I was working on rebuilding my blackberry trellis and constructing tomato trellises today. After a while, my back yard filled with neighbor kids today, and my oldest son (11) conscripted them all into his army, the Gregorian horde. As they started training, one neighbor kid (9) objected to his options within the army, and indicated he wanted to be a treasurer, a Bankarian who was allies with the Gregorians. The treasurer convinced the general that all military personnel should first help mine enough gold to fund the military campaign. The general was convinces, so the allies went to the mines (my sandbox).
Lesson #1: give them work and they don't need war
The mining proceeded nicely and the war was forgotten. The horde became employees of the Bankarians. Unfortunately, the treasurer became greedy and kept demanding more and more. He had all the 3-5 year olds happily singing 'gold!' 'gold!', and the former warriors tolerated it because the little ones wanted to keep mining.
Lesson #2: watch out for corporate greed and brainwashing of the youth
Eventually, the treasurer concluded that everyone was his slave, and the game devolved into fights and rebellion.
Lesson #3: don't let brainwashed youth override the experience of their elders.
The fight fizzled into a generic sandbox play session and every one was happy.
Lesson #4: play in the dirt with your friends and neighbors, and life is all good.
