What Monopoly piece were you? (and other thoughts about childhood arguments and identity)
By The Horse
@TheHorse (218931)
Walnut Creek, California
February 20, 2017 1:42pm CST
This morning, for no particular reason, I was thinking about how adults are like children when they argue, except the stakes are higher. That got me to thinking about the silly things children argue about: Who gets the purple scarf v. the green one in dress-up play; who gets to chose a cookie first; who gets the most magnet tile squares, who gets to be the elephant v. the lion, etc.
Then I got to thinking about the brutal Monopoly games in my family, and how we'd argue over who got what piece. Somehow, it was settled over time, and I was always the car, while my brother was always Toto the dog. Everyone also knew that my favorite monopolies were the oranges and yellows.
Were you a particular piece when you played Monopoly? Can you think of silly things you argued about as a child, and wacky things that were a part of your "identity"? My bike was also a part of mine, just as my (adult) car is now. My brother and I knew not to ride each others' bikes "without asking."
31 people like this
36 responses
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Feb 17
@Asylum I know. That (the iron) makes me laugh. So many things about that game are a bit "off the wall," which adds to its charm. "You have on second prize in a beauty contest"? I always seemed to pull that card. Oh, I hadn't thought about how the British version would be different. And the unit of money would be the pound. Boardwalk was the most expensive property in American Monopoly. It was dark blue, along with Park Place. After "Go," you were in the 'hood. Baltic and Mediterranean were (are) the two el cheapo properties.
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (81948)
• Onaway, Michigan
20 Feb 17
I always was either the thimble or horse. Me and my sisters would always argue over who got to take bath first or whose turn to do dishes.
4 people like this
@Tina30219 (81948)
• Onaway, Michigan
20 Feb 17
@TheHorse Good idea wish that was thought of then. Funny thing about monopoly pieces me and my boyfriend play monopoly on wii and the horse is not on it.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Feb 17
@Tina30219 No horse and rider? That's...blasphemy! Or something.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (167070)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 17
I remember many a game of Monopoly at my grandparent's home. Never played it much after that. I remember arguing a lot about whether we went to a movie with my uncle or swimming with my aunt. whacky because it didn't really matter. Just that uncle was gone so much it was time we could spend together. I didn't have siblings but did have two cousins I spent a lot of time with and we did argue about some things.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (167070)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 17
@TheHorse .....Oh, yes. Have to learn who are and what soap boxes to stand on.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Feb 17
@celticeagle I just try to help them find a resolution that makes them both happy.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
20 Feb 17
I think out of all of us my sister was the worst one sulking she was dreadful plus she used to cheat. I used to like to have the car. There are different properties in different countries on the board game!
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
26 Feb 17
@vandana7 OH no she is still the same I think! She asked me if she could come on holiday with me one time I had to tell her NO. Oh my goodness I would end up killing her! I could not put up with her for two weeks let alone a week!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Feb 17
In Monopoly, I always chose the top hat, second choice, the cannon. With three very much older sisters, I was practically an only child, so other than an obnoxious younger nephew, I had no one to argue with unless I played at someone elses house.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic Buwaahaahaa! Can you send me a Get Out of Jail Free Card? You know my tendencies.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Feb 17
@TheHorse Yes, but became a ruthless tycoon often after that, trumpish even.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
21 Feb 17
Nothing stands out but I was the only girl so my brothers were more that way with each other. I think
I was the iron and liked railroads!!
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
21 Feb 17
@TheHorse lol A good solid financial base, I am conservative and I guess I always was lol
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Feb 17
@BelleStarr Advance token to Reading...hmmph.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 17
Growing up in wartime and just afterwards, we didn't have the luxury of a bike each. My two sisters and I had to share one, but we were absolutely thrilled when dad brought it home. And yes - we had a lot of arguments about whose turn it was to ride it.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
21 Feb 17
I think the horse was fought over, but I think I was often the cat. I remember dad putting them in his hand and randomly picking for people too though. More often we played cooperative type games, which were somewhat lame
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Feb 17
@TheHorse lol, sister was a bad sport for awhile. Later we did play less cooperative games, but preferred racko, golf (card game), and phase 10
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
21 Feb 17
I was the iron. There was something cute about it to me. It must have been a premonition of things to come. I love to iron and find it relaxing. I even iron our sheets. No problems in my house. I was the only girl with two brothers. I always got the window seat in the car, etc.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340223)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Feb 17
My siblings were much older so I didn't really have anyone to argue with as a child. And I'm not a Monopoly fan at all. Not sure why not but I think it has to do with how long it takes to play. And I'd be the horse (I think there is a horse) or the dog.
2 people like this
@AliCanary (3239)
•
21 Feb 17
PS - I own the Star Wars (original trilogy) Monopoly, which has all different pieces, of course. I play Vader, naturally!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Feb 17
@AliCanary But of course! Are the prices the same as in "regular" Monopoly? How did they rework the Chance and Community Chest cards? And where do I get out of for free?
2 people like this
@AliCanary (3239)
•
21 Feb 17
Yep, I was always the Scottie dog, and my sister was the car. Dad always played with the shoe. Mom, wisest of us all, refused to play!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Feb 17
@AliCanary Something like 30% of Americans think he's doing a good job. I'm not convinced he'll make it through four years.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
20 Feb 17
My favorite piece was the thimble. Now I hear that they are discontinuing the thimble. The game will never be the same without it!
I was the oldest child in the family, and for a while, the only girl. I had 3 younger brothers. So, anything that was mine, was pretty much just that.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
21 Feb 17
@TheHorse oh yeah! Guess I will have to bring my own to the game.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
21 Feb 17
I can't remember what piece I was. I hated that game...I do better buying and selling real property. My sister is a lot younger than me so I tried to distance myself from her as much as possible.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Feb 17
Heh heh. Of course, the kids get to choose their pieces before the parents. I'd like to think that parents don't care, but as I fantasize playing Monopoly right now, I realize that I still want you to land on my Marvin Gardens with hotels. Buwaahaa!!! But I regress (not a typo).
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
21 Feb 17
We never called him Toto, we called the dog piece The Scotty Dog. I liked to have the iron as my piece and the green and red properties were my favorites. We never rode each others bikes (I had 3 sisters) My dad always chose red tokens as he always said, "Red is for blood!" I took that over and my kids know I always choose red for blood. It fits because I play in earnest when I play a board game!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Feb 17
I always tried to get the car. If not, I was the dog or the top hat.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Feb 17
@TheHorse - No, I just buy all the property I can, and eventually I have a couple.
@GegeTheMechanic (1060)
• Finland
20 Feb 17
I was the wheelbarrow or the iron and I always wanted to buy the green spots 
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Feb 17
Oh, the greens were pretty good. Do you remember each of their names? Oh, it would be different in Finland anyway. I can remember the American names of most of the properties, but I sometimes forget some of the greens and the light blues.
2 people like this
@GegeTheMechanic (1060)
• Finland
21 Feb 17
@TheHorse in the Finnish one there were some road names from our capital city 
but I can't remember the names anymore
but I can't remember the names anymore1 person likes this
