Decoder Ring: You Just Lost The Game
When you think about the game, you lose the game. When you lose the game you must declare that you have lost the game, causing all others in your vicinity to also lose the game. That\u2019s it, that\u2019s the game.\xa0\nThe game is mind game that trades on a quirk of human psychology, and is so intensely viral that it went from a college science fiction club in-joke to an endemic mind virus in only a few decades. If you\u2019re a bit older and already know about the game, you likely learned about it in the aughts, but the game continues to spread through social media, most recently on TikTok, where the game became a meme over lockdown. On this episode, we examine the game to figure out how it works, where it came from, and the curious psychology that powers its viral nature.\xa0\nNote: A version of this episode was originally released as a secret bonus to our 2018 episode \u201cThe Incunabula Papers\u201d, but this is its official public release. The episode has been updated with new voice over, sound design, and minor story changes to bring it up to date in 2021.\nIf you love the show and want to support us, consider joining Slate Plus. With Slate Plus you can get ad free podcasts, bonus episodes, and much more.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices