Comments on: Unitasker Wednesday: Lightning Reaction Extreme

By: Kalani

Kalani — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:27:12 +0000

Yeah, Karyn, I saw this and thought…. Milgram shock experiments, anyone?

For those of you who aren’t familiar with them, they were a series of experiments in which people in lab coats told volunteers to administer electric shocks to what they thought were other volunteers (but in reality were staff members who were feigning being shocked.) The point was that good, honest American people do terrible terrible things to others if told to do so by a kindly person in a lab coat.

Anyway, if the game is fun, it’s fun. I don’t think I’d play it more than once.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:57:09 +0000

I was tricked into playing this game once, and it was horrible. I don’t see how anyone can like being shocked. My relatives have an electric fence for farm animals, and they liked to grab my hand then grab the fence. It’s not fun!

By: Penny in Australia

Penny in Australia — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:20:38 +0000

I’ve played this too. Was actually quite fun. Can’t imagine people wanting to play it too many times though (I played twice and won twice, then didn’t want to push my luck…)

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:06:52 +0000

I remember an arcade game eerily similar to this at Disneyland back in the late 1970’s. There were two handles, and if you were brave you would grab both handles yourself. As a group we would stand in a semi-circle, holding hands (sometimes up to 10 of us), and the two people on the ends would each grab a handle. You could feel the electricity jolt from the hand you were holding.

I also remember it wasn’t very pleasant, but it was a ritual. Living very close to Disneyland, my friends and I would go several times a year.

By: Karyn

Karyn — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:19:43 +0000

I wish I’d had this a few nights ago, when I was working the full overnight at the grocery store and it was a FULL MOON. >:-D>

Other than Nefarious Evil Purposes (or Evil Nefarious Purposes?), I really can’t see how shocking people with slower physical reflexes would be “fun.” Maybe it’s meant to help people become better drivers with quicker reaction time?

Also: Am I the only one who finds this “game” eerily reminiscent of Stanley Milgram’s (in)famous experiments on obedience to authority?

By: Katie Alender

Katie Alender — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:35:01 +0000

This is like the chair you sit in at the arcade where you pay to get shocked. (As opposed to wsting your money on the claw game, I guess.)

Seriously, I look at this, and all I see is “drinking game”!

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:39:47 +0000

Who developed this game? The guys at “jackass?”

By: Twin XL

Twin XL — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:09:21 +0000

My cousin got this game for Christmas a couple years ago. It’s fun and hysterical. People keep coming back for more. What a laugh!!!

By: Valerie Davis

Valerie Davis — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:47:55 +0000

This would be a great game to have if you were young enough to enjoy fooling your parents, and fast enough that they couldn’t catch you!

By: Jacki Hollywood Brown

Jacki Hollywood Brown — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:37:11 +0000

I’ve been hit with electric fencing several times. This game just scares me.

By: Lesley

Lesley — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:56:25 +0000

I don’t understand why people get so hung up on the definition of “unitasker.” Unitasker Wednesday is supposed to be funny, not gospel!

And regardless of whether or not this game is a true unitasker, it is bizarre and likely to be played once or never, only to collect dust on a shelf for years or to be re-gifted. I really wonder about the companies that develop and produce this kind of stuff.

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:23:33 +0000

@mjh — The only time we’ve “officially” defined unitaskers:

http://unclutterer.com/2008/03.....explained/

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:44:42 +0000

Ignoring whether this is a unitasker or not. I have bad memories of this game as it was often used in conjuction with drinking games. Basically anyone who chickened out and let go would have to do a shot as a forfeit.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:21:16 +0000

A friend has this and at parties it was fun to play with. We played that if you threw the handle down when you got shocked you had to get another shock.

It can also be used for settling disputes in place of rock/paper/scissors.

By: mjh

mjh — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:16:08 +0000

Erin, is there a definition of unitasker somewhere on your site? Because, I have two reactions to the “unitasker = no utility” thought:

1) Why is utility linked to unitasker? That seems odd to me. A useful unitasker is still a unitasker… isn’t it?

2) Utility seems to me to be a preference for each person. So, if the lack of utility of this game makes it a unitasker, do you consider other games to be unitaskers if you don’t enjoy playing them?

Thanks.

By: Peter (a different one)

Peter (a different one) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:09:56 +0000

@Erin – you apparently really like your friends.

By: Lori Paximadis

Lori Paximadis — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:51:23 +0000

Wow. Just… wow.

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:40:52 +0000

@Sarah — How is shocking people fun?!!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:32:09 +0000

I have a friend who has this game – it gets pulled out when they have gatherings… LOL…

I dont think you can count games as unitaskers, as all games are unitaskers. And i disagree with the “utility” statement, as the primary utility of a game is having fun, and unless you have another game which provides it in the same way as this game, then it provides the same utility as any other game does.

By: Kristel

Kristel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:00:42 +0000

I’ve actually played this game before!
It’s intense. lol.