A first-principles court for small indulgences
Pardon My PleasurePardons for small guilty pleasures
List a few guilty pleasures and answer three quick questions about each. The page strips every one down to who actually pays and what it actually crowds out, hangs a sealed scroll for it and rules, for free: pardoned in full, with a curfew, once settled, or not for this court.
1 Your guilty pleasures free
Up to six. Only the name is required. Keep names and personal details out of it - the page only needs the pleasure.
2 The roll of pardons free
3 Ask for the written pardons
One run writes a short mock-formal pardon for each pleasure, explains every verdict from your own answers and words one next step. The page's verdicts stay as they are.
The pardons - none yet
-The page's check
4 Saved rolls
How the page decides
First principles: set aside how a pleasure looks and ask what is actually true about it. Who actually pays for it - only me, someone else, a little or someone else, a lot? Does it actually crowd out something you care about - no, sometimes or often? And where does the guilt come from - what others might think, a rule from growing up, your own sense it is too much, or not sure? Guilt that follows someone else's rule is borrowed; it is not a cost.
The verdict, first match wins: anything whose own words mention gambling, drink, smoking or vaping, drugs, debt, speeding, taking things, hurting yourself or someone else, or adult content - not for this court; anything someone else pays for - pardoned once settled; anything that crowds out often, or sometimes when the guilt is your own - pardoned with a curfew; everything else - pardoned in full. The weight adds who pays (0-2) and what it crowds out (0-2). The most innocent pleasure is the one pardoned in full with the lowest weight, ties to the one higher on your list.
It is a playful game about small harmless pleasures, not advice of any kind - not health, diet, money or medical advice - and not a judgement of anyone. If something you enjoy ever worries you, talk to someone you trust or a professional. The page only sees what you type, so keep names and personal details out of it.