A radio program run by Colin Cowherd makes a play on the word herd. This reflects the human tendency to pun, or to play with words. A sports program that plays with words is following the theme that is its purpose. Games are about play and about being in the herd.
The paradox that is inherent in most sport is that it is about both conflict and peace. Teams are groups with the common purpose of defeating opponents. This creates a bond between team members based on the common purpose of defeating opponents. Without the competitive edge games lose the zest which makes them enjoyable.
Wars are also about conflict but humanity has perhaps fortunately advanced to the point where wars are now so dangerous to the survival of our species that they have been abandoned in more civilized parts of the planet. Nevertheless there is a dangerous allure in war and its attractiveness to powerful bully nations remains evident.
It is obvious that games have elements of warfare in them that are modified to the point where their harmful effects are muted. The things that are positive about war are retained but the harmful effects are eliminated. The undeniable social benefits of games may be characterized as balance.
Oriental philosophy takes balance as a fundamental tenet. Evil and negativity are taken as reality but when they are balanced by good and positivity a state of quiescence, or harmony is attained. This notion differs from some contemporary positions which choose to ignore negative notions and focus on what is positive. That may be characterized as not playing the game.
It may be that the two opposing philosophical positions reflect herd dynamics. Herd animals are often weak individuals in comparison to the predators that kill them. Paradoxically, the weak are the ones that survive in numbers whilst the predators are few, and weakened by their own vicious impulses. The evolutionary force of being in the herd is illustrated time and again in the community of life on Earth.
Within groups are individuals that survive by virtue of their membership of the group. When an antelope is born it is defenseless for some time in the face of fierce predation. In a sports team too there are often passengers who may not make any significant contribution for some time, although they are protected because they have some potential. Followers of a team will eventually call for the rejection of non performers. In the same way animals herds tolerate the young because they have potential and call for help. Old bulls are rejected and may be seen pathetically following their kind vulnerable until the day that they are taken by predators.
Perhaps instinctively, human beings who are part of a global society that has members living in space, has invented the Internet and wrestles with serious religious issues still recognizes something deeply significant about crowd behavior. Though gladiators are no longer employed to entertain by killing they do contest against each other even if safely wrapped in protective clothing. If TV channels are unable to present a contest between nations on a weekly basis it feels as though something is missing. People dress up, paint their faces and arm themselves with flags, banners or plastic weapons which they will wave excitedly in the face of a TV camera. Even though we might know better we all feel happy and excited to be in the herd.
The paradox that is inherent in most sport is that it is about both conflict and peace. Teams are groups with the common purpose of defeating opponents. This creates a bond between team members based on the common purpose of defeating opponents. Without the competitive edge games lose the zest which makes them enjoyable.
Wars are also about conflict but humanity has perhaps fortunately advanced to the point where wars are now so dangerous to the survival of our species that they have been abandoned in more civilized parts of the planet. Nevertheless there is a dangerous allure in war and its attractiveness to powerful bully nations remains evident.
It is obvious that games have elements of warfare in them that are modified to the point where their harmful effects are muted. The things that are positive about war are retained but the harmful effects are eliminated. The undeniable social benefits of games may be characterized as balance.
Oriental philosophy takes balance as a fundamental tenet. Evil and negativity are taken as reality but when they are balanced by good and positivity a state of quiescence, or harmony is attained. This notion differs from some contemporary positions which choose to ignore negative notions and focus on what is positive. That may be characterized as not playing the game.
It may be that the two opposing philosophical positions reflect herd dynamics. Herd animals are often weak individuals in comparison to the predators that kill them. Paradoxically, the weak are the ones that survive in numbers whilst the predators are few, and weakened by their own vicious impulses. The evolutionary force of being in the herd is illustrated time and again in the community of life on Earth.
Within groups are individuals that survive by virtue of their membership of the group. When an antelope is born it is defenseless for some time in the face of fierce predation. In a sports team too there are often passengers who may not make any significant contribution for some time, although they are protected because they have some potential. Followers of a team will eventually call for the rejection of non performers. In the same way animals herds tolerate the young because they have potential and call for help. Old bulls are rejected and may be seen pathetically following their kind vulnerable until the day that they are taken by predators.
Perhaps instinctively, human beings who are part of a global society that has members living in space, has invented the Internet and wrestles with serious religious issues still recognizes something deeply significant about crowd behavior. Though gladiators are no longer employed to entertain by killing they do contest against each other even if safely wrapped in protective clothing. If TV channels are unable to present a contest between nations on a weekly basis it feels as though something is missing. People dress up, paint their faces and arm themselves with flags, banners or plastic weapons which they will wave excitedly in the face of a TV camera. Even though we might know better we all feel happy and excited to be in the herd.
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