Finite game mindset pervades everything.
When someone asks which team I’m rooting for in the Super Bowl, it’s pretty easy for me to say, “Neither. Both.”
I don’t have a substantial connection to either team, I’m not invested in football more generally, and I don’t feel compelled to make a choice. But a lot of people do feel compelled to choose, even if what I said is true for them. And I think that’s because of finite game thinking.
In finite games, there can only be one winner. In infinite games, there is not one winner – continuing to play constitutes “winning.” (Playing catch is a popular example of an infinite game. No one “wins” at catch.”)
So the Super Bowl asks us to pick sides when neither of the teams are “ours.” That’s just one event! But it’s not, because many people are picking sides for every game. And then they expand to pick sides in the Grammys, the Oscars. And from there, it’s not far to pick sides in Choir Festival outcomes.
Music is not a finite game, but finite game thinking is so tempting. I don’t want my choir to win, I want them to do their best. I want every other choir to do their best, too. I want more good music to be made by more people. We all “win” that way.
Who do I want to win the Super Bowl? I want us all to win.
I want the game to be entertaining to people who love the game.
I want spectators to make meaningful connection and share time with people they care about.
I want no one to get hurt.
I want all the players to leave the arena saying, “I did my best.”
I’m rooting for everyone to “win.” And I couldn’t care less about which team gets more points.