A few years ago I noticed a new trend among the chilluns. Kids today are playing more board/card games than ever before. And by kids, I’m talking about Millennials. No, they aren’t playing Candyland, Monopoly, or even Clue. They’re playing complex games like Cards Against Humanity, The Resistance, and assorted other games that leave most of us older folks scratching our heads. I remember one Christmas in particular when the cousins were all playing The Resistance. The resulting shouts and laughter were deafening. It’s a spy game that depends on trusting someone, who usually turns out to be the wrong someone. They were having a blast. For my wife and I, Qwirkle is more our speed.
For a long time, I have been concerned about the youth of this country. I’m not going to get on a soapbox, but I do believe that Millennials are one of the most misunderstood and contradictory generations in our country’s history. They try to live free of possessions, but if they have a cell phone more than 2 years old, it’s cause for social media ghosting. They disdain credit, yet have mountains of school loan debt. They spend so much time with their faces buried in their phones, it’s a miracle boy ever meets girl. A recent article tries to explain the board game phenomenon among Millennials. To me, playing a board game is just about one of the most social activities you can do. It gives me hope that Millennials might not be as screwed up as everyone says they are.
It’s well known that Millennials can’t take a joke. It’s the main reason so many comedians are avoiding college campuses full of trigger-warnings and safe spaces. Now to add to the indignity, Hasbro has come out with series of games that parody our little snowflakes. Games like, The Game of Life: Quarter Life Crisis (Now with Crippling Debt!) Hasbro is betting that board game crazy kids will snap up these insulting diversions. Maybe they can take a joke after all! In the immortal words of Sgt. Hulkaburger, “Lighten up, Francis!” If it gets them to stop looking at their phones for a few hours, I’m all for it! Play on, kids!
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