Rules of the Design, TPGII

In Honor, an Essay in Celebration
by General Bobb

Rules of the Design, TPGII...
by General Bobb

On the 2nd Anniversary
by CaptainKev

On the 2nd Anniversary
by Anonymous General

On the Road
with Endgame

Two years? It's only been two years? Wow...
by Jim Girard

1. Rule one: There are no rules.
   Rule two: Rules are essential.
   Rule three: Obedience is mandatory
   Rule four: Rules are to be broken.

2. The nature of rules is that they they have a time and place and function. Outside of that they are a damned nuisance and are to be avoided.

3. The fact that there ARE no rules obligates us to fashion them carefully and without love.

4. Rules are absolutely essential as we endeavor to create a shared success.

5. Obedience is mandatory else sharing is impossible.

6. Unbroken rules are dead rules, unable to fit the contingencies of living variety.

7. The makers of rules and the users of rules form a team of voluntary association.

8. Such teams can be aborted at any time pre or post formation.

9. A community of dynamically forming and dissolving teams is constantly formulating, practicing and adjusting, breaking and dissolving their rules to fit the community's wishes, perceptions and whims.

10. In practice, since there are no rules, such rules as exist or are proposed will always be controversial.

This being the case it is therefore incumbent upon participants in TPGII page activities to cooperate in order to fulfill the potential of community. Probably the greatest assets in this effort are dialogue and tolerance. After all there are a world of different ways to make soups and each one has his own preferences.

We get off the "path" both when we attempt to impose rules and when we deny them. The freedom to create is absolute. The freedom to create is also the freedom to accept working within a ruled context or not to do so. It is also the freedom to fail. In our community there are many mansions. We are all free to create and to play, reacting with dialogues so inspired. The freedom to play is absolute. The freedom to play is the freedom to avoid, abort or wish it had not played. Such freedom speaking of experience is for each one a valid reaction. Agreement is not necessary to validity. It exists of itself. Such absolute validity negates the necessity of agreement and begs disagreement of equal standing. We are condemned to everlasting contention. Accept it; glory in it. It is the stuff of life and the sweetener of working in concert. Without that pepper it would all be so dull.

It is for each participant to listen to the design and listen to the dialogue of play and observation. As we listen, so shall we profit. Listening is not a passive process. It is a creative one ranging from denial to agreement to making another whole and different proposition. The denial of a non-listener is the same as the agreement of a non-listener. Nothing. Indifference.

Each game accepted to play, whether intuitively selected as agreeable or not, is a test. Off the wall or carefully chosen the test runs a course whether aborted or played to a bitter or sweet end. Then the reflections may be pitched into the pond to wash with ripples other players and the author. Each participant listens to the ripples, each in their own capacity. Then like rocks in the pond they may create ripples of their own reflection creating a pattern that never stops changing until it all dies away and another stone is pitched in. This is a thing of beauty to watch and play upon. Mixed within are the feelings that people generate.

There are many ways to create, many ways to play; many things to say, whether by convention or novel invention or some indescribable mixture. The bath given to each effort by our discussions is the great asset, the Page's forte. So, do not despair. Appreciate. Enjoy. Have fun.

Let us make rules and have them where we will and let us break or avoid them as well. Let us grow in skill in dealing with the issue of rules, knowing where the rule is and is not. Let us help each other to know. And, let us choose as is best for each one.

Scot in my previous I, perhaps, followed your admonition to neglect the page creators/operators too closely. I have long noted the dependence of organizational efforts upon a damned and precious few who do most of the work and who volunteer their services well beyond the call of duty. I do not fare very well in leading roles, but have on occasion been an asset as a faithful fly on the wall, specking a contribution onto the work of those who function more effectively out in front. Having been placed on occasion to lead, and from observing others I know only too well what work and dedication lies behind success. Yes, others contribute and vitally so; but, without the effective guy in front, it would never happen or happen very poorly. The ranks also may harbor the next leader, but not always or at least not at the critical time. We are fortunate in the present and apparently for the past as well. The present speaks for itself. I know the past only by implication and while my appreciation extends there as well, it can not be as specific.

Bobb