Life is a game. A somewhat amorphous game, but game none the less. You must work out the rules for yourself: trying to get others to tell you the rules will not suffice. This is not because they will purposely lie to you (although this is possible) but because one person's rules cannot be simply adopted by another and be expected to function in the same way. All new experiences must be integrated into the mind's existing truth/role matrix: a continuous mental process. Conscious thought is the result of recognition and interpretation of patterns within this matrix. Even if someone were to entirely replace their own rule set with someone else's, their set of truths would inevitably differ and hence the new set of rules would not be entirely compatible. Simply put : truths must forge rules which must in turn be the tools for interpreting truths. In this way an immensely complex truth/rule matrix builds up, the product of relentless mind power and its incoming data-stream. Many (although not all) game strategies utilised by individuals, collectively form a structure of societal protocols known as culture. Individuals within any society exist mentally within this structure: to do otherwise is to be "insane" or perhaps "dysfunctional". Culture encompasses morals, customs, rituals (in whatever form) , interpretation and rules governing creativity. To this list may be added innumerable examples of social and mental behaviour. "Simpler" or more "primitive" societies are more homogeneous and allow the individual less room for manoeuvre with regard to the formulation of mental strategies. This is due in general to a smaller diversity of mental and social stimuli, which augment game strategies. Language is a crucial factor in the development of culturally implemented game strategies. The more complex and versatile structure of language in "advanced" cultures can support the social transmission of more heterogeneous thought patterns (interpretational constructs). The nature of thought that is possible within a given culture is dependent on the limitations of the language which support it. Language games are very much a feature of mental life. Whilst an individuals culture an language is a huge source of stimuli crucial for formulation of game strategies, it is inevitably the source of hugely limiting structures of truth/interpretation through the limitations of language, social conformity and cognitive dissonance (conformity of belief to social and behavioural norms). These limitations are functional in the sense of social lubrication, but form a barrier to the individuals freedom in playing the game (life). Language does, however, provide the individual with the means, to some extent, to realise the contradictions in culturally defined thought and implement a deconstruction of the self - a process necessary for the achievement of any form of enlightenment. Again there is no set way of doing this*- it is a solipistic process, as its methods must be at core transcendental, echoing the Zen paradox. The truth/rule matrix determines the layout of the game, the objectives and the rules that are to be played by. There is no one right way to play the game and you will find that the rules and objectives are always changing as are the other players. The main aim of the game is enjoyment but there is no set way of achieving this elusive goal and so a number of direct strategies are usually deployed to this end. Perversely enough, these strategies may have exactly the opposite of the desired effect. Experimentation and adaption are often the bets way to proceed, (as a kind of meta-strategy). Mutate and Survive, and above all be adventurous. An ability to change the rules and re-interpret the truth is the mark of a truly Master Player. Games, as Wittgenstein inadvertently pointed out, cannot be tied down to one meaning. this is of course the same as life, a fact of much transcendental importance that it is usually forgotten. [Alex B] *any prescriptive method will by necessity be imperfect due to structural limitations within its language and cultural assumptions.