06.28.06 Salon Story on kidgames

Salon just published a story of mine about a whirlwind kidgame tour I did a month back, in which I went head-to-head with some of the most dedicated adult players of rock paper scissors, kickball, tag and a “watergun assassination tournament.” It was an enormous amount of fun to report and write - who knew a grown up could get paid to travel around the country for a bunch of playdates? I was especially happy to expand on ideas in the book, mainly about the fundamental appeal of this stuff to play-starved adults. (hint: you can’t take ‘em too seriously)…

Only downside is the weirdly inflamed debate that has popped up on the letters page—who knew kidgames could prompt such fury? Maybe I shouldn’t have quoted my ill-tempered friend’s remark about all ages tag being “so gay”?

I saw you on the Colbert Report and I think you did a rather stand-up job standing up to his ‘wit storm’. Sometimes I feel like he is somewhat overly vindicative with his quests, but I enjoyed the segment and it’s encouraged me to go out and purchase your book.

Anyways, it’s strange that you don’t have dozens of comments here. Usually, I wouldn’t post on one of these, but the vacancy seemed a little odd!

Congratulations on all of the media action and positive criticism.

Rayne

Thanks Rayne… I’m just grateful that Colbert didn’t target me or the book more forcefully. He does seem to be a genuinely good guy - and so fast! He had maybe one or two jokes in his pocket, but the rest of it was all improv in the moment…

Anyhow, thanks for posting. It is rather scarce, commment-wise. Hoping more people pitch in as more people read and respond to the book…

Hi Christopher,
I too enjoyed you on the Colbert Report.  That show is truly our family’s favorite show.  Both my boys learn about geopolitics from Stephen and Jon Stewart.  What good is life and education if you can’t laugh at absurdity in life?

I live in a home full of males (including felines), and I am really playful with my boys, ages 10 and 16.  I found out years ago that my extreme burping talent endears my male children to me in an amazing way.  After years of burping to them, they still laugh when I come up with a new name or word that I can burp talk.  This began a few years ago when my older son’s father who is a real piece of work who has a very unusual, long foreign name had upset him.  He was crying and couldn’t go to sleep.  So, I racked my brain to think of something to cheer him up since giving my son a full psychological profile of his father was not something he was old enough to digest yet. All that came to my own strange and childlike brain was burping his dad’s name.  His tears of frustration turned into tears of laughter and joy.  He finally fell asleep because his abdomen muscles were so exhausted from the laughter.  So, ever since then, I have used this great discovery as part of my parenting skills to raise happy and well adjusted children.
Sorry for going on so much.  But I KNOW you can relate.