There is no question that my wife and I have a different worldview than average people. And I don’t use the term ‘average’ in a pejorative sense; we have but average professional-grade IQs, not special.
One thing that is different about us is our strict avoidance of social events (except for interacting on this forum in my case – my wife wouldn’t kibitz online on a bet). Now that I write this, I realize that this antipathy of ours is not all that unique. Almost every serial killer you read about was a loner.
The only social engagement that I can remember attending in the last fifteen or twenty years, not counting very occasional wine tasting dinners and obligatory acts of professional reciprocity, was last night’s trip across the street to accept an invitation to a NYE party (which I thought might be a wine tasting event, since the host had mentioned over a short at-the-mailbox introduction that he was building a wine cellar). At first Lynn and I were going to decline, as usual, but decided that we really should mix once in a while, especially with our neighbors, just so we don’t through impoverishment start acting like Ted Kaczynski (you know, the men in white coats are watching).
What we encountered looked crazy to us. So I am asking what other folks do at parties to either dismiss what we witnessed as aberrant or start practicing mimicry for our self protection, in this last leg of life.
Once everybody assembled, the host rang attention with a spoon against his glass. He announced that the men and women would be separated to play a few games, and after scores were taken, the groups would merge for final playoffs. Contests included card games, darts, something like charades (which was added to the mix by a fellow reveler) and taking a trivia exam on a piece of paper.
It seemed to me that the entire evening was constructed to block discourse and intimacy; much like parallel play appeals to and is appropriate for two- and three-year-olds, if I can remember my Child Psychology/Development classes. Also, when I am drinking wine, I don’t really enjoy exercises that could be better performed with a clear head.
Is this behavior we encountered usual at adult parties? (I know it would be great for a little kid’s birthday party.) The members of this forum are certainly experienced with parties and as adept as any group in party protocol. What do you do at your parties? What is normal?
Thanks.
Covert
done!
