Holiday Party

Our Holiday party turned into a games event. No, not Eurogames, just regular old American party games etc., but it made me think about social dynamics. People want to have a good time with each other, and even though everyone has a different opinion of what a good time is, they will give up some of their specific ideas of a good time in favor of the group. Games help groups to have a good time because they create a sense of shared commitment and identity. Though we may not have anything in common, the fact that we are playing the same game gives us valuable information about each other, and games bypass the complicated small-talk laws that few people understand and apply perfectly. Large groups? Small groups? It doesn't matter as long as there is a game to fit the need.