How do you play this or that?

Read out a pair, everyone picks a side, and then — the part that matters — everyone says why. The reasons are the game; the choices on their own are just a poll.

What makes a good this-or-that pair?

Both sides have to be genuinely defensible. A pair with an obvious right answer produces unanimous agreement and nothing to talk about.

How many pairs should a round have?

Ten is about right for a group. Past that people stop explaining their answers and start just picking, which is where the value goes.

Is this suitable for a work team?

Yes — the pairs avoid anything personal or divisive, so nobody has to reveal more than they want to in front of colleagues.

Can I get the same pair twice?

Not in one round. Pairs are drawn without repeats, so a round of ten gives ten different ones.

This or That

Would-you-rather style pairs where both sides are genuinely defensible.

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About the This or That

Every pair is one where both answers are genuinely defensible. That is the entire design: a pair with an obvious right answer produces agreement, and agreement is not a game.

The interesting part is never which side someone picks. It is the reason they give — which is why this works better as a conversation starter than as a poll.

Each round is drawn without repeats, so no pair comes up twice within a set. Copy the round out to read from if you are running it with a group, or put it in the invite so people arrive with an opinion already formed.

How it works

Generate a round of pairs.
Go round the group — everyone picks a side and says why.
Copy the round to read from.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play this or that?: Read out a pair, everyone picks a side, and then — the part that matters — everyone says why. The reasons are the game; the choices on their own are just a poll.
What makes a good this-or-that pair?: Both sides have to be genuinely defensible. A pair with an obvious right answer produces unanimous agreement and nothing to talk about.
How many pairs should a round have?: Ten is about right for a group. Past that people stop explaining their answers and start just picking, which is where the value goes.
Is this suitable for a work team?: Yes — the pairs avoid anything personal or divisive, so nobody has to reveal more than they want to in front of colleagues.
Can I get the same pair twice?: Not in one round. Pairs are drawn without repeats, so a round of ten gives ten different ones.

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