Our columnist discovers an unknown creature: There are nights at the iPad playing a quiz duel. The bad thing is: it's herself.
I don't like board games. I never liked. I just can't lose. Even as a six-year-old I wailed "Don't get annoyed" when my grandma knocked my block out just before the finish line. Poor grandma tried her best to throw the dice badly enough for me to win. But as it is with happiness: the more you want to force it, the less it comes to you.
After five hours I was in the top ten
Because of my trauma, my sons didn't notice much of the classic game canon either. Well, we tormented ourselves through "Uno", but it was no joy. All the more astonishing that I recently got into a real gamer frenzy. Do you know "Quizduell", this online game in which you test your knowledge against digital partners? A food special was announced throughout Germany. My 13 year old got hooked on me. "Eating, mom, that's exactly your thing!" I started somewhere in 40,000. After ten laps, I was up to 2036. The smartass in me smelled blood – there was more! What is cachaça made of? What doesn't belong in a Linz cake? I typed and typed, my fingers trembling. After five hours I was in the top ten. Even my son, who couldn't even be torn from his Playstation by an earthquake of 7.8 on the Richter scale, was now stuck next to me and cheered with me. 40 minutes to midnight. Then: off – game contingent used up. I almost bit into the monitor in anger.
"You have to watch advertisements, then you get new free spins", my son shouted. We stared impatiently at a spot for a game where you had to water tomatoes to kill zombies, then it went on. But time was running out. A button flashed: "20 free spins only 8.99 euros". I pounded on it. My son looked at me in shock. "I am never allowed to!" – "It doesn't matter," I shouted, "we have to win this!" Zero o'clock, sweat ran down my forehead. Finally the result: silver medal! Second best in all of Germany! I have seldom been prouder in my life. My son and I danced across the room and clapped each other as if Jogi's boys had just become world champions. I went to bed with a smile. Life was good
The next morning I felt like I was after a colossal binge. Headache, languor: gamer hangover. What happened to me last night? I'd squatted for six hours in front of an online game, not having dinner, but spending money on free spins, for which my sons face the death penalty. Maybe I had to see a doctor. Then I met a friend. "So what are you doing right now?" I asked. "Crossword," she replied. "I don't know why either, but it almost brings me to orgasm when I know, four-letter poem, perpendicular.." Since the symptoms were similar, I told her everything. Instead of shaking her head, she just said: "It's clear. For years we have accumulated knowledge, studied, read clever books, watched documentaries on Arte, and now nobody wants to know anything about it." I nodded. That's exactly how it was! Our kids googled everything anyway. Knowledge is power? Knowledge is for "old" people. Superfluous. "But we still don't start with Sudokus, do we?" I asked anxiously. "Not this year, anyway," she said.
Would you like to read more about the topic and exchange ideas with other women? Then take a look at the "Personality Forum" BRIGITTE community past!
Get the BRIGITTE as a subscription – with many advantages. You can order them directly here.