I suppose that people would view a break-up (eg, agreement, businesses, divorce, friendship, relationship) as the result of someone who is winning and someone who is losing. However, some break-ups will either result in two winners or in two losers. Real-life is different from (a) game theory.
Most games are designed to result in winners and losers – and having fun doing them. Hence, the concept of a zero-sum game makes logical sense. Games are also a distraction from real-life problems and lack of fun. Our eternal search for happiness and satisfaction is real and not a game.
“Zero-sum game is a mathematical representation in game theory and economic theory of a situation that involves two competing entities, where the result is an advantage for one side and an equivalent loss for the other.”
Source: Wikipedia
A game outcome (eg, winners vs losers) often depends on the how, what, when, where, who, not the why. Hence, it’s possible to stretch the truth. Example: a government can claim a victory at the expense of its citizens (eg, macro vs micro). It’s likely that China and USA will both claim such a “victory”.
In my view, any trade war between nations will result in losers (ie, their citizens), and perhaps a (self-proclaimed) winner (ie, a leader). For leaders, a trade war might be considered a (political) game but not for their citizens. Citizens will always pay the price (eg, hunger, inflation, shortages). Example.
Fear is often used as a governmental tool to make people docile, scared, and into submission (eg, “accidents”, arrests, disappearances, mass deportations, mass layoffs, starvation). Other leaders use fears like: fear of climate change, fear of immigrants, fear of religion, and/or fear over skin colour.
Often, fear will affect our attitude; sometimes also our behaviour. Usually, fear will not change our personality. However, for children, fear may become semi-permanent (eg, Save the Children, List of ongoing armed conflicts).
Hence, various inspirational quotes like:
- “Don’t live in fear… fear is temporary. Regret is forever.” (FB post);
- “Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.” (eg, Kobe Bryant, Dan Skinner)
- Fear Is Temporary, But Regret Can Last a Lifetime (Medium).
Last but certainly not least, can a zero-sum game even exist in real-life, when you include a perspective like (losing) majority versus (winning) minority ??
The former decades-long dominant Syrian religious Alawite minority knows better since 2025 (eg, DW-2024, JASON-2019, BBC-2016). Over a long time, everyone in Syria has lost.
Games People Play (1980) by The Alan Parsons Project
band, lyrics, video, Wiki-band, Wiki-song
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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