Playing the Right Games: Why Scores Quietly Replace Meaning | C. Thi Nguyen | Bankless

Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen joins Bankless to discuss his book, *The Score: How to Stop Playing Someone Else's Game*, exploring how scoring systems and gamification influence behavior and values. Nguyen argues that many real-world systems, like social media and finance, adopt game-like scoring, which can lead individuals to outsource their values and pursue metrics that don't align with personal fulfillment. He introduces the concept of "reflective control," urging individuals to treat external metrics as game rules that can be modified or discarded. The conversation covers the portability theory of data, value capture, and the importance of playfulness to distance oneself from rigid scoring systems. Nguyen and the hosts examine the trade-offs between the benefits of scaled, metrified systems and the risk of losing sight of nuanced, personal values.

Outlines

Part 1: Defining Games and Motivation

Part 2: Gamification and the Trap of Metrics

Part 3: Value Capture and Institutional Shadows

Part 4: Agency and Reflective Control

Part 5: Conclusion and Personal Choice

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Playing the Right Games: Why Scores Quietly Replace Meaning | C. Thi Nguyen

Bankless

Part 1: Defining Games and Motivation

Introduction to Games, Crypto, and Social Media with Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen

The Overachiever's Dilemma: Questioning the Games We Play

Choosing Your Game: Fun, Enjoyment, and Avoiding Misery

Defining Games: Voluntary Obstacles and the Pursuit of Goals

Podcast, Social Media, and Crypto: Identifying Games in Career and Finance

Part 2: Gamification and the Trap of Metrics

Social Media's Gamification: Scoring Systems and the Reduction of Values

The Magic Circle: Detachment and Real-World Consequences in Games

Rotten Tomatoes and the Perils of Ranking: A Marriage Counseling Session

Social Media Likes vs. Real Impact: The Flattening Effect of Metrics

Portability vs. Nuance: The Trade-offs of Quantitative Data

Part 3: Value Capture and Institutional Shadows

Value Capture: Outsourcing Values and the Loss of Self-Determination

The Loudness of Metrics: Justifying Decisions and Reducing Value Complexity

Metrics as Shadows: Escaping the Cave and Defining Reality

The Allure of Easy Metrics: Protein, Carbs, and the Loss of Nuance

Specialization and Outsourcing: The Necessity of Trusting Experts

Part 4: Agency and Reflective Control

Escaping Someone Else's Game: Playfulness and Distancing from Scoring Systems

Goals vs. Purposes: Games Made for People and the Pursuit of Fun

Playfulness and Reflective Control: Shifting Between Normative Worlds

Reflective Control: Distancing Yourself from External Systems

Part 5: Conclusion and Personal Choice

The Trade-offs of Scale: Efficiency vs. Forgotten Values

Two Endings: Agency, Exploration, and the Jacques and Julia Cookbook

Civilization and the Message of the Book: Play the Games You Enjoy

Playing the Right Games: Why Scores Quietly Replace Meaning | C. Thi Nguyen

Bankless

Part 1: Defining Games and Motivation

00:02Introduction to Games, Crypto, and Social Media with Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen

Introduction to Games, Crypto, and Social Media with Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen

00:53The Overachiever's Dilemma: Questioning the Games We Play

The Overachiever's Dilemma: Questioning the Games We Play

02:21Choosing Your Game: Fun, Enjoyment, and Avoiding Misery

Choosing Your Game: Fun, Enjoyment, and Avoiding Misery

05:31Defining Games: Voluntary Obstacles and the Pursuit of Goals

Defining Games: Voluntary Obstacles and the Pursuit of Goals

11:21Podcast, Social Media, and Crypto: Identifying Games in Career and Finance

Podcast, Social Media, and Crypto: Identifying Games in Career and Finance

Part 2: Gamification and the Trap of Metrics

15:22Social Media's Gamification: Scoring Systems and the Reduction of Values

Social Media's Gamification: Scoring Systems and the Reduction of Values

20:30The Magic Circle: Detachment and Real-World Consequences in Games

The Magic Circle: Detachment and Real-World Consequences in Games

23:56Rotten Tomatoes and the Perils of Ranking: A Marriage Counseling Session

Rotten Tomatoes and the Perils of Ranking: A Marriage Counseling Session

27:23Social Media Likes vs. Real Impact: The Flattening Effect of Metrics

Social Media Likes vs. Real Impact: The Flattening Effect of Metrics

32:33Portability vs. Nuance: The Trade-offs of Quantitative Data

Portability vs. Nuance: The Trade-offs of Quantitative Data

Part 3: Value Capture and Institutional Shadows

37:05Value Capture: Outsourcing Values and the Loss of Self-Determination

Value Capture: Outsourcing Values and the Loss of Self-Determination

40:38The Loudness of Metrics: Justifying Decisions and Reducing Value Complexity

The Loudness of Metrics: Justifying Decisions and Reducing Value Complexity

45:29Metrics as Shadows: Escaping the Cave and Defining Reality

Metrics as Shadows: Escaping the Cave and Defining Reality

51:52The Allure of Easy Metrics: Protein, Carbs, and the Loss of Nuance

The Allure of Easy Metrics: Protein, Carbs, and the Loss of Nuance

57:11Specialization and Outsourcing: The Necessity of Trusting Experts

Specialization and Outsourcing: The Necessity of Trusting Experts

Part 4: Agency and Reflective Control

1:00:41Escaping Someone Else's Game: Playfulness and Distancing from Scoring Systems

Escaping Someone Else's Game: Playfulness and Distancing from Scoring Systems

1:02:06Goals vs. Purposes: Games Made for People and the Pursuit of Fun

Goals vs. Purposes: Games Made for People and the Pursuit of Fun

1:07:35Playfulness and Reflective Control: Shifting Between Normative Worlds

Playfulness and Reflective Control: Shifting Between Normative Worlds

1:11:14Reflective Control: Distancing Yourself from External Systems

Reflective Control: Distancing Yourself from External Systems

Part 5: Conclusion and Personal Choice

1:14:06The Trade-offs of Scale: Efficiency vs. Forgotten Values

The Trade-offs of Scale: Efficiency vs. Forgotten Values

1:17:41Two Endings: Agency, Exploration, and the Jacques and Julia Cookbook

Two Endings: Agency, Exploration, and the Jacques and Julia Cookbook

1:21:08Civilization and the Message of the Book: Play the Games You Enjoy

Civilization and the Message of the Book: Play the Games You Enjoy