The fun scale

The Fun Scale consists of three types of fun: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 fun. It shows that not all fun is created equal.

Before I heard of the Fun Scale—from my brother, who learned it from a mountain guide—I assumed that fun was all the same. Fun is fun, right? But then, when I first heard about Type I, Type II and Type III fun, I had to admit there was some validity in different types of fun.

So, what are the three types of fun in the Fun Scale?

The three types of fun

Type 1 fun is like eating ice cream or skiing with ski lifts to whisk you back up to the top — you love it while you’re doing it, and when you think back on it, you remember how good it was. Straightforward— sounds like fun.

Type 2 fun, on the other hand, is the sort of enjoyment you get from something like running a marathon or climbing a mountain. You often have to admit that it wasn’t necessarily all fun at the time. In fact, it could have been quite hard and might have hurt a bit. But when you look back on it, you often think of it as more fun and fulfilling than the Type I fun.

Type 3 fun is usually type 1 or 2 fun that went wrong. Though it was supposed to be fun, things actually got a little hairy – like you got lost, or it got dark, and it got cold, or you had to be rescued — but…it sure makes a great story when you make it back.

Summarising the Fun Scale

In summary:

Type 1 fun is fun when you do it and fun to remember.

Type 2 fun is not so fun when you do it, but it is fun in retrospect and is the most fulfilling.

And Type 3 fun is not fun in the moment or when you remember it—but it makes the best stories!

The Fun Scale is probably my favourite sketch that didn't make it into my new book. If you like this one, you'll love the book Big Ideas Little Pictures.

I updated this sketch from the original