Mousetrap: A Metaphor for Dating

Disclaimer: Let me say that there are plenty of women that go for and can be with the 4 types of fishermen and their subsequent sub-types. These articles are not for or about them. This is for the transitional and transitioned new school fishies. But most of all, this is one of my posts that is more for entertainment purposes. More serious and enlightening articles are soon to come.

We have discussed the 4 types of fishermen, some are obvious as to why they would not work and some are not. So what does work? First we need to take a closer look at the sideliners because there is a special subset that you would think is what you want, but sadly it isn’t.

There is a sub-type of the sideliners that are called the servers. They are sensitive, they care about your needs, they are giving, but most of all they know what it takes to be in a relationship and make it work. There is just one problem for them, the dating game. Imagine yourself being invited to a dinner party. You arrive at the front door, it opens, you step through and the door closes behind you. Before you can take another step your good looking host hands you your plate piled high, your silverware, and a drink. You didn’t have a chance to take off your coat let alone mingle or have a drink. Furthermore they denied you the opportunity to make interesting conversation, they even denied you the opportunity for your sense of smell to lead you to pick among the array of food choices. The servers say “this is all of what I have, eat up!” That isn’t the dating game, it is entirely skipping it.

While they might be able to offer a lot of what you want, how they offer it isn’t very effective. It basically takes the romance out of the romance.

The Conundrum

So if offering it upfront doesn’t work and not playing at all doesn’t work, what does? Well the only way to win the game is to play it. You can’t sit on the sideline and win and you can’t jump to the end of the game then turn and ask, “did I win?” You have to play the dating game. But remember this is called the dating game, not the relationship game. You have to know the rules, and sadly, many people do not. But the biggest mistake of playing the game is not knowing whether you want to win or not. Which is ok, in it’s own right, if you don’t want to win. And here is where the first rule and strategy comes into play. But before any game can be played you have to know the modes of play and the object of the game.

Modes of Play

There are two modes of play, two-player and multi-player. Each has a different objective.

Objective

Two-player mode: The object of the game is to get both players to the relationship square. The players must be within two squares of each other at all times. In order for both of the players to win each player must reach the relationship square within one turn of each other. Watch out for traps and tasked squares.
Multi-player mode: The object of this game is to build strategy for future two-player games. During multi-player games the mode of play can change to two-player mode. However; only two players can reach the relationship square, thus the remaining players must be eliminated. Watch out for traps and choose wisely of the tasked squares.

The Rules

1.) Once a choice to play the game is made you have to decide what mode of play you want the game to be. This is very important as there will be consequences if you choose wrong!

2.) In multi-player mode there can be more than two players in a game, but if the mode has been changed during play one of your objectives is to eliminate enough players so that only two remain. If you do not, all the players will lose the game.

3.) If in two-player mode you must be within two squares of the other player at all times. If not, the player ahead can choose to loose two spaces or choose to leave and forfeit the game. This forfeit would count as a loss against you. If in multi-player mode this rule does not apply unless mode of game has been changed. The only exception to this rule in multi-player mode is when a player falls behind 5 or more squares behind all other players, once this occurs that player is eliminated.

4.) In two-player mode each player must take their turn only when the other player has finished with their turn. In multi-player mode for each square you advance you get an extra turn.

5.) If a player reaches a trap the other player can choose to help them pass the trap. If successful, the two players facing the trap will get to advance an extra square. But watch out, if the other player chooses to help there is an increased risk that both players will fall into the trap, thus ending the game.

6) In two-player mode, when stopping on a task square, you must complete the entire task to move forward. Once you have completed the task you must remain on the task square until the other player has also completed the task. If in multi-player mode you can decide not to do the task. But once the leader on the board chooses to do a task and completes it those remaining on the board must complete it as well or they are eliminated from the game.

7) The final and most important rule, if the two players make it to the relationship square neither of the players may return to a previous point in the game with the other player. If the player chooses to return to an earlier point, they forfeit the game and must go back to the start square with a different player. The player left on the relationship square is allowed to add one more trap and 3 more tasks before leaving the game board.

Now that you know a little about the game. How do you choose what players to invite to the board? And how, once you have chosen your other player(s), do you ask them play? Hopefully these are answers I will be able to give you in posts to come…. so keep swimming!

And always…

Happy Fishing!