We're all familiar with "the game." We have either played the game with someone or have been victims of it. We've played mind games with someone (sometimes subconsciously or not) or have had someone play mind games with us. Some people believe that not showing your true intentions or feelings for someone when you're beginning to be interested in that person has its advantage, because it's essential to guarding your heart when you can get hurt, but then others don't know why you'd pretend anything when someone else's heart is involved. I'll leave the choice up to you to decide.
Considering there's no right or wrong answer, I was curious to see what 20-year-olds (men and women) think about "playing the game." I asked 20 young men and women from across the nation to see what they think. Read, reflect, and comment with your own thoughts.
To play the game or not play the game - that is the question.
1. "I can't stand it when girls try to play the game and no, I don't play the game. I think if you like the guy, you don't need to sit there and play games. A lot of times, guys lose interest when girls play games and I think it's immature." - Drew, 22
2. "How can someone get to know someone when a game is being played? It's like always walking on glass around them." - Emily, 20
3. "I'd rather a girl be honest with how she feels about me. Playing games can be confusing and you run the possibility of ruining something that could've been special for the two of you." - Damian, 25
4. "No. I'm a forward person. If a guy can't handle me from the beginning, he won't be able to handle me down the line. I don't waste time on guys who don't enjoy me for exactly the way I am." - Claire, 20
5. "I find it less attractive when I don't know what's on her mind." - Javier, 24
6. "I don't believe you should ever be anyone but yourself. But if you do like a guy, I think you should keep your emotions about him (not your emotions in general) to yourself until the relationship further develops, because your mind and his mind might change." - Arianna, 21
7. "I think if girls do that, it probably means they think you are attractive, or at least something you are doing is attractive and so they want to make sure it is legit. But I don't like it and I don't think getting to know someone should be like taking a test so I don't do it." - Christian, 20
8. "I do not believe in playing games with men. No one likes to be played with and most decent men don't understand that a game is being played. Games only last for so long and when they end, will he really still like the real you?" - Ruthanne, 22
9. "When you meet the right one, they won't play games with you." - Taylor, 20
10. "Playing the game is a way for a girl to test if a guy really likes her or not. I think guys like the chase to an extent; however, once a guy lets you know he is interested, women should show an interest, too, and be her complete self." - Kourtney, 20
11. "When I'm first getting to know a girl, I would say that a mild level of 'the game' is intriguing and attractive to me. It can be a tough balance, though, because too much makes her seem uninterested completely, but a mild amount is attractive to an extent." - Alex, 20
12. "I don't believe in playing the game... I'm looking for a love so pure and so kind that I never have to think twice about being myself around that person. I think playing the game inhibits people from finding pure, kind, and authentic companionship. Every girl deserves a guy who will accept her for all she is." - Genesis, 20
13. "Personally I think it's fun, but it depends on the type of girl and sometimes, I think it's fun to play their game to get to know them better." - Casey, 20
14. "I don't agree with playing the game. Don't overthink every move you make with him, because then you're not really being your honest self. Being honest can lead to somewhere and if you're not you could possibly be letting someone good go." - Olivia, 20
15. "Mystery is always intriguing." - Matt, 22
16. "I've been the victim of someone playing games with me, so I keep my guard up. I may not play games, but I am also aware of what is going on. I think it's something that our generation has to deal with." Taylor, 23
17. "Usually, I'm playing the game. But if she wants to play the game, then I'm always down to play." - Ryan, 20
18. "Why play the game with them if we hate when they play it with us?" - Mackenzi, 19
19. "It entirely depends on what I'm looking for. If I know I don't want anything serious, then I want both of us to keep some things to ourselves... but if I'm looking for a relationship, the I want both of us to be completely honest from day one." - Tyler, 23
20. "Playing games is necessary in the beginning of getting to know someone, because during the beginning, they can be vulnerable. Playing games helps becoming not attached until you know what you want." - Winnie, 20
