I'm still waiting to have a test, to understand if I'm one of the 528.000 persons in the world who have been infected by the COVID-19. In the meantime, most of the main symptoms are gone. I'm recovering fast, thanks to the love of my wife and some warm-hearted thoughts of strangers.
Like most of the millennials, I had a lot of hobbies which keep me busy. Books, movies, tv-series, video games... as our retirement will be hard to achieve my generation perfectly understand the importance of spare time and tranquillity, so I'm trying to treasure my temporary quarantine. However, this moment of our Story is unbelievably tough, nothing will be the same anymore and many, there outside, are experiencing it in unfavourable conditions. I simply can't stop to think about this. Locked in my house and without any chance to physically help others, in these days I struggled to find a way to exorcise this feeling of powerlessness. I bought Kind Words, in an attempt to combine all the goods things I can manage. The little indie game created by Popcannibal has just two rules: the first invite you to avoid to share personal information, the second one asks you to be gentle, always.
Kindness is something that, especially now, we need so bad. I need it so bad.
Soon my story became part of a wider narration. Behind that framed bedroom lies a universe.
"The most personal struggles are the most universal. Everyone has stories they want to share, so don't be afraid to ask them. You might learn a thing or two about each other and more importantly, about yourself." - Anonymous
In a matter of hours, all the complexity that was hidden in between those letters shown up. All the fragility of being humans starts to flow on my desktop. A woman afraid for his partner with an alcoholism problem, a guy dealing with the idea of losing his mother too soon. People struggling to find their place in the world. People spreading good vibes at their best. Me, trying to stop to think about the pandemic.
The connections generated by this game are quite hard to explain, especially because the system that houses them rests on a precarious balance that depends on people's conduct. It's not the moderation operated by the designers nor the ban of some prophanities that keep this space on conversation healthy, it's the good sense the main reason why Kind Words is so special.
It's hard to believe that the delicate ecosystem provided by the game is still immaculate, untouched by trolls.
I like to think that positivity is overtaking all the possible issues. The content produced in-game by the community is genuine, fueling an experience that is way bigger than the simple offer of the gameplay. I can say with absolute conviction that this experiment, born from the mind of Ziba Scott and Luigi Guatieri, is generating something unexpected by its own. Like a space that was just waiting to be. I don't know how long could last, but its magic is a real thing and it's touching a lot of lives.
Maybe that's the point: people are aware of how good and powerful this game is, and they are respecting its mission.
I'm about to end my quarantine period next Monday, I'll be back to work soon. Kind Words is still there, full of gentle souls helping each other. A small portrait of our good side and a window on the best part of our society.
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