We need to play together more

A board game session together can reveal a lot about a group's characteristics. So, after several rounds of Saboteur and a bit of Taboo with the cellies, here are my pseudo psycho-observations:

(1) We talk about work too much. Someone suggested that we ban that topic for the rest of the night after our pizza dinner featured work-centered conversations. I think it's a good idea to continue with it, or all we'll ever know about each other are our work stories.

(2) Our group has trust issues. We're a conservative, guarded bunch. Bring on a game of that requires instinctive alliances and covert manipulation and watch the groping-in-the-dark responses that emerge because no one wants to take the initial risk of sharing information first.

(3) I rediscovered my competitive streak and dislike for rogue players. Thinking about it, I remember getting upset with Liz cos she wouldn't play Risk properly AT ALL, and in high school Vic and I were thunderously pissed when the boys (unfairly, in our eyes) ganged up against us.

(4) Taboo is the acid test of whether a group has gelled together. The fact that we haven't clicked together enough to share references and thought-patterns became obvious after a few rounds.