Stupid Games

[Demon wizard]

Did you ever play any really stupid games when you were younger? For example, at my high school the "2 for flinching" game is pretty popular designed to punish those with good reflexes by getting punched if you can make them flinch. And another played by some people is simply referred to as "The Game" in which everyone one plays and if you think about it, you lose. (dammit, I just lost) and the winner is the person who doesn't think about the game the longest. AKA the oldest person in the world. I heard rumors of them planning to send them a letter explaining the rules, but I don't think it ever worked out. And i once witnessed a group of men playing a game called "balls' in which two people, presumably men, start with their hands around each others ankles and they keep moving them up (closer to the others balls) and the loser is the first person who gets grossed out and removes their hands. What sort of arbitrary games do/did you have in your youth?

[Donald M.]

My father told me many stories about the stupid and often painful games he and his friends played growing up.

The only one I can recall at the moment is a variation on tag where the person who is it carries a leather belt that they use to whip the other players.

[Athena Bast]

Four-Square

It involved *gasp* four squares arranged in a square (the game was so popular the school actually painted gaming areas in the school yard) and very often had a smaller square (called the poison square) in the center which cut off all the center corners.

Each square had a name. Ace (the serving square - did I mention this also involved a ball), King, Queen and Joker. You start in the Joker square and gradually move up to Ace.

Lots of the rules were based on tennis. The ball could only bounce once in the square. Could not bounce outside the square and could not land on any lines. Various ball sizes were used from basketballs, volleyballs, (mostly tennis balls) and super bouncy rubber balls.

[Matthew E]

A friend of mine once told me about how he used to lie on the lawn and throw lawn darts up in the air so he could watch them come down right at his face, and then roll away before they hit. He survived to tell me the story, so I guess he must have been quick enough...

[Black Atom]

I remember Four Square. Was never good at it though.

We used to hide behind bushes, then dart to the other side of the street as a car came.

[Super Hero Guy]

When I was REALLY young we used to play a stupid game called "bumper cars" where we'd put our backpacks on the wrong way so they faced our front and then smack into each other

[Serik]

Doctor ball. Normally played at PE, this dodgeball-like game involved two teams, each with one "doctor," throwing yarn balls at each other. Normally there'd be about 20-25 kids playing at once with perhaps two dozen yarn balls in play. The doctor had a bigger ball which was used to revive the "dead" players. If your doctor was hit, it was GG.

After we stopped playing crab soccer due to numerous kids getting kicked in the face, doctor ball was the only thing I looked forward to in PE.

[howyadoin]

A friend of mine once told me about how he used to lie on the lawn and throw lawn darts up in the air so he could watch them come down right at his face, and then roll away before they hit. He survived to tell me the story, so I guess he must have been quick enough...How many eyes does he have?

[Gilda Dent]

Did you ever play any really stupid games when you were younger? For example, at my high school the "2 for flinching" game is pretty popular designed to punish those with good reflexes by getting punched if you can make them flinch.

Gee, and I always thought that this was just an excuse for bullies to go around hitting people they don't like.

I played "smear the queer" on occasion. It's a form of dogpile in which a "player" is designated "the queer" and is pounded on at every opportunity. This designation had to be earned by doing something "gay" such as being in choir, reading during break, raising one's hand in class or wearing green on Thursday.

In elementary school, there was a lunch game some of the boys played. Someone would call out "fag check" and if were not, in fact, a fag, you were to indicate this by holding both hands up above the table immediately. Sometimes the caller would substitute "girl check", in which case both hands were to be kept out of sight.

Yes, they were a clever bunch of fellows.

[Kevin M.]

Ro sham bo has to rank up there. You must be stupid, or really don't want to have kids you enjoy playing game which revolves around kicking each other in the nuts.

[Dreadstar]

We played "cowboys and indians" with BB guns, does that count?

And before anyone says anything, TRUST me, paintballs are a lot more dangerous.

[Matt Algren]

Was my elementary school the only one in which every other urinal in the boy's room was designated for girls?

Anyone?

[Black Atom]

I played "smear the queer" on occasion. It's a form of dogpile in which a "player" is designated "the queer" and is pounded on at every opportunity. This designation had to be earned by doing something "gay" such as being in choir, reading during break, raising one's hand in class or wearing green on Thursday.


For us, "smear the queer" was played with a football, and whoever had the football was "the queer" and got dogpiled (unless they were fast enough to get away or pitched the ball to the next "queer"). I never really considered the game had roots in homophobia at the time.

In fact, I now have to rethink all of those childhood games, specifically "Chase the Darkie" and "Pay the Woman Lower Wages for Performing the Same Task".

[Matt Algren]

For us, "smear the queer" was played with a football, and whoever had the football was "the queer" and got dogpiled (unless they were fast enough to get away or pitched the ball to the next "queer"). I never really considered the game had roots in homophobia at the time.

In fact, I now have to rethink all of those childhood games, specifically "Chase the Darkie" and "Pay the Woman Lower Wages for Performing the Same Task".
I didn't know that the line is "catch a nigger by the toe" until last year.

[jessecuster3]

I believe I only have to show you all this (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/19/OK_Sign.jpg/250px-OK_Sign.jpg)





Also, we would put one another against a wall, have them breathe heavily and push on their chest, so they would pass out. We came to pretty quick, but there was always a serious head rush.

[sehthan]

I played "smear the queer" on occasion. It's a form of dogpile in which a "player" is designated "the queer" and is pounded on at every opportunity. This designation had to be earned by doing something "gay" such as being in choir, reading during break, raising one's hand in class or wearing green on Thursday.

That doesn't sound like much fun.

Where I grew up, "Smear the Queer" was a game played with a football. Whoever had the ball was the "queer," and it was everyone else's job to try and tackle them into oblivion. The "queer" would run like crazy until they lost their nerve, and then try and toss the ball to someone else. [EDIT: Black Atom beat me to it]

In a similar vein, there was "jungle ball," which was ostensibly basketball with no fouls, but in practice was sometimes more like basketball with punching.

I grade school, we had a dodgeball variant that involved one or two people being designated throwers while the rest of the players lined up along a wall and, uh, dodged balls. Sounds more brutal than it actually was, and clever throwers actually learned to use the wall for feints (throw the ball near a player to get them to duck, catch the rebound, throw again before they reset).

I think versions of these are fairly widespread, but I'm not sure how wide.

One that wasn't wide spread was "frisbee soccer" (a terrible name, but we never bothered to think of a good one). We'd take a handful of frisbees and throw them out into the cul-de-sac where we lived. Then we'd run around and try to kick them at each other; you'd score points by hitting the other guy(s). Simple and fairly fun, the main danger in this game was in missing your kick and stepping on the frisbee, resulting in your lead leg suddenly rushing out from under you. Always good for a laugh.

[Demon wizard]

I believe I only have to show you all this (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/19/OK_Sign.jpg/250px-OK_Sign.jpg)



Dammit! You got me. Good luck tracking me down though. *grabs passport*

[Athena Bast]

I remember Four Square. Was never good at it though.



It scares me that that game went beyond my school.

[sehthan]

It scares me that that game went beyond my school.

I played four-square in grade school in KY, and have had conversations about it with people who grew up in AZ and CA. So, it's definitely out there.

[Nitmo]

I remember playing some really wierd made-up game called "soccer".

It involved kicking a ball, but beyond that, I can't remember much

[Michael P]

It scares me that that game went beyond my school.

That game's in every school. I think the knowledge just spontaneously enters your brain when you turn 6. Either that, or they put it in those little juice boxes.

[Demon wizard]

That game's in every school. I think the knowledge just spontaneously enters your brain when you turn 6. Either that, or they put it in those little juice boxes.

Yeah, my elementary school had several 4-square squares set up.

[Athena Bast]

That game's in every school. I think the knowledge just spontaneously enters your brain when you turn 6. Either that, or they put it in those little juice boxes.

That's what frightens me. I mean, when I was playing this game Apple was just introducing the Mac. I was playing Baseball on a Commodore 64.

How the hell did we all play 4-square?

[Super Hero Guy]

Bloody knucles - the most bizarres game ever.

A group sits around a table (usually during lunch). They spin a coin on its side. Everybody takes turns touching it. If you cause it to stop spinning, the person sitting opposite you gets to flick the coin at your knuckles as hard as possible. Bloody knuckles wasn't just a name.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Bloody knucles - the most bizarres game ever.

A group sits around a table (usually during lunch). They spin a coin on its side. Everybody takes turns touching it. If you cause it to stop spinning, the person sitting opposite you gets to flick the coin at your knuckles as hard as possible. Bloody knuckles wasn't just a name.
I recently encountered that version of "Bloody Knuckles." What we had in school was punching either a wall (preferably brick) or each other's fists.

[Black Atom]

I recently encountered that version of "Bloody Knuckles." What we had in school was punching either a wall (preferably brick) or each other's fists.

Yes. For us, "Bloody Knuckles" was rapping another guys knuckles with your knuckles, although sometimes it was done with pencils.

[sehthan]

Yes. For us, "Bloody Knuckles" was rapping another guys knuckles with your knuckles, although sometimes it was done with pencils.


I've seen all the above variants except the coin one, but knuckle-to-knuckle has been most common in my experience.

I once wrote a sketch for my comedy group that involved myself and another dummy playing bloody knuckles. We'd play for real, and hold no punches. You could hear the crack of our knuckles over the dialogue in the back of the room. It was awesome, but we only performed it a couple of times because it takes a toll. After one performance, I had a ridiculous welt on my hand for a good week. I probably should have seen a doctor about it, but as a guy I have a genetic predisposition to being stupid about stuff like that.

[BoosterBronze]

Tetherball has no rules.

It is designed for the sole purpose of teaching children that whoever yells loudest in life determines the rules.

[BoosterBronze]

In highschool we played the following during PE and football practice, simoltaneously.

"Two for Flinching"

"Open Chest" (where if you didn't have your hand on your heart you got punched in the sternum)

"B. B. Britches" (If you say a word starting with "B" you got punches until you said the phrase "B. B. Britches")

"Twofer" (Where someone says something like "Two for wearing glasses" and everyone in the vicinity punches everyone wearing glasses twice. Moments later someone would say something akin to "two for having dyed hair" and the process repeats. The was also "Five-for Fridays" to up the ammount of fun)

and lastly "Bruises" where you roll up your sleeves and displayt he bruises from all of the previous games. If your bruises were not large enoug, you got punches.

Writing this, part of me really, really wishes I was kidding. But sadly I'm not.

[sehthan]

In highschool we played the following during PE and football practice, simoltaneously.

It would have been easier to just fight.

[Dreadstar]

It would have been earier to just fight.

Yeah, Flinch and Slug-Bug and other alpha-male BS games were around back in my day, too. I was kinda big and prone to fight, so I think I got avoided, mostly.

with spittle flying from lips as he presses the face of the classmate against the bus window, nose broken and bleeding: "WHERE'S YOUR FUCKING VW NOW? HUH? WHERE IS IT?"

[Matt Algren]

Yeah, Flinch and Slug-Bug and other alpha-male BS games were around back in my day, too. I was kinda big and prone to fight, so I think I got avoided, mostly.

with spittle flying from lips as he presses the face of the classmate against the bus window, nose broken and bleeding: "WHERE'S YOUR FUCKING VW NOW? HUH? WHERE IS IT?"
Now they have "Cruiser Bruiser" for PT Cruisers. Good thing too, because those things make me want to hit somebody.

[darkhanamaru]

I believe I only have to show you all this (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/19/OK_Sign.jpg/250px-OK_Sign.jpg)





Also, we would put one another against a wall, have them breathe heavily and push on their chest, so they would pass out. We came to pretty quick, but there was always a serious head rush.

I am said to say I played this game too.

[Demon wizard]

In highschool we played the following during PE and football practice, simoltaneously.



"Open Chest" (where if you didn't have your hand on your heart you got punched in the sternum)


We have that game. I got tricked into that game without any foreknowledge of its existence. And supposedly the only person who can get me out is some big black guy.

[Athena Bast]

Oh.. there's the cardgame "Asshole"

[Super Hero Guy]

Yep, we played Asshole at my high school all the time. I live in Canada

[darkkeeperjr]

My father told me many stories about the stupid and often painful games he and his friends played growing up.

The only one I can recall at the moment is a variation on tag where the person who is it carries a leather belt that they use to whip the other players.

Someone hides the belt and calls out"hot peas and butter!come and get your supper!" 5 to 10 kids run and look for the belt.Who ever finds it hit the others till they can get to base.then that person hides the belt.

Nothing better than having all the kids run past the belt and you find it.They have to get pass you so they can get to base!

[darkkeeperjr]

I am said to say I played this game too. Me too.

I didn't know that the line is "catch a nigger by the toe" until last year.

It's catch an In-jin by the toe.If he hollers let him go.

[Hellbaby]

Knobs. If you fart, someone will call "knobs" on you. Then everyone can take free punches at you until you touch a doorknob. However, if the farter calls "safety" before anyone calls knobs, he is safe.

And if you wanted to be hardcore, they had to be 100% door knobs. No handles! That was always fun at Scouts Camp where there were no knobs except maybe one at the trading post. Then everyone would chase him all the way there!


We also had Rope Burn, when two people would run around with a jumprope and try to wrap people's legs. The goal was to pull them over or yank it really hard to burn their legs.

And of course, there were woodchip wars where we would throw wood chips or bamboo chutes (The bamboo from the house next to our school spread past the fence and came in.) at each other.

[VanEyck]

Someone hides the belt and calls out"hot peas and butter!come and get your supper!" 5 to 10 kids run and look for the belt.Who ever finds it hit the others till they can get to base.then that person hides the belt.

Nothing better than having all the kids run past the belt and you find it.They have to get pass you so they can get to base!

That really was a great game. I used to love the subtle deceptions of the game, like when you suddenly turn around as if you found the belt (even though you didn't) and it makes everyone else run away and it buys you about 8 extra seconds of belt hunting. Or the opposite of that, which is when you find the belt, but pretend to be still looking for it. Really, you're just waiting for more people to cluster around you before you start whipping all of them!!! Ha Ha Ha. Hot Peas and Butter and Hide n Go Seek were the No. 1 and No. 2 games of my youth (but not in that order).

[darkkeeperjr]

Best games ever!

Run-Catch-Kiss and Seven minutes in heaven!

[BoosterBronze]

Knobs. If you fart, someone will call "knobs" on you. Then everyone can take free punches at you until you touch a doorknob. However, if the farter calls "safety" before anyone calls knobs, he is safe.


We had a similar game, but it was when you said 'fuck' you had to say 'safety' before the first punch landed, or then you had to run to a doorknob.