Tolerance

Players try to satisfy their musical crabs' need for a few kin, while learning the science of social segregation.

Crabs that drum, crabs that strum crawl on shore.

Each brings to the beach some social chore:

A drummer looks for drummers.

A strummer looks for strummers.

Because to drum or strum alone is such a bore.

Each crab wants at least three neighbors just the same.

To drum or strum with some the same is why they came.

But each tolerates as brothers

Up to five of the others.

To hive with a few the same’s no shame.

Strive for three or more same neighbors is the game.

At the beginning of the game, Blue and Red crabs (strummers and drummers) are integrated, with neighbors of a different type to either side. Two players, Red and Blue, take turns moving their crabs, trying to find just a few similar neighbors for most of their crabs. Each crab only requires three crab neighbors like themselves to be happy. So long as a crab has at least three neighbors like itself, it tolerates having up to five neighbors that are different. A very tolerant attitude, wouldn’t you say?

Yet segregation usually results. The game is thus a simulation of an important social dynamic, and shows that tolerance alone is not sufficient to overcome segregation.

While the emergent segregation may seem discouraging, there is a way to achieve integration. This is explored in an included alternative game, Attraction. We also include discussion of the social science at the heart of these games and show how the games Tolerance and Attraction lead to very different social outcomes. In the rule book and in the movie below, we explain how our game builds on a model of segregation by Schelling. We give access to computer models and simulations of the games and also Schelling's model on our website. The game is a great example of a system with simple rules that lead to surprising and unintended results.

Challenging games with the added bonus of educational features. A great game for parents, teachers, and budding scientists!