This is not a game yet (as far as I know), just an idea for one. Can you avoid all of the common human traps all the way through life? Below is a draft outline for a game I call “Crossroads: Life’s Labyrinth” which will feature a large number of (mostly avoidable) traps people encounter on their various paths through life. There are many ways we can mess up, but also many paths to various types of success. The criteria for messing up or being successful is this “simple” goal: A long healthy happy fulfilling life.
Once created, I think constantly improved versions of this game should be played by all for improving human survival and life satisfaction. I’m publishing it here in hopes that others will create similar enjoyable educational world-improving games.
START ⇒
Jump to: Accidents | Character | Career | Education | Health | Housing | Investing | Legal | Marketing | Online Shopping | Personal Finance | Political | Relationship | Technology
⊕ Accident Traps
Goal: Avoid accidents. How: Luck + Good judgement, Research, Carefulness
⇒ Automobile accidents.
⇒ Bad luck (natural disasters, etc.)
⇒ Dangerous sports
⇒ Lack of proper safety equipment
⇒ Needless risk taking
⇒ Wrong place wrong time
⊕ Character Traps
⇒ Bigotry, Attacking differences
⇒ Cowardice, Not solving your own problems
⇒ Cynicism, Disbelieving without careful checking
⇒ Drama Seeking, Escalating problems
⇒ Egotism, Self-centered action
⇒ Gullibility, Believing without careful checking
⇒ Isolationism, Too little variety of friends
⇒ Not listening, Ignoring differences
⇒ Not recognizing, detach from and blocking evil
⇒ Not protecting privacy
⇒ Not minding your own business
⇒ Naivety, Assuming the world is fair
⇒ Not making the best of it
⇒ Not avoiding people who lead to trouble
⇒ Not doing good deeds for good friends
⇒ Playing stupid games to win stupid prizes
⇒ Snitchery, Obsessions about right and wrong.
⊕ Career Traps
Goal: Fulfilling career. How: Luck + Effort, Good judgement, Action
⇒ Lack of passion
⇒ Underemployment
⇒ Pursuing status or money over personal fulfillment
⇒ Overlooking personal strengths and interests
⇒ Choosing a career based solely on external pressure
⇒ Not considering long-term growth and job satisfaction
⊕ Education Traps
Goal: Education. How: School, Self-Study, Balance social life
⇒ Giving up
⇒ Unfairness
⇒ Study Distractions
⇒ Wrong information
⇒ Logical fallacies
⇒ Excess Extracurricular Activities
⇒ Student Loan Debt
⇒ All study, no social life, later failed biological imperative.
⊕ Health Traps
Goal: Exercise, eat right and get enough sleep daily. How: Do health right daily. Don’t be misguided into any unhealthy lifestyle.
⇒ Ignoring Environmental Pollution
⇒ Ignoring Essential Nutrients
⇒ Ignoring Individual Differences
⇒ Under or Over Exercising
⇒ Lack of Lifelong Careful Research
⇒ Trusting Industry Corrupted Experts
⇒ Fad Diets
⇒ Miracle Cures
⇒ Unproven Supplements
⇒ False Testimonials
⇒ Not Stopping Cancer Causes
⇒ Ignoring Ways to Avoid Heart Diseases
⇒ Ignoring How to Avoid Lung Diseases
⇒ Ignoring Guidelines to Avoid Metabolic Diseases (e.g. Diabetes)
⊕ Housing Traps
Goal: Safe, Comfortable, Affordable Housing. How: Make money, Research, Buy, Move to improve.
⇒ Renting traps (unfair leases, hidden fees)
⇒ Failing to Inspect Regularly
⇒ Neglecting Repairs
⇒ Allowing Pests to Remain
⇒ Predatory loans (upside down, balloon payments, etc.)
⊕ Investing Traps
Goal: A nest egg for retirement and needs. How: Research, Consult widely, Appropriate Risk, Act.
⇒ Chasing returns
⇒ Emotional decision-making
⇒ Fear, Not Growing Savings
⇒ Greed
⇒ Herd mentality
⇒ Impatience
⇒ Lack of research
⇒ Needless Risk
⇒ Not diversifying
⇒ Overconfidence
⇒ Ponzi scheme
⇒ Timing the market
⊕ Legal Traps
Goal: Act with honor, lifelong. How: Don’t do what 2.3 million Americans in prisons did to get there. (Don’t get enticed by, bullied or tricked into or framed for a crime.)
⇒ Inchoate crimes – unfinished or incomplete crimes that may lead to other offenses. Attempt: Failed attempt to commit a crime. Conspiracy: Planning a crime with others. Solicitation: Encouraging someone to commit a crime.
⇒ Financial crimes – offenses related to money or financing. White-collar crimes: Insider trading, money laundering, tax evasion. Cyber-crimes: Hacking, phishing, online scams. Fraud: Credit card fraud, insurance fraud, securities fraud. Counterfeiting: Counterfeit currency, counterfeit goods. Bribery: Offering or accepting bribes.
⇒ Personal crimes – offenses committed against an individual. Homicide: Murder, manslaughter. Assault: Simple assault, aggravated assault. Robbery: Theft, burglary, armed robbery. Kidnapping: Abduction, false imprisonment. Sexual offenses: Rape, sexual assault.
⇒ Property crimes – crimes involving the destruction or theft of property. Burglary: Breaking and entering. Theft: Larceny, shoplifting, pick-pocketing. Arson: Deliberate fire-setting. Vandalism: Graffiti, property damage. Fraud: Identity theft, forgery, embezzlement.
⇒ Statutory crimes – violations of specific laws or statutes. Drug offenses: Possession, distribution, trafficking. Traffic offenses: Speeding, drunk driving, reckless driving. Weapons offenses: Illegal possession or use of weapons. Public order crimes: Disorderly conduct, public intoxication. Prostitution: Engaging in or soliciting sexual activities for payment.
⊕ Marketing Traps
Goal: Win customers ethically. How: Don’t be evil.
⇒ Ambiguous Pricing
⇒ Clickbait
⇒ False advertising
⇒ Influencer Deception
⇒ Small Print Disclosures
⊕ Online Shopping Traps
Goal: Buy good products at good prices. How: Research, learn from mistakes.
⇒ Counterfeit Products
⇒ Deceptive Sizes / Photos
⇒ Deceptive Star Ratings
⇒ Fake Reviews
⇒ Hidden Shipping Costs
⇒ Return Policy Restrictions
⇒ Subscription Traps
⊕ Personal Finance Traps
Goal: Long term goals met via monthly budgeting. How: Dedication, good decisions.
⇒ Accepting Poverty
⇒ Credit card debt
⇒ Hidden Charges
⇒ High-Interest Loans
⇒ Not Having a Budget
⇒ Not Monthly Reviewing Budget to Maximize Resources⇒ Not Saving
⇒ Overdraft Fees
⇒ Pyramid Schemes
⇒ Ponzi Schemes
⊕ Political Traps
Goal: Help people, improve the world. How: Avoid making enemies, Stay out of potential bad situations, Don’t be naive. (Requires education, tact, humility, knowing how to learn, knowing what information to avoid.)
⇒ Corruption
⇒ Lack of transparency
⇒ Partisanship
⇒ Populism
⇒ Political polarization
⊕ Relationship Traps
Goal: Healthy Relationships. How: Practice self-care and cultivate interests, learn to work out problems well, attract a quality mate, reproduce and raise kids, grow old with a supportive enjoyable partner.
⇒ Codependency
⇒ Communication, Lack of, Ineffective
⇒ Jealousy
⇒ Lack of trust
⇒ Pressure from Groups / Gangs
⇒ Popularity Games
⇒ Pride
⇒ Parties
⇒ Toxic Relationships
⇒ Unrealistic expectations
⊕ Spiritual Traps
Goal:
⇒ Belief that Religions will Someday Agree
⇒ Lack of Curiosity About the Universe
⇒ Lack of Developing Your Personal Ethics
⇒ Lack of Understanding core reasons for religious views
⇒ Lack of Understanding the politics of religion
⇒ Lack of Understanding the history of world religions
⇒ Not knowing the benefits and risks of your religion
⇒ Not reconciling your spiritual views with your education
⇒ Overvaluing leaders, not considering that everyone is human
⇒ Undervaluing human need for spirituality
⊕ Technology Traps
⇒ Data Breaches
⇒ Identity Theft
⇒ Malware
⇒ Online scams
⇒ Phishing
⇒ Tech Support Scams
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
When and if you make it through the obstacle course of traps, you will have lived longer than any human ever has before while enjoying the journey, helping others, and being often amazed and grateful for the beauty of the universe. You will slip away peacefully met in a shimmering vision by the love of your life, who went before you, but who was always there with you, sharing your joys and brief sorrows.
⇒ DEATH