When I was a young boy one of the most popular games to play in our morning tea and lunch breaks was tiggy. I've heard it's called tag in some fictional countries (in that area outside of Australia referred to collectively as "The Asylum"). The person who was "up" would try to tig someone who wasn't up, so they'd no longer be up and the other person would.
Almost always though, there was area or object labelled "bars". While on or in bars, one could not become up. The area was often a bit of cement to the side of the playground, or a fence or pole that could be touched. If the person who was "up" tigged a person touching this object, or standing in this particular protected area, they'd say something like, "I'm not up! I was bars!"
Of course what was labelled "bars" was completely arbitrary, but often heated arguments would break out over what exactly was "bars" this particular round of play. It would sometimes get close to a punch up.
"How childish!" or "Aren't kids funny?" one might say.
But is there really any difference between this and the majority of arguments in adult society? Make up an imaginary sky gnome and then argue over what he exactly wants us to do. Make up this imaginary thing called a relationship, then argue over what it actually is based on, or who is "supposed" to do what. Make up imaginary borders and argue over where they are. Make up the ideas of mine and yours and argue over what fits in to each of these categories. Make up the arbitrary ideas of "right" and "wrong" and argue about what goes into each of those categories too.
"How adultish!" or "Aren't adults funny?" one might say.
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