Why isn’t it socially acceptable to sit out of board games?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate, no, *loathe*, board games. To me, they are mind numbing. At family or friend events, I’m more than happy to sit amongst the group playing and spectate, and to contribute to any ancillary conversation that may be happening. But no! I’m expected to “take one for the team” and join in. It’s just a game, after all. It won’t kill me to play a hand of Uno.

Why can’t I just sit it out? Why don’t we allow people this grace without giving them a browbeating and all but insisting? Why can’t the others “take one for the team”and just gather around and socialize? Pick a topic and get philosophical. That’s what I’d want to do. Or put on some music and dance! It’s totally fine when people don’t want to have deep conversation, or if they don’t want dance. But say you don’t want to play the game and everything goes to hell.

Why?

I've always sit to the side and converse with everyone while not playing. Society accepts this; your family does not.

As DCUM always says, divorce is the answer here. Even if this is your own family, leave them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's only rude when there aren't enough people, without you, to play the game. If there are enough people to play a regular game, then they are rude to force you to play.

Also, it's not very intelligent to keep posting these screeds when you know full well that not every board game player will try to do this, OP. Every poster that creates thread with "WHY does EVERYONE participating in X wants me to do Y?" is, by definition, wrong.

YOUR family is rude. OK. It's not a board game problem, it's these particular people. And you are rude to then generalize to every board game player.

I am not the OP, and I like board games fine. I despise the team participation games - charades, Pictionary, etc. I won't play them - my competitive nature takes over, and end up having a terrible time, or saying something I'll regret. Or both.

But it looks like you are saying that you are half concerned my preferences and comfort. As long as everyone else gets what they want, I'm free to bow out. But in some instances, when the numbers dictate, I am required to play or be labeled rude, simply so other can play? My preferences are subservient to everyone else's? Sorry, no - and you are a self-centered little twit.

[Anonymous]

We play board games with friends and family. Its never a big deal if someone wants to sit out though.

[Anonymous]

Only antisocial control freaks get uncomfortable when someone wants to sit out from what they consider a mandatory activity. Normal people don’t like forced fun. The best parties and gatherings are where a number of activities are available and people organically choose what they want to do.

[Anonymous]

I don’t care if you sit out but I will judge you for not being fun.

[Anonymous]

I never really want to play board games but when it’s suggested and I give it a try, I usually have fun. I’m not into it if it gets super competitive though.

Also, if something is very complex and requires too much strategy, I politely decline. A basic roll-the-dice board game or simple game of Uno or Bullsht? Or a funny game like Cards against humanity? I’m in, especially after a few drinks. But anything that requires more brain power than Monopoly, I’ll just say I’m too tired or drunk to use my brain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t care if you sit out but I will judge you for not being fun.

Judge away. Party hosts with mandatory board games will be the subject eye rolls anyway.

[Anonymous]

The only people I play board games with are children - I really don't think of it as an adult activity, though I realize many adults enjoy games. I DO think only kids can get away with being pushy about asking others to play.

[Anonymous]

Who hates board games? Is that a thing?

[Anonymous]

I absolutely despise card games and board games, with the possible exception of Scrabble. Even Scrabble is problematic, because my mother the codebreaker could outplay anyone and reveled in it. So I have some stressful memories around even that.

If I hear that there are going to be games, I just won't go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t care if you sit out but I will judge you for not being fun.

I never notice when people judge me, nor would I be bothered if someone told me they were doing it. I’d be flattered that you are using up precious moments of your life thinking about me.

[Anonymous]

OP, unless you've been invited for "Board Game Night", your hosts are being incredibly rude. Of course it's ok to decline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who hates board games? Is that a thing?

It ranks up there with name tags and assigned seating for adults.

[Anonymous]

I don't care what anyone else thinks, if I don't want to play I don't play. I do like to play cards and play twice a week with other people who also like to play. If new people appear interested we invite them to play but if they don't want to we are fine with that. Who wants someone playing anything if they really don't want to? I seriously don't get that.

[Anonymous]

Why in the world would it be awkward if someone wants to sit out a game or watch it from the sidelines? It’s a board game, not an orgy.