Not-So-Trivial Family Pursuit

In this family pursuit of fun, the parents insist on playing the original Trivia Pursuit game, but the younger generation balks at the outdated questions. See what Ask Amy advises.

Before we publish our last Ask Amy column for Seniors Guide, we’re publishing Amy Dickinson’s favorite “vintage” columns from over the years. The following Q&A is from 2020.

Dear Amy:

This is a “trivial” subject that has nonetheless bothered me for years.

My parents have the original Trivial Pursuit game, circa 1983. At various get-togethers, my mom will drag out this relic, and enthusiastically try to rally us around a good old game of “General Knowledge.”

I feel like she should upgrade her game, at least to a game from this century. We go round and round, arguing about the obviously outdated questions, which the parents insist be answered in the vernacular of what the correct answer was, back in 1983.

Any suggestions to update, or at least omit the blatantly wrong answers, fall upon deaf ears.

I’ve become so exasperated by their childish behavior, and refusal to update, that I simply refuse to participate.

We used to enjoy the familial camaraderie, but it now seems ludicrous to me, when most of these questions are no longer relevant.

Any suggestions?

– JC

Dear JC:

The childish behavior in your family may have passed to the next generation. You are pouting.

Your folks have anchored themselves to this particular tradition. They are eager to recreate times of togetherness through this family pursuit of fun. I suggest that you work harder to laugh about it, in a good-natured way, putting this into the category of bad “Dad jokes,” your Aunt Marjory’s molded Jell-O salad, and other groaning reminders of family traditions that seem absurd, silly, or pointless.

Instead of trying to replace this game, you could try to introduce a new game, to be pulled out after all of the questions about the Reagan administration and Madonna’s career have been answered, and all of the Trivial Pursuit pie pieces have been played. There are a lot of fun parlor games that are not trivia-oriented, and still encourage conversation and laughter.

I assure you, if you don’t laugh about this now, you will regret it later. Some day (hopefully well into the future), you and your siblings will be going through your folks’ stuff. You’ll pull out that well-worn relic and fight over who gets to keep it.

I n the tradition of the great personal advice columnists, Chicago Tribune ’s Amy Dickinson is a plainspoken straight shooter who relates to readers of all ages. She answers personal questions by addressing issues from both her head and her heart. A solid reporter, Dickinson researches her topics to provide readers with informed opinions and answers – ranging from family traditions, to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis secret , and the challenges of settling an estate .

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