dominate spouse during game night if you're intellectually superior?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are insufferable OP. You make a lot of negative assumptions about your wife if you are for real. You seem smug and superior. Hoe do you know that you are beating her? Maybe she is letting you win since she knows you have a fragile ego!

Because she rage quits a simple game like Scrabble after losing by huge points every single game and gets angry at the words I play and their placement because she can never score high while nearly every move I make is for at least double digit points.

I can't help that after many games of Scrabble she cannot learn simple strategy, defense, and rack management. Like, it really doesn't take genius level intellect to learn that you should try as hard as possible to never level a vowel next to a bonus spot, because when you do, it means a consonant (high point tiles) can often be used next to them in two directions for huge points. Other simple stuff like trying your hardest to maintain a balance of 4 consonants and 3 vowels in your rack she doesn't even pay attention to. I know she never even thinks about rack management because she constantly wastes turns trading in tiles. After many games of Scrabble, I don't think she realizes yet how a letter like C is also a fantatic defensive tile, because when you have no options but to lay down next to a bonus spot on the board, a C can be placed next to it so that the bonus spot can only be used in one direction since there are really no two letter words that can be played that end in C, thereby limiting your opponent's points

Little stuff like above is so, soooo basic. I use those strategies every game to win by a lot, but she hasn't caught on yet. If you leave a I open next to a triple word or letter score spot, don't rage quit when I play a word like QI in two directions for 60+ points.

You ... you could share these strategies, you know. With the person you love? Make the gameplay better for both of you?

Why?

People have to figure out these things for themselves. That's the only way to get better rather than providing them a mental crutch every time.

So, did you come up with all of this on your own, or did you learn some of it in a class?

Taking classes is weak, OP. Being taught things means you didn't figure it out by yourself.

Came up with it on my own.

Seriously, you need a class to figure these ideas out?

All it takes is playing Scrabble like 2 times to learn that leaving a vowel open next to a bonus spot is a terrible mistake, because your opponent can play high value consants next to it, often times in two directions.

If I put a consonant next to a bonus space, the vast majority of the time it means you can only play a vowel next to it if you're trying to play a word so you get scoring in two directions. Vowels are all only worth 1 point, so damage is limited. This is so,.soooo easy to figure out. Then you can use very difficult consonants like C to clog up strategic areas of the board since two letter words basically are impossible with C. It will frustrate your opponent when they get stuck and manipulated into opening up the board for you because you can force them to play in an direction you'd like to play in irder to hit more bonus spots.

You don't need to read a textbook on Scrabble. This stuff should be obvious.

Only if you care enough to pay attention. I loathe Scrabble and begrudge every moment of my life spent playing it.

I regularly wipe the floor with everyone else in a similarly meaningless board game because I love it and often spend free time thinking through old games.

I never think other people are less intelligent for not caring about my little board game and its beautiful strategy.

OP, she didn’t storm off because she lost—she stormed off because you’ve been patronizing her for years. That would humiliate anyone. You aren’t very kind.

Yeah, because I'm sure it has nothing to do with losing at Scrabble 12+ times in a row by 60, 70, and even 100+ or more points every time.

[Anonymous]

So when your wife ran off did you run behind her yelling "CRY BABY CRY!!, (you laughing) CRYYYY!!!" Scut Farkus "Christmas Story" style?

It would not surprise me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh. My husband prides himself on being a great theoretical mathematician. I am in the liberal arts.

He made me play backgammon and the first night I lost a lot. Then I read a couple tips on how to play and after that, I never let him win again.

A game is rules in a box. If you were actually intellectually interesting you'd teach your wife how to play and be happy when she turned your tricks back on you.

What's your husband's Erdös number?

OP, this was a good touch. More of this, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are insufferable OP. You make a lot of negative assumptions about your wife if you are for real. You seem smug and superior. Hoe do you know that you are beating her? Maybe she is letting you win since she knows you have a fragile ego!

Because she rage quits a simple game like Scrabble after losing by huge points every single game and gets angry at the words I play and their placement because she can never score high while nearly every move I make is for at least double digit points.

I can't help that after many games of Scrabble she cannot learn simple strategy, defense, and rack management. Like, it really doesn't take genius level intellect to learn that you should try as hard as possible to never level a vowel next to a bonus spot, because when you do, it means a consonant (high point tiles) can often be used next to them in two directions for huge points. Other simple stuff like trying your hardest to maintain a balance of 4 consonants and 3 vowels in your rack she doesn't even pay attention to. I know she never even thinks about rack management because she constantly wastes turns trading in tiles. After many games of Scrabble, I don't think she realizes yet how a letter like C is also a fantatic defensive tile, because when you have no options but to lay down next to a bonus spot on the board, a C can be placed next to it so that the bonus spot can only be used in one direction since there are really no two letter words that can be played that end in C, thereby limiting your opponent's points

Little stuff like above is so, soooo basic. I use those strategies every game to win by a lot, but she hasn't caught on yet. If you leave a I open next to a triple word or letter score spot, don't rage quit when I play a word like QI in two directions for 60+ points.

You ... you could share these strategies, you know. With the person you love? Make the gameplay better for both of you?

Why?

People have to figure out these things for themselves. That's the only way to get better rather than providing them a mental crutch every time.

So, did you come up with all of this on your own, or did you learn some of it in a class?

Taking classes is weak, OP. Being taught things means you didn't figure it out by yourself.

Came up with it on my own.

Seriously, you need a class to figure these ideas out?

All it takes is playing Scrabble like 2 times to learn that leaving a vowel open next to a bonus spot is a terrible mistake, because your opponent can play high value consants next to it, often times in two directions.

If I put a consonant next to a bonus space, the vast majority of the time it means you can only play a vowel next to it if you're trying to play a word so you get scoring in two directions. Vowels are all only worth 1 point, so damage is limited. This is so,.soooo easy to figure out. Then you can use very difficult consonants like C to clog up strategic areas of the board since two letter words basically are impossible with C. It will frustrate your opponent when they get stuck and manipulated into opening up the board for you because you can force them to play in an direction you'd like to play in irder to hit more bonus spots.

You don't need to read a textbook on Scrabble. This stuff should be obvious.

Only if you care enough to pay attention. I loathe Scrabble and begrudge every moment of my life spent playing it.

I regularly wipe the floor with everyone else in a similarly meaningless board game because I love it and often spend free time thinking through old games.

I never think other people are less intelligent for not caring about my little board game and its beautiful strategy.

OP, she didn’t storm off because she lost—she stormed off because you’ve been patronizing her for years. That would humiliate anyone. You aren’t very kind.

Yeah, because I'm sure it has nothing to do with losing at Scrabble 12+ times in a row by 60, 70, and even 100+ or more points every time.

Given how everything you have said about your wife drips with contempt, I don’t think it is a stretch to say that how you speak to her also drips with contempt. So yeah, I’m thinking that she is far more upset by that than by losing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of you are much smarter than your spouse? What do you do during game night if you're in a situation where you are a league above your spouse in intellect? Let them win? Tonight, we were playing a game we've been playing for the past two months. My wife has 'won' every game we've played over that time (prob 13 times we've played). Little does she know I've let her win every game the entire time. Tonight, I was tired of it and then played for real. She was shocked she lost 4 times in a row once I really started trying this time. To put this into context, I have a graduate degree in engineering from a top school while my wife studied polysci. It's a game that requires stats and probabilities as well as discrete math principles (obviously stuff she's never even heard of). Once I started using concepts I learned in school like the pigeonhole principle, ideas from graph theory, and basic stats/prob I started to wipe the floor with her in the game. She ended up getting quite angry at losing the entire night and stormed off to bed without saying goodnight.

If you are far more intellectually superior than your spouse, what do you during game night? Purposefully let them win because you know you can pretty much beat them 100% of the time? Stick to games only that are 'fun' and that are built in random change so that very little strategy is involved? Or show no mercy and mop the floor with them every time until they cry uncle and refuse to play the anymore? I already ruined Scrabble with my spouse, because I beat her over 36 times in a row (played for real the entire time).

Don't marry someone just for looks. 🤷‍♀️

Beauty will fade, but dumb is forever.

[Anonymous]

Posters who insist that people who get frustrated and cheat lack character: think about being married to THIS GUY.

[Anonymous]

Just because you took some college courses in math doesn’t mean you’re smarter.

[Anonymous]

This is why men should have some standards in who they married. Marriage is about more than sex.
You married someone who is not that smart and who is pretty fragile about it. That’s on you. You probably married her because you thought she would be a good mom and you wanted to have sex with her. Neither of those things are accomplished when you beat her at this game. I’m sure this isn’t how she wants to behave in front of her kids, and I’m guessing that you didn’t have sex.

As long as you are married to her, let her win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of you are much smarter than your spouse? What do you do during game night if you're in a situation where you are a league above your spouse in intellect? Let them win? Tonight, we were playing a game we've been playing for the past two months. My wife has 'won' every game we've played over that time (prob 13 times we've played). Little does she know I've let her win every game the entire time. Tonight, I was tired of it and then played for real. She was shocked she lost 4 times in a row once I really started trying this time. To put this into context, I have a graduate degree in engineering from a top school while my wife studied polysci. It's a game that requires stats and probabilities as well as discrete math principles (obviously stuff she's never even heard of). Once I started using concepts I learned in school like the pigeonhole principle, ideas from graph theory, and basic stats/prob I started to wipe the floor with her in the game. She ended up getting quite angry at losing the entire night and stormed off to bed without saying goodnight.

If you are far more intellectually superior than your spouse, what do you during game night? Purposefully let them win because you know you can pretty much beat them 100% of the time? Stick to games only that are 'fun' and that are built in random change so that very little strategy is involved? Or show no mercy and mop the floor with them every time until they cry uncle and refuse to play the anymore? I already ruined Scrabble with my spouse, because I beat her over 36 times in a row (played for real the entire time).

What makes you think that the fact you studied math and statistics makes you intellectually superior?

Because I'm going to go out on a minor limb and conclude that it takes a little bit more intellect to get through doctorate level engineering mathematics, quantum electrodynamics, etc. and then get grilled for hours by top professors in the world on those subjects so that you can pass your oral exam. That's a bit harder compared to just doing an undergrad political science degree. And also based on doing original research that has to be published.

No, it really doesn't mean that. It means you have different academic interests and skills, and that you had the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree, or that such certification was necessary for your career. It's a very privileged take to say it makes you intellectually superior.

NP - this. The ability to "get through" doctoral studies is as much about perseverance and tolerance for academic crap than it is about intellect. Moreover, you're assuming that certain disciplines are more rigorous than others, even though they often require different cognitive abilities. Solving equations doesn't make you smarter than someone who can write circles around you, to take one stereotype.

You also don't seem to understand that plenty of very, very smart people don't get PhDs for the sole reason that they don't want or need to. That has nothing to do with their brainpower. You can sneer at your wife all you want. Most of us on this thread are hoping she finds better than you.

This is just something people who couldn't hack it in rigorous engineering fields at the doctorate level say all the time.

Yeah, because I'm sure it doesn't take some baseline level of higher than average intelligence to complete a PhD in engineering at a top program.

Delusional. You can wish for ill will towards a person you've never met before simply because they beat their spouse badly at board games all the time. That says a lot more about your toxicity than anything about me. You are probably on the bordeline of being a psychopath.

PhD in the hard sciences from a top 3 program here. The PP is right- lots of people without degrees are smarter than me. I sometimes wonder if mine was worth it and I work in my field.

I suck at scrabble because I can’t spell for shit (might be dyslexic, never got tested) and I HATE it. If I’m playing it’s a favor to someone and I lose by a million points. I’m usually just glad it’s over.

Also was the comment about ticket to ride a joke? I play that with my preschooler.

Knowing the rules of a game is a different matter from being talented at the game.
My preschooler plays soccer, but she can't win a spot on the USWNT.

Oh my god. You are the Mia hamm of ticket to ride. Can I have your autograph?

I bet you win at Go Fish every time too.

[Anonymous]

I just hope OP's wife didn't die of water toxicity while playing 12 consecutive Scrabble games without eating.

[Anonymous]

I come from a family of men with phds in physics (particle; geo: member of multiple academies books papers etc) and math (with theorems named after them). They are (or were) in terrible marriages or perennially single. No social skills, no empathy, and in one case could be cuttingly cruel to anyone he thought was a waste of his precious time (including often his wife). I’m sure my summa cum laude ba/phd in humanities seem stupid and pointless to them but at least I’m in a harmonious marriage without contempt for my spouse (who shockingly only has a ba).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I come from a family of men with phds in physics (particle; geo: member of multiple academies books papers etc) and math (with theorems named after them). They are (or were) in terrible marriages or perennially single. No social skills, no empathy, and in one case could be cuttingly cruel to anyone he thought was a waste of his precious time (including often his wife). I’m sure my summa cum laude ba/phd in humanities seem stupid and pointless to them but at least I’m in a harmonious marriage without contempt for my spouse (who shockingly only has a ba).

I come from a family with a man who was a tenured professor of science and published author. His wife got a degree in humanities, a law degree, while emotionally abusing him and cheating on him with the same person and "ending the affair" twice and recommitting before finally agreeing to divorce to be with her boyfriend.

Anecdotes are fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of you are much smarter than your spouse? What do you do during game night if you're in a situation where you are a league above your spouse in intellect? Let them win? Tonight, we were playing a game we've been playing for the past two months. My wife has 'won' every game we've played over that time (prob 13 times we've played). Little does she know I've let her win every game the entire time. Tonight, I was tired of it and then played for real. She was shocked she lost 4 times in a row once I really started trying this time. To put this into context, I have a graduate degree in engineering from a top school while my wife studied polysci. It's a game that requires stats and probabilities as well as discrete math principles (obviously stuff she's never even heard of). Once I started using concepts I learned in school like the pigeonhole principle, ideas from graph theory, and basic stats/prob I started to wipe the floor with her in the game. She ended up getting quite angry at losing the entire night and stormed off to bed without saying goodnight.

If you are far more intellectually superior than your spouse, what do you during game night? Purposefully let them win because you know you can pretty much beat them 100% of the time? Stick to games only that are 'fun' and that are built in random change so that very little strategy is involved? Or show no mercy and mop the floor with them every time until they cry uncle and refuse to play the anymore? I already ruined Scrabble with my spouse, because I beat her over 36 times in a row (played for real the entire time).

What makes you think that the fact you studied math and statistics makes you intellectually superior?

Because I'm going to go out on a minor limb and conclude that it takes a little bit more intellect to get through doctorate level engineering mathematics, quantum electrodynamics, etc. and then get grilled for hours by top professors in the world on those subjects so that you can pass your oral exam. That's a bit harder compared to just doing an undergrad political science degree. And also based on doing original research that has to be published.

No, it really doesn't mean that. It means you have different academic interests and skills, and that you had the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree, or that such certification was necessary for your career. It's a very privileged take to say it makes you intellectually superior.

NP - this. The ability to "get through" doctoral studies is as much about perseverance and tolerance for academic crap than it is about intellect. Moreover, you're assuming that certain disciplines are more rigorous than others, even though they often require different cognitive abilities. Solving equations doesn't make you smarter than someone who can write circles around you, to take one stereotype.

You also don't seem to understand that plenty of very, very smart people don't get PhDs for the sole reason that they don't want or need to. That has nothing to do with their brainpower. You can sneer at your wife all you want. Most of us on this thread are hoping she finds better than you.

This is just something people who couldn't hack it in rigorous engineering fields at the doctorate level say all the time.

Yeah, because I'm sure it doesn't take some baseline level of higher than average intelligence to complete a PhD in engineering at a top program.

Delusional. You can wish for ill will towards a person you've never met before simply because they beat their spouse badly at board games all the time. That says a lot more about your toxicity than anything about me. You are probably on the bordeline of being a psychopath.

PhD in the hard sciences from a top 3 program here. The PP is right- lots of people without degrees are smarter than me. I sometimes wonder if mine was worth it and I work in my field.

I suck at scrabble because I can’t spell for shit (might be dyslexic, never got tested) and I HATE it. If I’m playing it’s a favor to someone and I lose by a million points. I’m usually just glad it’s over.

Also was the comment about ticket to ride a joke? I play that with my preschooler.

Knowing the rules of a game is a different matter from being talented at the game.
My preschooler plays soccer, but she can't win a spot on the USWNT.

Oh my god. You are the Mia hamm of ticket to ride. Can I have your autograph?

I bet you win at Go Fish every time too.

You're anonymous here, but I hope you have much more self-control in your offline life, or else I'll feel secondhand embarrassment for you.

[Anonymous]

is this for real???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, your contempt for your wife is ugly.

There's no mercy in Scrabble.

+1000

My family refuses to play scrabble or bananagrams with me because I always win.

That’s ok, we play other games instead 😊