Interlude - The first BB lesson of 2008

The Leader oversaw the distribution of the coloured tokens. Each of the four Groups received two round discs -- one green, one red. Once accomplished, the Leader stepped forward to explain the rules of engagement.

Every round, each Group shall choose the colour that they will use. Discussion between different Groups is allowed, but no Group can reveal their final decision until the Leader says so. Points are awarded based on the green-red ratio of the round.

The goal is to score the most points possible.

Table 1: Scoring scheme, based on the number of greens/reds played each round

Tally	Greens score	Reds score
IIII	5	-
IIII	0	3
IIII	0	2
IIII	0	1
IIII	-	0

Murmurs filled the room as the Groups swiftly developed their strategies.

"Let's stick to reds every round; This will guarantee that no other group can score higher than us!" That was Group One's plan, and they made sure nobody else heard it.

Group Two had a different thought in mind. "Guys, the goal is to get the most points possible, not to get more than everyone else. We should all play greens to get 5 points!"

Group Four liked the idea and nodded in approval. There was no visible response, however, from Groups One and Three. The stakes were now high for Groups Two and Four. Do they go ahead with the plan? Can the others be trusted...?

"Hold out your tokens," instructed the Leader.

The Group ambassadors clutched their chosen tokens in their fists and extended their arms. They awaited the signal to uncurl their fingers.

"Reveal."

Eyes darted from hand to hand. Did they make it? Had their investments paid off?

As expected, Groups Two and Four had placed their confidence in their ability to score 5 points, and played green. As for Group One who originally planned to take the safe route, they had been persuaded to work together with the others, and their ambassador held out a green token also.

Things are looking good. The 5 points are now within grasp, since Group Three's token colour was...

Red.

Indignant complaints ensued. "Traitors!"

The Leader smiled. "3 points for Group Three, zero for everybody else. Now decide which colour you will play next."

More murmurs filled the room. Group One took the initiative to speak up this time. "C'mon, work together guys! Everone play green!"

The effects of distrust were becoming evident though. It was taking longer for the Groups to make their decisions.

"Hold out your tokens."

They did.

"Reveal."

Green. Green. Green. Red.

Whilst Group Three had agreed to join in the big plan, Group One had backed out and reverted to their original approach.

"Three points to Group One, zero for everybody else. Next round."

This isn't working! Group Two gave up. They are risking everything to help everyone score together, but all they have succeeded in was to get backstabbed. Their efforts leave them with no points while the backstabbers get the loot. This round is their turn to get something. Their ambassador plays with the red token before hiding it in his hand, and putting the green one out of sight. He smiled and waited for the signal.

"Reveal."

Red. Red. Red. Red.

The Groups burst out laughing, even though there was nothing to be happy about, really.

"Looks like nobody scores anything this round," commented the Leader. He paused for a while before continuing. "We'll go for two more rounds. Make your decisions."

This announcement alarmed Groups Two and Four. They were still stuck with nothing, after three rounds.

"Let's do this! Everybody play green!" Group Four presses on. Whether or not it will make a difference, they don't know. Every Group readies their tokens.

Green. Green. Green. Red. Once again, the calls for collaboration falls on Group Three's deaf ears. There is no stopping them now; no matter what happens in the final round, they would be the top scorer.

In a futile last-ditched attempt to raise their levels, no matter how slightly, every Group played red in the final round. A bad decision for all involved, of course.

Final scores
G1: 3
G2: 0
G3: 6
G4: 0

The Leader began the reflections stage. "Who scored the most points possible?"

Enthusiastically, Group Three raised their hands. It was time for the Leader to drive the message home.

"No. Every round, the most you can possibly score is 5 points. Given five rounds, you could've earned 25, but you only managed 6.

"Why? Instead of keeping an eye on the goal that mattered, you only cared about beating everyone else. You weren't willing to risk losing all your points to help the other groups reach the goal.

"If you're not prepared to risk yourselves, you cannot possibly bless others."

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Interesting, isn't it, how even Groups Two and Four who were aware of the goal from the beginning, still ended up trying to do what the others did?

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Side note: I'm horrendously unfit... one lap of kickboarding was enough to make my thigh muscles as stiff as a corpse's. Probably because my cells lacked enough ATP to unbind the motor proteins from the microfilaments.

Yay, I remember my Level 1 molecular biology. Level 2 biochemistry, here I come! ...after 1 more month of holidays from today, that is... ^_^