If you are like me, you played a lot of board games growing up. Kids start with the simplest varieties, like Candyland and Trouble, which teach them simple values like taking turns and playing fair. As we got older, we learned about money and responsibilities by playing Life and Monopoly. Now, as college students, we have forgone the games of our past for new ones, games that are just as valuable in teaching us cultural values: beer pong and Kings.
These games likely constitute a large proportion of students' time, probably only after studying, eating and watching TV - and they undoubtedly consume more time than the average 15 credit hours. Some may balk at this reality, claiming that these activities are a waste of time, or worse, dangerous. I, for one, do not concur. Quite the contrary, I believe that these drinking games are invaluable to our growth as members of society. Both beer pong and Kings teach students important lessons; I'm not sure how our country got where it is today without its leaders partaking in these activities during their years at those big-shot Ivies.
Both games teach the value of speed and hustle. Americans are derided for being workaholics and for not taking long enough lunch breaks or vacations, but other countries must realize that this is the price of success. There is a reason why we are the most powerful country with the highest GDP, despite being a baby of just 244 years. Beer pong and Kings perpetuate the values of speed and work ethic. In beer pong, you have to be quick to grab a dropped ball, because if it rolls back to the other side, you can miss your chance. Agility is especially critical in the variation of the game called "speed pong," during which rivals do not even take sequential turns but play in a free-for-all fashion. Hectic, but hey, so is life. Kings similarly teaches speed. When a player draws a four, everyone must touch the floor or table. With a seven, everyone better get their hands in the air. He who is damned with the slowest reflexes loses.
These two games also remind us of the important balance between teamwork and individualism. Almost every job description has "works well in teams" as a qualification. But the United States is also the land of opportunity, where any individual can pull himself up by his own bootstraps. We are encouraged to be our own persons. These conflicting cultural values are presented to us through drinking games. When playing beer pong, you work on a team of two, taking turns and helping finish each others' beers. Each player, however, also has his own moment to shine. Kings requires a balance of teamwork and individual effort, as well. The game is played individually, but it's more fun when players work in unison to string a long rhyme together when a nine card is drawn or to keep a quality waterfall going with an ace.
Creativity is another cultural value preached through drinking games. After all, beer pong is an incredibly innovative way to use a piece of furniture. Does any college student look at a pingpong table and actually think of hitting a ball back and forth with little paddles? That's for Forrest Gump and people seeking an easy ride to the Olympics. College students have discovered a much more fruitful use for this resource. Manufacturers of these tables are likely thankful for the new market, anyway. In terms of the game itself, players are rewarded for creative moves. For example, two cups are removed if a shot is made from behind the back or by bouncing the ball off a ceiling or another inconvenient surface. With Kings, a competitor can dupe an opponent by coming up with a word that can not easily by rhymed. I once had a friend use the word "Mexico" in her rhyme. Needless to say, she won the game.
Beer pong and Kings also promote the social value of fairness, which has deep roots in American culture. The nation is founded on the tenet that "all men are created equal," and drinking games perpetuate this theme. Both include inflexible rules, like the granting of one re-rack in beer pong and having the title card, a King, require the drawer to enforce a rule to be heeded throughout the remainder of the game. Additionally, beer pong gives laggers an opportunity for redemption. By making two shots in a row, would-be-losers can get back in the game. Perhaps the ultimate redemption in drinking games stems from the reality that in essence, the "loser" wins, as he is the one who gets to drink the most.
Evidently, drinking games teach students the social norms of America. Apart from the aforementioned values of speed, teamwork, individual effort and creativity, the games also instill in us the spirit of competitiveness. I give credit to those who spread the popularity of these games, like the boys in my first-year dorm who crafted a makeshift beer pong table out of a closet door. For those who do not partake in these games frequently, you are missing out on a critical element of your higher education. This weekend, I encourage you to pick a card or to step up to the edge of the table - just make sure to watch your elbow as you do.\n\nAbby's column runs biweekly Wednesdays. She can be reached at a.coster@cavalierdaily.com.
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