Yeah, because you can measure “strength” by one’s ability to conform to militaristic hierarchy and to throw a ball really really fast. Go read your neoliberal propaganda, Centrist Dad.

Oh yeah, sure; I think in some circumstances it’s even worse for girls (I can imagine that even when you decide to try some sport, you’re quite often told it’s not the “real thing” anyway, because only boys play “real” soccer or something).

Yep. Quite paradoxically, this kind of ostracism (“man up”, “what are you, queer” etc.) was one of the things that led me to realise I’m actually bisexual. As in “maybe they’re right about the whole “abnormal” thing, let’s see”. Silver lining, I guess.

I don’t have any kids yet, but together with my wife we’ve already laid up some ground rules. Basically, no professional career in sports and no membership in religious organisations; everything else - street gangs, secret occult societies etc. - is fine.

It’s OK to do sports, as long as you remember to be at least slightly ashamed of it.

I think that if you actually want to teach someone how to lose/win with style, you should instead go for games with narrative elements. Basically any situation where you can have some tangible achievements or results besides winning or losing; like seeing a character develop, or telling a story together, or a screw-up…

Sure, I mean, there are good capitalists too. But at some point they’ll all have to go.

All the traditionally “nerdy” activities have almost never been solitary; that’s basically a myth. Tabletop gaming is usually more social than sports, both arcades and early home consoles made video games a deeply social activity, there were (and are) all sorts of after-classes clubs etc. Considering that in sports…

Yeah, that’s because teamwork as in “working with actual human beings” has little to do with the kind of “teamwork” they teach you at school and in all the traditionally “manly” institutions.

That’s the worst thing about sports: if you refuse to play them (especially as a boy), you’re told that you’re bad at teamwork and human interactions in general. You start associating one with the other, although the connection is tenuous at best (unless you consider the army to be the model for intimacy and…

Or! Instead of teaching your son “sports” so he can fit in, you can just recognise that Calvin was right, most sports indeed *are* militaristic, quasi-fascist means of imposing toxic models of hyper-masculinity on young boys, and encourage him to find some other, more creative activity that teaches compassion and…

Sure, much like living through the Trump presidency is “close” to “liking” the idea of him being the president. Sometimes you just have to get through it, and accept the consequences of an impulsive decision made by some 12-year old’s mind.

Basically what you’re saying is, this kind of consumer culture is an inherent contradiction within late capitalism, and thus gamers should be among the first to try and abolish capitalism altogether.

If you liked the show, definitely go for the game - worst case scenario, you’ll play the game first and then get all the fan service-y humour once you watch the cartoon later on.

Well, if Stick of Truth is anything to go by, you’ll miss on some funny/nostalgic fan service-y stuff, but you’ll still be able to “get” both the humour and the plot.

Btw. you know quantum leap is actually a very very small thing?

Congratulations, you just discovered that liberals are willing to cosy up to anyone with enough power/influence. That’s what the left has been saying for years.

Er, if it’s not, then why do you refer to their stupid legal definition?

Well, then your government sucks (nothing new there). Or you need a separate legal definition for “real vodka” or something.

Good to know! I’m not sure I can get it where I live, but I’ll definitely try