BUFFALO, N.Y. — Board game enthusiast and reluctant partygoer Erik Hicks interrupted an ongoing conversation at a social gathering to reiterate that he brought some choice selections of his board game collection, just in case anyone was interested in playing, annoyed attendees reported.
“The music was kind of loud and people were talking so I wasn’t sure if anyone heard me the first few times that I told them that I had brought a bunch of games,” Hicks stated while moving snacks and drinks out of the way to make room for Terra Mystica. “I brought some pretty easy games to play that I think everyone will get the hang of like Scythe, Agricola, Oath, and Twilight Imperium. You know, just in case anyone wants to play.”
The host and other partygoers had tried their best to be polite to Hicks without getting involved in a board game.
“Erik is a good guy but I don’t think he understands that some people don’t want to spend most of their Friday night learning how to become the most powerful cheese magnate in Victorian London or some shit,” party host Natalie Castro said. “Every time I invite him over he says that he’ll bring some games and I try to politely tell him he doesn’t have too. He always says it’s no problem. I don’t think he understands I am begging him not to but nevertheless he’ll show up with some game about steampunk mice or whatever.”
Sociologist Dr. Laura Harrington explains that this is a common trait among the board game community.
“Many in the board game community lack some of the core social skills necessary to survive a party situation, like the ability to execute small talk or enjoy a comfortable silence so they instinctively try to rope their friends and loved ones into a board game about collecting gems on Mars,” Dr. Harrington said. “These poor souls cannot seem to fathom that not everyone would jump at the chance to spend six-hours playing a game about running a button factory. I recommend that you be blunt with them or they will never take the hint.”
When reached for an update, Hicks had finally finished setting up the game at 1 a.m. just in time for everyone to leave.
