subject: Monopoly, its righteous roots and how it affects your Pall Mall office space [print this page] Monopoly, its righteous roots and how it affects your Pall Mall office space
Which board game teaches us about geography, economics, real estate and prison? Why it's Monopoly; the game of choice for property lovers and those who fancy themselves as stingy landlords keen on dominating the rental market.
The popular game was invented in 1933 by Charles Darrow and sold on to the Parker Brothers, a subsidiary of Hasbro, two years later who made it into a household name.
Consisting of existing London areas like Bond Street, Park Lane and Piccadilly, the aim of the game was to buy up property and force players to pay rent for landing on the owned spaces. The winner would be the wealthiest property magnate created.
It is estimated that over a billion people have played the game that can add some weight to the economic knowledge base of participants. Monopoly teaches players how to make the most of their money through investment opportunities and it can heighten their business acumen. However, the initial purpose of the game is believed to be slightly different.
Monopoly is said to be a redesign of an earlier game that was devised by Quaker Elizabeth Magie who wanted to illustrate that monopolising on property can only lead to an ever increasing social divide; the rich get richer and the poor spiral into further depths of poverty.
The underlying, serious, message of the game contrasts with the modern perspective that the social pastime is just a fun and harmless bit of family entertainment.
Perhaps now you'll think twice when the kids quibble over who gets to buy Mayfair. Better yet, if you are currently sitting in a, Pall Mall office space you can feel proud that your location features in a popular game that was developed for the greater good of mankind. How virtuous. Now bask in the glory of your righteous office space knowing that it supports Utilitarian philosophies.
