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Monopoly and What it Can Teach Us
Relationships fall apart for many reasons. Perhaps your friend moves to another city, or maybe your boyfriend isn’t acting like he values your time. Certainly, relationships are one of the most difficult (yet potentially rewarding) parts of the human experience. What seems to be a running joke which transcends space and time is the devastation to relationships caused by the board game Monopoly.
I know many people who avoid this game entirely for that very reason. Others simply do not enjoy the game due to its frustrating nature. Despite its haters, Monopoly has certainly stood the test of time for good reason. It is without a doubt “board game success”. Having recently had played Monopoly several times over the most recent Christmas holiday, I started thinking on why this game appeals to so many and also why it is almost inevitably frustrating. What can we learn from Monopoly?
The Nature of Monopoly
Follow the Rules!
Games, in general, are a very interesting concept. One or several people will gather, agree on rather arbitrary rules, and then play the game while following these rules. We call it “play”, though there is the enforced understanding that the rules must be followed; it’s not like you can do whatever you want. Let’s say, for example, that Johnny rolls an eight on the die in…