the network for radical unschooling families

"It's only a game."

In a comment on another topic ( http://familyrun.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=2184370%3ATopic%3A397... , but that's not important), Katherine talked about something being "only a game." In some of its context:

I also think many games involve some fight/flight reactions, so some of the behavior surrounding games might be related to real life in that way. The same reaction may come up with being pushed to relinquish the game controls. Or raised voices or insistence about hurrying up. The 12 year's reactions aren't weird or unusual, nor would they not show up anyplace else in life, and this is actually a good opportunity to learn skills and principles in relation to those things (and of course the more clarity the better the understanding of why and how to react differently).

It's possible that one could expect the player to turn off natural reactions since, to the observer, maybe it's only a game. That's another thing that could be mentioned when or if it seems appropriate to. (Yet another point of information sharing that lends more clarity to the whys and hows of reacting to reactions.)

I hesitated about whether to post it here or in "general." It's not just about unschooling, but it's heavily philosophical...

I'd like a swirly brainstorm on "only a game"—any game, any only.

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Permalink Reply by Robin B. on October 27, 2008 at 4:01pm: My husband refers to these moments as "being in the flow" when he coaches his clients. It's like feeling "one" with the car, with the bike, with the guitar, with your body. It's something you don't want to be interrupted, for sure.

I've felt that way when I'm dancing, especially in performances.; ▶ Reply to This