FORKNI-L
Digest - 17 Apr 2007 to 18 Apr 2007 (#2007-27)
Wed, 18 Apr 2007
There is 1 message totalling 46 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. tic-tac-toe & Virginia Tech
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Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 05:19:07 -0600
From: Micki <mickilyn@i.......>
Subject: tic-tac-toe & Virginia Tech
I'm in Alberta & don't know anyone at Virginia Tech, but I'm definitely
keeping them and their families in my thoughts! When I was in college we
had a bomb scare during an exam (turned out to be a false alarm), and that
was horrible enough. I can only imagine just how terrible it must have been
for those who experienced the horror at Virginia Tech. But I will keep them
in my thoughts.
In the digest of Apr 16-17, Amy asked about tic-tac-toe and what Canadians
call it.
I don't know if it varies by region, age or what, but growing up in the
interior of British Columbia, we always called it Tic-Tac-Toe. My
grandmother was a dual citizen of the US & Canada but mostly grew up in a
rural part of Ontario, and she always tried to correct me, telling me it was
"Naughts and Crosses".
She also claimed it was a religious game, where the 'Crosses' represented
Christians trying to spread the word of God, and the 'Naughts' represented
the 'heathens and infidels' who were resistant to it trying to block its
spread. (She had some "interesting" opinions on things though, so I don't
know if there really is any truth to that or not. She also believed some of
the more outlandish tabloids held real news, and would get her weekly paper
at the grocery checkstands.)
** IF ** she was right, however, that would add another element of interest
to Nick & Schanke's games, from the point of view of it would mean Nick
would have seen the rise of the game, and likely been aware of it's original
meaning and for him to be taking the 'Naughts' could have potential
symbolism with regards to him, either refering to his quest for humanity, or
how he sees himself.
Probably irrelevant anyway, but it's an interesting notion. IF my grandma
was right about the origin of the game, it gives one some food for thought.
Back to lurking now...
Micki
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End of FORKNI-L Digest - 17 Apr 2007 to 18 Apr 2007 (#2007-27)
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