Love Always Wins by David M HazenEric Berne described the game of "Ain’t It Awful" in his book, "The Games People Play.” Ultimately, "Ain’t It Awful” becomes a dramatic story of struggle between individuals or groups engaged in transactions of power-building or power-destruction. There is no larger context than a felt gain or loss of personal agency. Reports on the divisions between those who dominate, those who are the victims of domination and those who would bind the wounds of the victims becomes the trauma-drama, the "ain't it awful" fuel of the mundane news cycle.
This game is played from the stance of a victim of circumstances. It repeats the inevitability of our conflicts with others and reasons to fear our loss of power to a surprise attack. It also reinforces our self-righteousness and distracts our attention