"FUN" Topic

John the OFM's post about making fun of a set of rules got me thinking about switching words around and asking
"What makes a fun set of rules." But I decided we had to define "Fun! First" That is what is fun. NOW don't answer by telling us what makes things "FUN" for you or what you like to do to have FUN but what is the formal definition of fun. That is, What it is of itself.

My own definitionis.

Fun is a state defined by time and space in which you would rather be when where you are not, and when you are in it, do not wish to be elsewhere.

fun

noun
1. something that provides mirth or amusement: A picnic would be fun.
2. enjoyment or playfulness: She's full of fun.
verb (used without object), verb (used with object), funned, fun·ning.
3. Informal. joke; kid.
adjective, fun·ner, fun·nest.
4. Informal. of or pertaining to fun, especially to social fun: a fun thing to do; really a fun person; the funnest game.
5. Informal. whimsical; flamboyant: The fashions this year are definitely on the fun side.

Idioms
6. for / in fun, as a joke; not seriously; playfully: His insults were only in fun.
7. like fun, Informal. certainly not; of doubtful truth: He told us that he finished the exam in an hour. Like fun he did!
8. make fun of, to make the object of ridicule; deride: The youngsters made fun of their teacher.

Origin:
1675–85; dialectal variant of obsolete fon to befool. See fond1

Synonyms
1, 2. merriment, pleasure, play, gaiety.

fun (fʌn)

— n
1. a source of enjoyment, amusement, diversion, etc
2. pleasure, gaiety, or merriment
3. jest or sport (esp in the phrases in or for fun )
4. facetious , ironic fun and games amusement; frivolous activity
5. informal like fun
a. ( adverb ) quickly; vigorously
b. ( interjection ) not at all! certainly not!
6. make fun of , poke fun at to ridicule or deride
7. ( modifier ) full of amusement, diversion, gaiety, etc: a fun sport

— vb , funs , funning , funned
8. informal ( intr ) to act in a joking or sporting manner

[C17: perhaps from obsolete fon to make a fool of; see fond 1

Word Origin & History

fun

1680s, v., "to cheat, hoax," probably a variant of M.E. fon "befool" (c.1400), later "trick, hoax, practical joke," of uncertain origin. Stigmatized by Johnson as "a low cant word." Older sense is preserved in phrase to make fun of and funny money "counterfeit bills" (1938, though this may be more for
the sake of the rhyme); sense of "amusement" is 1727. See also funny.

Having to describe what fun is, is no fun. It's kind of like having to explain a joke.

This is not fun. If you have to explain it, its neither fun or funny.

Sorry Rhoderic, you beat me to it.

I accept the OP's definition for the purposes of discussion, especially for its rather temporal, subjective nature. On some days, long games are "fun" for me, on other days the same game might not be fun for me.

I enjoy games when the players know how to play, and there are no arguments, nor a need for them. This can range from Empire V and Warrior to Aliens vs Hillbillies, with Age of Reason and TSATF in the middle. Complex is fun, as well as simple. The important thing is SMOOTH.
My Flames oh War sub-group know the rules inside out, enjoy them, and accept them for what they are. Most of us (not me) play tournaments, so we PLAY IT RIGHT.

More important than that, my friends and I enjoy each other's company. We all enjoy laughing at each other's bad die rolls, and like when that night's GM puts on a good scenario.
Weird things happening via random events are not necessary.

I will not bring up beer.

Anything which produces the similar feeling to watching or participating in a sporting event, the oohs and aahs of outrageous skill and/or fortune.

My gaming pals tell me that my language degenerates terribly when I am having fun, from mild mannered speccie to mr potty mouth. Along with doing the the sound effects of course.

Vroom, bang, woosh.

"I will not bring up beer."

That usually happens later:)

Dear Ditto two three and Darthfozzywig

My point in the original post was to determine a definition of fun that is not self-referencing. Putting up definitions of fun from the dictionary is just that, merely providing synonyms and examples of it. That doesn't speak to the essence or nature. Thank you both for understanding.

The problem with the question is that it IS temporal, fleeting, and subjective, and thus it is problematic to arrive at a definition once and for all. Certainly we can have fun in playing a war game and that fits the description. But at others have said, being at a sporting event, on a date with a person you dearly wished to date, or any of a number of other activities will also fit the description, AND at the same time, may be equally to the same extent of "fun" and it is impossible to say that this state of "fun" is more fun than a different state of fun. That's why I used the anti-conditionals to define it.

The definition is not mere airy persiflage or intellectual angels dancing on the head of a pin. I think it might be the only way to OBJECTIVELY define a state that is both subjective and transitory. It could be quite useful. For example, if we accept the definition then it gives us a useful tool to determine what ought or ought not to be in a game. Here it has a connection to John the OFM's post about criticizing games. While we may accept that playing a war game fits the definition, within that there may be times where we do things that we do not wish to do, that is we might wish to be elsewhere during a war game if we do not like handling long lists of modifiers but neceassarily must do to be in the wargame, the state which we would wish to be in when we are not in it.

This may seem especially arcane, but it may be that it offers the only positive taxonomy to study what we do.

I might have to clarify that my earlier comment was intended as a silly quip, not a true contribution to the debate. It just struck me as funny that the contents of the thread really did not deliver what the title seemed to promise

And yes, I am aware of the irony that I just had to explain my joke