Wait, What Matters Again?

[Frank T]

Yes, that has been pointed out. But what remains of the social contract if you remove everything that's also system? Nothing, it would seem to me after reading this thread.

[lumpley]

System is the application of the Social Contract to the made-up events of the game.  "I'm pissed at Bob so I'm going to spill his drink" is not System.  "I'm pissed at Bob so I'm going to screw over his character" is.

-Vincent

[Paganini]

Exactly what Vince said. Remember, Social Contract isn't just something that you have when you play RPGs that goes away the rest of the time. Any time you do anything involving other people, there's a Social Contract at work. When I teach my students and interact with their parents, there's a social contract at work. It's a different social contract from the way I interact with my Tai Chi instructor, and still different from the way I interact with my family.