Bankless Playing the Right Games: Why Scores Quietly Replace Meaning | C. Thi Nguyen
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Jan 13, 2026 
C. Thi Nguyen, a philosopher specializing in the ethics of games, dives deep into the hidden dangers of modern scoring systems. He explores how social media and metrics can distort our values, transforming rich experiences into mere numbers. Nguyen challenges us to question the 'games' we participate in and highlights the pitfalls of 'value capture.' He advocates for playfulness and reflective control to reclaim our agency, suggesting that we should design our own rules that align with our true values. It's a thought-provoking discussion on finding meaning amid the metrics.
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Fishing Example Of Misguided Optimization
- C. Thi Nguyen contrasts dry-fly fishing he loves with uro-nymphing he hates because it optimizes catch rate over the experience.
- He uses this to show people often adopt efficient methods that make them miserable.
Games Are Motivations, Not Just Activities
- Playing a game means voluntarily taking on unnecessary obstacles to value the struggle, not just the outcome.
- Two identical activities can be a game or not depending on your motivation, per C. Thi Nguyen.
Scoring Systems Flatten Plural Values
- Social platforms borrow clear scoring systems that render instant, comparable verdicts about worth.
- That reduction flattens plural values into one dimension and invites game-like behavior.
