The Game

Posted By: Kelly

Today I am going to do my best to explain a phenomenon of love and lust- “The Game”. Monica eluded to it in her other post, and we are guaranteed to do so in the future. I hadn’t realized that it was a topic that needed explaining until I mentioned it in conversation with a friend and she replied, “What game?” It is not something that really can be described however, because it is mostly innate. It can be learned to an extent, but a true master is born and not made, in my opinion anyway. The Game is essentially a series of tactics one uses when interacting with a romantic partner, or a potential romantic partner. This might sound simple enough- you probably are going to connect The Game with players, as is often done. However, I wouldn’t say they are the main group that should be associated with The Game, they are just the bumbling idiots who will brag that “they’ve got game”, which is a sign that they clearly don’t. I, in fact, am probably breaking the tacit agreement that The Game isn’t something to be discussed but to be experienced. Oh well.

The Game has many facets to it- physical, mental, emotional. You could say that it is about toying with people’s bodies, minds, and emotions but that would be a gross simplification. The Game takes simple relationship practices and improves upon them. It is the difference between reading “See Spot Run” and “War and Peace”. (Although this is not the best example, as anyone who has ever attempted to read War and Peace knows) The best way I’ve heard it described is as a battle of wits-you pull out all the stops with such subtlety that few would be able to recognize it, including your partner (notice I say partner instead of object. Any dating column that uses the word object to describe a person should be burned into oblivion). The Game could be compared to a chess game while the way most of society operates on matters of the heart better resembles Connect-Four for the mentally ill. (Lost reference anyone?)
So, examples.

Physical: Mirroring- This is a tactic that is often learned but it is also innate. Just look for it next time you are talking to someone you are interested in. You’ll be surprised at what you find.

http://www.blifaloo.com/info/flirting-body-language.php

Mental: The Battle of Wits- This is typically a romantically charged debate. The couple argues back and forth to claim intellectual victory and all the while they are getting to know each other at a deeper level that is directly connected to romance. The example I’ve included comes from the movie Becoming Jane and is the scene in which Jane Austen reprimands a new visitor for practically falling asleep during one of her readings at a party.



Emotional: The Jealousy Factor- This is so widely known that it almost doesn’t make the cut to be included in The Game, but it is redeemed by the fact that it always works, without fail. The following example is a clip from Gilmore Girls when Rory resolves her problems with Logan through the Jealousy Factor by going to a party with another guy.



These are just a few examples and some of the most basic out there. Hopefully in posts to come we will analyze other tactics of The Game as well, for it is a bottomless subject. Those who truly know The Game never stop playing it. It is not merely a tool to get the person you desire, but a practice that continues throughout an entire relationship. This is how you separate the masters from the wannabe players,the Category One's from the Category Two's.