areivim, ok i read through most of it. just one point: mind games don’t work on yourself. i’m smarter than to let myself be outsmarted by my own game. and that theory would work maybe for a movie. but there’s a whole lot worse going on than watching movies. that’s not even a battle, that’s a safe haven.
there’s no way that would work in life. what, that i’m not gonna carry a ball on shabbos? by the time i let myself the game would be over. (and if your point was not to play altogether, then we’re back to square one: i can’t ditch my friends.)