arrangements will be made to tow your vehicle."
*strokes psych degree*
I am a nut sometimes.
(*) It was an offer, not a threat. An innocent offer. Really.
