If It's Only A Game, Why Are We Keeping A Score?

Question

One of life's mixed messaging?

Why do we bother to keep a score when playing 'friendly' games, because everything 'has' to be competitive otherwise we don't feel motivated?

Part of being human or part of the problem of being human?

What do you think?

Thanks for taking part! :)

Answer 1

Some people are motivated by competition.....

I agree why keep score?

I only compete against myself & if I feel I've done my personal best....

But I know plenty of people who feel its all about the score....

So I think its more personality than human nature....

Answer 2

It's the reward for competition. Even on a minor scale of friends playing cards for example. It's part of human nature I think. We're probably mentally hard-wired for this as a result of our ancestry of hunter gatherers - hunting, providing, and having an impact towards group survival, and being recognized for it.

Answer 3

Its what drives us to play. Humans are competitive by nature. I don't see this as a problem, I see it like this:

Think of it as socialized medicine. What incentive does any doctor have to do better if there will be no reward for his choices or iniative.

Why play the game hard, if no one is keeping score?

Answer 4

Because some people are jerks and want to make themselves seem better than others. Honestly, it's just a game! (Unless it's basketball. Then it's serious.)

Answer 5

Everywhere has competition as long as the situation for comparison exists. "Only a game" has its multiple duties: 1. To dissipate the tension of frustration and support the ego of the loser, 2.  To signify there is another opportunity in the future, based on the concept and practice of democracy, ...  In essense, "only a game" carries a heavy load of deception, hypocrisy and dishonesty. However, for the sake of social grace, just simply accept its face value of "only a game" and move on in preparation of coming back stronger next time.

Answer 6

Who keeps score? I could care less about any score but do see your point, so good Q to you!

Answer 7

People play games whether there's any real score or not-

They play any positive/negative game simply for fun

The 'score' as it appears in various forms, is an accessory layer to the core motivation (fun)

Often, a winning payoff (score/prize) of a game is not certain, clear or guaranteed at the start of play-  The players will begin a game because they want to have fun although, as the payoff becomes clearer (and play progresses) the players start to comprehend what they are playing for (prize)

Pressure and urgency to achieve the prize via an official ruling (score) will focus each player's efforts and energy levels

The game is 'fun' until one or more players starts using their energy/actions in attaining a defined prize

The other players realize what the other player/s are striving for and step up their efforts to attain/or concede (competition)

The entire process is still based on fun-

But the score/prize gives focus and meaning as to why the players are making whatever moves at all

The process of scoring/playing often leads to human problems, but doesn't have to-  Scoring is not the problem causer-

Emotions cause the problems-

When the games stop being fun, it's because some/all of the players are getting too emotional/too connected

OR...it can go the other way, where a player has become too numb/passionless and starts sabotaging things  



Without score, there is no point

Cheap fun can only last so long-