Comments on: Just When You Thought Games Were For Fun Many proposed definitions of these words fail, as does those definhitions above for a few specific reasons: 1) Mistaking applications for definitions - (what the word must represent in isolation). 2) Misunderstanding the type of word, and therefore the type of concept such words represent - (how the word is related to the rest of the language). Both of the supposed definitions given there fail for these reasons. Game, art, puzzle, competition, work and play (as nouns), (along with many other words, such as event, state, flight, speech, movement, accident and party for example), do not just belong to the same type of word in general (noun), but also represent the same type of concept - and therefore belong to the same TYPE of noun too. But yes, you really need to read my whole blog (so far!) more carefully to fully understand the problem. Many proposed definitions of these words fail, as does those definhitions above for a few specific reasons:

1) Mistaking applications for definitions – (what the word must represent in isolation).

2) Misunderstanding the type of word, and therefore the type of concept such words represent – (how the word is related to the rest of the language).

Both of the supposed definitions given there fail for these reasons.

Game, art, puzzle, competition, work and play (as nouns), (along with many other words, such as event, state, flight, speech, movement, accident and party for example), do not just belong to the same type of word in general (noun), but also represent the same type of concept – and therefore belong to the same TYPE of noun too.

But yes, you really need to read my whole blog (so far!) more carefully to fully understand the problem.

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By: Poya Manouchehri/2011/06/07/just-when-you-thought-games-were-for-fun/#comment-5433 Poya Manouchehri Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:43:50 +0000 This is another symptom of people not fully understanding what the word game is used to represent <strong>now</strong>, as opposed to what the word game <strong>used</strong> to represent. The problem, is that the word game, as representing something similar to the word play, (as a noun), has not been used in such a manner for <strong>centuries.</strong> (5 or 6 centuries to be a bit more precise). Since then the word game then crossed paths with what we now call gambling, (related to the use of the word game as a verb - gaming etc.), but it has since moved on from such a definition based on how it is used. The problem, is that the dictionaries, and those writing them, have <strong>not</strong>. Game != play (noun). The use of the word play as a <em>verb</em> to describe the behaviour of taking part in such an activity, given that it is also used in a similar manner for a type of art (music), that can both exist for reasons other than that described by the word play as a noun, (a non-productive activity, taken part in for enjoyment), can therefore have no relation to the same word when used as a noun at all. Games (and music) are often played (verb) for work (noun). But to fully understand exactly how and why that can be the case, we must also fully understand what it is that the word game is used to represent <strong>now</strong>, not three centuries ago, based on how it is used today. This is where the dictionaries etc. have <strong>failed.</strong> The idea or concept the word game is now used to represent is probably as old as humanity itself, and has probably <strong>always</strong> existed for productive reasons (work), or vice-versa. Like art, puzzle and competition - (the last two words probably help to cover some of what the word game might have represented before) - the application of behaviour the word game now represents, exists independently of work and play, and always has. But when the type of noun the word game belongs to isn't fully recognised and understood to represent 'applications of behaviour' in the first place, it should give you a glimpse that the problem with the word game, currently, lies a little deeper than it first appears. I suggest you read my blog - (click my name). I'm currently working on the post about puzzle(s), but all you need to know about the word game (in itself) is there. This is another symptom of people not fully understanding what the word game is used to represent now, as opposed to what the word game used to represent.

The problem, is that the word game, as representing something similar to the word play, (as a noun), has not been used in such a manner for centuries. (5 or 6 centuries to be a bit more precise).

Since then the word game then crossed paths with what we now call gambling, (related to the use of the word game as a verb – gaming etc.), but it has since moved on from such a definition based on how it is used.

The problem, is that the dictionaries, and those writing them, have not.

Game != play (noun).

The use of the word play as a verb to describe the behaviour of taking part in such an activity, given that it is also used in a similar manner for a type of art (music), that can both exist for reasons other than that described by the word play as a noun, (a non-productive activity, taken part in for enjoyment), can therefore have no relation to the same word when used as a noun at all.

Games (and music) are often played (verb) for work (noun).

But to fully understand exactly how and why that can be the case, we must also fully understand what it is that the word game is used to represent now, not three centuries ago, based on how it is used today.

This is where the dictionaries etc. have failed.

The idea or concept the word game is now used to represent is probably as old as humanity itself, and has probably always existed for productive reasons (work), or vice-versa. Like art, puzzle and competition – (the last two words probably help to cover some of what the word game might have represented before) – the application of behaviour the word game now represents, exists independently of work and play, and always has.

But when the type of noun the word game belongs to isn’t fully recognised and understood to represent ‘applications of behaviour’ in the first place, it should give you a glimpse that the problem with the word game, currently, lies a little deeper than it first appears.

I suggest you read my blog – (click my name). I’m currently working on the post about puzzle(s), but all you need to know about the word game (in itself) is there.

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