The Game (you just lost it)
In the 2000's, shouting the phrase "I just lost the game!" in a crowded room would garner cries of dismay. In the 2020's, it's more likely to be met with looks of confusion. The Game is a mind game in which players try to avoid thinking about The Game. If a player thinks about the Game, they lose, and must announce it in some manner, furthering the ripple effect of losses. The Game's origins are still unknown. Its first online mention occurred in a blog post in 2002. Some believe its roots stem from another game called Finchley Central which has similar gameplay mechanics. What's the point of the Game if you can't win? And why did people play it? One reason for its popularity may be that it encouraged players to creatively prank each other using hidden notes, graffiti, or unexpected mentions of the Game in media or online spaces. Reportedly an Ohio high school banned the Game and threatened its students with suspension due disruptions and an inundation of notes littering the campus. While there is no official way to win the Game, some players have stated it will end when the Prime Minister officially states "the Game is up." On March 3rd 2008, webcomic artist xkcd posted "Anti-Mindvirus", releasing players from the Game, which may explain the decline of the Game's players thereafter. Points of Interest - Official Website - Ironic Process Theory (IPT) - Hank Green discussing the Game
