My New Game: Glimpsing in Mumbai's Streets

I couldn't include an evidentially accurate image to accompany this post because I am not yet familiar with the data privacy laws of India. I couldn't bear to have my website shut down in only the second month of operation, especially when I still have so much to share with you. But I think this image encapsulates my cheery new car game to play during prisoner transit to and from the office. It can actually be played by anyone, in any vehicle, on any journey, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to sell the concept outside of India. It has limited global appeal.

The Game of Glimpsing

Every day, I see at least one man urinating in the street. The game I’ve created is subtly called "Glimpsing." I was originally going to call it "Urinator," but I felt that was too obvious and unnecessarily Arnold Schwarzenegger-esque.

I’m also addressing the limited global appeal of a game based on urinating in the street. As a culturally inclusive person, I plan to have variants of Glimpsing: G:Cows, G:Cyclists without Helmets, G:Litter, G:Dog Poo—whatever is still seen on the streets in the country you’re visiting that has disappeared from the streets of most other countries.

How to Play Glimpsing

The aim of the Glimpsing: Urinator game is to get as high a score as possible on a single journey. Obviously, one glimpse of a person urinating scores one point. The highest score so far is 3, achieved on a 60-minute journey across town. At the moment, it’s only a one-player game because I’m the only prisoner in this particular transit. However, it can be played by any number of players. In that case, the one who shouts out "Urinator" first gets the point for that glimpse.

At this point, I have to acknowledge, for protection against a copyright suit, that this game is loosely based on "Gelbis Auto," which our lovely German friend Daniel introduced to the kids over 20 years ago. I’m not sure whether Daniel or his parents invented that game, but I think they would be pleased with this twisted remake. They would enjoy playing it.

Observations and Insights

Due to the aforementioned potential data privacy violation and how weird it would be if I really stared at the Urinator, I haven’t been able to determine the socio-economic or age demographic of Urinators because I’m only glimpsing them. I’ve glimpsed some in the khaki uniform of rickshaw drivers, but I’ve also seen quite smartly dressed young men. Just glimpsed them.

If I were to bring a charge against a Urinator—although I’m not sure of the legality of urinating in the street—I might be challenged by the defence lawyer as to whether I had really seen what I claimed to have seen. Or if I were actually playing a two-player game, my opponent might question whether sighting number 3 was really a Urinator or just a man leaning against a tree on a busy highway. I’m just glimpsing them and may have glimpsed inaccurately. It’s a fair cop. In reality, I would prefer to be wrong and to have misinterpreted what I’ve glimpsed.

The Numbers Game

In a city of 21 million people, assuming half of them are female (I have never seen a female Urinator), there are potentially 10.5 million Urinators. If you exclude certain socio-economic groups, age groups, shy people, and those who wish to make Mumbai a cleaner, less polluted place, then I still think you have the potential for a very high score in Glimpsing.

Rules of Glimpsing: Urinator Edition

Here’s a quick overview of the rules of Glimpsing: Urinator edition:

1. You cannot count the same Urinator more than once if you are stuck in traffic and glimpse him more than once. A point for each Unique Urinator only.

2. Urinators can be on any side of the street and can be on the pavement or on the road. They all count.

3. If you see 2 Urinators together, you get double points, i.e., 4. Together means they are talking to one another, not just that you can glimpse both at once.

4. If there’s another bloke on a motorbike waiting for the Urinator, you score 2 points. It’s still just 2 points if the waiting motorbiker is female.

5. If 2 people shout "Urinator" at the same time, the point goes to the person closest to the window in which the Urinator was glimpsed.

   
   

The Future of Glimpsing

I think the game could become hugely popular among visitors to Mumbai, so I’ve started a league table. I am currently in the lead with the Mumbai record of 3.

So, if you find yourself in Mumbai, why not give Glimpsing a go? It’s a light-hearted way to engage with the city, and who knows? You might just become a champion Urinator spotter!

And remember, it’s all in good fun. Just don’t take it too seriously—after all, we’re just glimpsing.