Over the weekend, my daughter escorted me to a party at my work (see here) since my husband wasn't feeling well. We got there right when it began, and like all parties, this party was off to a slow start. My daughter, getting a bit bored, surprised me by saying, "Let's play a game of Truth or Dare!" I was shocked! I had no idea she knew about that game. She told me she learned it from her BFF at camp. Figures! Anyway, I was a bit bored too, so I played the game with her. We had fun.
The next day, I told my husband that we played Truth or Dare. He asked questions about how you play it. I was shocked that he didn't know how to play it. I asked him if he had played it as a kid. He looked at me confused. "Didn't Madonna come up with that game in the 90s? Truth or Dare didn't exist when I was a kid," he said. I told him that Truth or Dare existed during my childhood in the 1970s, and Madonna certainly didn't invent that game.
Now, there IS a bit of an age difference between my husband and me. However, it seemed weird to me that a game that was so prevalent in my childhood would be nonexistent during my husband's childhood. So, I decided to research the origins of Truth or Dare on the internet, because it contains the answers to everything.
Except it turns out to be lacking on the origins of the Truth or Dare game. Most of the links turned up "unknown" as the origin. One site stated that two different fiction books in 1957 gave reference to the game, but nothing could be found earlier. I would guess that my husband's generation should have had some exposure to the game then, but not sure if this is the case.
So, to conduct my own research: in the comment section, please indicate if you knew about the Truth or Dare game as a child and what year you were born (I promise not to laugh). Thanks!
It may have been around back when I was born, but we never played it. Must be a regional thing. I first became aware of how to play it after watching Madonna's movie. At that time I realized it wasn't a new game but had just never been exposed to it.
ReplyDeleteI was born in 1963 and definitely played it once or twice. Never really liked it - just made me feel a little icky.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely was around when I was a kid! We used to play it at camp! Is your husband familiar with "Spin the Bottle"?
ReplyDeleteBorn in 1960. Definitely played Truth or Dare as a kid & teen. (Also Spin the Bottle & 7 minutes in Heaven if you want to know.)
ReplyDeleteYes, I played Truth or Dare a lot as a kid!
ReplyDeleteI remember 7 Minutes in Heaven!
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember Truth or Dare - was rather terrified of the dares!
ReplyDeleteI remember truth or dare as a kid. And born in 1963 :o)
ReplyDeleteBlessings & Aloha!
Until Madonna, I had never heard of Truth or Dare. How old am I? Old enough to know better!!
ReplyDeleteOf course we played truth or dare! We played it at slumber parties as a kid, when there wasn't a whole lot at stake. I do remember playing once in college. About half of the people ended up in tears or major fights. It was serious!
ReplyDeleteAnyone else remember Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board?
ReplyDeleteIt was around when I was little. I was born in the mid-60's.
ReplyDeleteI certainly knew about it, and I was born in 1968. Love your research angle to the post! :-)
ReplyDeleteI was born in 1953 and darn proud of it! I also played this game, mainly with girls, my own age at slumber parties and such! Terrific T post!
ReplyDeleteI played as a kid, too. I was always too scared of the dares, though, so I picked truth every time ... and told fibs sometimes for self-preservation! Who knew you could cheat at Truth or Dare?!
ReplyDeleteI was born in 1957....we played it in the 60's at slumber parties.
ReplyDeleteI played at a kid and I was born in 1966. Reading all these comments it looks like the 60's was a good decade for truth or dare!!
ReplyDeleteI was born in 56 and I actually never even heard of it until I had kids.
ReplyDeleteBut I was pretty sheltered as a kid (or perhaps it was actually just oppressed as a kid - ha!)
Sounds like a fun time for you all!
Thanks for letting us share it.
A+
I played it as a kid I was born in 1972 Maybe it was a regional thing?
ReplyDeleteBeing in my twenties I can firmly say that whoever does not know Truth or Dare is by far the exception.
ReplyDeleteLast week was the first time I actually encountered someone who firmly said he did never hear from this game. Ever.
I don't know how old your daughter is. But as you wrote you were shocked she knew about the game, I had to smile. It seems very popular amongst girls as early as kindergarten.
I didn't know about the game until watching it in American movies. That has nothing to do with my age though -- it's because I live in Germany.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Germany,
Birgit
PS: See my T post here! :)
Hi Cheryl, yes I remember Truth or Dare, the TV game show Truth or Consequences and 7 minutes in Heaven! I was born in 1954, a very good year, so I have been told :) xo
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is a regional thing. I grew up in Southern California and we played Truth or Dare.
ReplyDeleteNot only was I born in the fifties, but I was raised in the Bronx, NY.
ReplyDeleteGuys in the Bronx woouldn't have played "truth or dare" with each other even if we somehow HAD heard of it.