I read somewhere that the IDF in Israel automatically give soldiers a lower security clearance if they play Dungeons and Dragons.
Has anyone else heard of crazy stories like this one - BADD etc.?
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I'm a leader in a local Boy Scout troop where some of the boys play D&D on campouts. We have a couple boys in the troop who's parents won't let them play because they think it involves witchcraft or worshipping other gods. I respect the parents' wishes and don't actively encourage those boys to play. I will, however, tell them that I play and answer any questions they ask about the game itself.
I heard that during the height of the gaming craze (early 80's) that many police officers were trained to pick up on D&D hints regarding a suspect because it may mean that they were unstable and more prone to violence - but that was a rumor as far as I know.
As for my current job - I teach theology at a Jesuit private school and there are many students who are "openly game" as one recent alum put it. At our all-male high school it was a completely loaded statement that made me laugh until I cried. We also had a roleplaying club that I've been thinking of ressurecting - just hadn't had the time with grad school and other such responsibilities. The Roman Catholic administration is okay with it because they recognize the pro's to the use of imagination and would only be concerned if a student exhibited some serious issues that may or may not be attatched to their gaming.
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I heard that during the height of the gaming craze (early 80's) that many police officers were trained to pick up on D&D hints regarding a suspect because it may mean that they were unstable and more prone to violence - but that was a rumor as far as I know.
Wow! Then how did they let a nut-ball like Farewell2Kings have a badge??
Kidding, F2K! You know I'm a wise-ass.
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As for my current job - I teach theology at a Jesuit private school and there are many students who are "openly game" as one recent alum put it.
That cracks me up--I ran into this guy at the game store that I briefly knew from work, and neither of us had any idea the other one gamed. It was like, "you're not gonna out me, are you?" Just jokes.
I came up in the 80's, and I guess the whole stigmatization involved (back then anyway) kinda taught me to instinctively keep my head down.
I am a criminal defense lawyer, and one of my clients met the underage girl he was involved with at a gaming store. The prosecutor wanted him banned from the store and pictured it as the kind of place where only children hung out. It was with some surprise that one of her underlings helped me to explain the situation, and I was surprised to discover that he was a gamer too. It is interesting how awkward the conversation where we both revealed our love of the hobby was. I guess I too am a relic of the 80's scare, and tend to keep my head down about it.
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I guess I too am a relic of the 80's scare, and tend to keep my head down about it.
Sadly (and uncharictaristically for me, on a completely serious note), I sympathize. There are some groups where I just don't feel I can discuss this hobby. It's professionally pushing the limits to admit to being a comic book collector (because that's ever so much less geeky, I guess). Now, conversely, I don't want to sound like it's some albatross around my neck, I can talk about it with some peers/colleagues freely, but there's a subset that seems walled off to RPGs being something that misanthropic teen-agers do.
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I even once (and only once) denied my hobby.
When I had my interview and my aptidude test for my job they asked me if I had any other hobbys than the ones I already told them and I said NO!
The guy who went just before me to the interview said to me that he told them about him playing D&D and that they kind of seemed annoyed... And I already experienced some call off's (right word???) when I applied for a job when I told them I play D&D.
So I decided to not tell them. Sad, but true!
Nowadays I get only strange looks when my colleagues see me browsing the new Dungeon Magazine or a sourcebook (althought the cover of #137 got much talked about ;), but nothing more. It seems that playing computer RPGs is being much more accepted than D&D (maybe still something from the 80ies).
As to the original story that sparked this post, I have seen this come up on other forums, and I wanted to point out that, if you read through the article in question (I am still looking for the link), the reason that the candidates in question were seen as "less stable" wasn't because they played D&D, per se, but because a lot of people of Jewish decent have moved to Israel from eastern European countries and that D&D was one of the things that, if they had as a hobby, indicated that they might be too inclined to adopt western "fads," and that would make them less likely to get a security clearance. It may seem like a fine distinction, but any western "fad" would likely trigger the same red flag, though the authors decided to call out D&D, probably becasue of their own notions about the game. That having been said, this comment is not to be taken as an endorsement of the policy or anything else, just that the issue isn't really D&D, but western "fads" being adopted by eastern european immigrants.
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I had some strange reactions to my gaming and the cover when I was reading in the lunchroom at work today. I was called down to HR to talk about how I was reading adult material at work. I then pulled it out of my bag and let HR look at the magazine. She then recanted about how it was an adult material but then started about how the cover was not appropriate for a workplace. I then pointed out the Cosmo on her desk and pointed out to her that that cover model had less clothing on then the artwork on the cover of Dungeon. She became real quiet after that and then said that I should not be reading children’s magazines at work because it will set a bad example for my direct reports. It was an interesting meeting after that when we called the call center director down to HR for the talk at that point. Turns out she played D&D in the 80’s and we then started talking about our favorite adventures from 1st edition. HR was not amused at how this turned out.
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I seem to remember that there once was a group called MAD&D (Yep, Mothers Against D&D). It seems to be defunct now, I could not find any reference to it on the Internet. Anyone else old enough to confirm or debunk its existance?
No, sorry! But the mother of one of my players once layed a holy cross on top of his D&D books when we have been 12 years old. She even once asked me (as I had been the one who introduced the game to her son) if this D&D stuff is something illegal... Never tell a worried mother, that killing monsters is just a game and that someone HAS TO SAVE THE WORLD or you may get thrown out of the house and your own mother gets angry about how you could involve someone into something illegal. ;)
Once, a few years back, when I was discussing my son's behavior (he is borderline ADD) issues in 5th grade at school, I happened to mention that he played D&D with me and the reaction was, to say the least, very negative. Not only did they conclude that his problems were very likely rooted in D&D participation, they also become somewhat hostile to me. Is it part of teacher training to view D&D participants with suspicion?
Probably the same teachers who see a kid with ants in his pants, then send him off to the school nurse whereby he is prescribe Ritalin. A school nurse can then, without supervision, prescribe mind shackling medication for a kid with an addiction to corn syrup? Zat right?
People from all works can work against you so righteously while wrong--so unaware of their limitations.
I seriously wonder if people who take it on faith that D&D is corruptive are not particularly bright as a group? Their approval means nothing to me.
Well except for F2K. He caught me speeding one night long ago and upon shining his flashlight into my face saw the Players Handbook on my front seat. He pulled me from the car, roaring a saliva scented fog into my face. Something about my being so dumb as to leave it out for him to see. I was pistol whipped for what seemed like three straight minutes. Turns out gaming was still legal in Texas and he, being misinformed, was about to be in big trouble. However, I stepped forward with a charitable heart and spoke up in his behalf. As a part of his rehabilitation he was forced to game with me. Eventually the student became the master, and at that very moment when his skills had surpassed mine... he pistol whipped me again. He told me that I was just hittable.
I had some strange reactions to my gaming and the cover when I was reading in the lunchroom at work today. I was called down to HR to talk about how I was reading adult material at work. I then pulled it out of my bag and let HR look at the magazine. She then recanted about how it was an adult material but then started about how the cover was not appropriate for a workplace. I then pointed out the Cosmo on her desk and pointed out to her that that cover model had less clothing on then the artwork on the cover of Dungeon. She became real quiet after that and then said that I should not be reading children’s magazines at work because it will set a bad example for my direct reports. It was an interesting meeting after that when we called the call center director down to HR for the talk at that point. Turns out she played D&D in the 80’s and we then started talking about our favorite adventures from 1st edition. HR was not amused at how this turned out.
Hee hee! That's awesome! That's the same argument I use - "Umm, you realize your Cosmo routinely features women wearing a heck of a lot less than what the cover picture has, right?"
I've got the lucky privilege of being able to ship things to my work. It's much fun when I open a package from Paizo and am filled with glee about the gaming goodies within.
I had some strange reactions to my gaming and the cover when I was reading in the lunchroom at work today. I was called down to HR to talk about how I was reading adult material at work. I then pulled it out of my bag and let HR look at the magazine. She then recanted about how it was an adult material but then started about how the cover was not appropriate for a workplace. I then pointed out the Cosmo on her desk and pointed out to her that that cover model had less clothing on then the artwork on the cover of Dungeon. She became real quiet after that and then said that I should not be reading children’s magazines at work because it will set a bad example for my direct reports. It was an interesting meeting after that when we called the call center director down to HR for the talk at that point. Turns out she played D&D in the 80’s and we then started talking about our favorite adventures from 1st edition. HR was not amused at how this turned out.
Beautiful. These people better watch their act.
Ten million strooooooooooooong, and gwoooowing.
I had some strange reactions to my gaming and the cover when I was reading in the lunchroom at work today. I was called down to HR to talk about how I was reading adult material at work. I then pulled it out of my bag and let HR look at the magazine. She then recanted about how it was an adult material but then started about how the cover was not appropriate for a workplace. I then pointed out the Cosmo on her desk and pointed out to her that that cover model had less clothing on then the artwork on the cover of Dungeon. She became real quiet after that and then said that I should not be reading children’s magazines at work because it will set a bad example for my direct reports. It was an interesting meeting after that when we called the call center director down to HR for the talk at that point. Turns out she played D&D in the 80’s and we then started talking about our favorite adventures from 1st edition. HR was not amused at how this turned out.
I find it interesting that this HR person referred to your magazine as both "adult material" and Children's material" in the same conversation. Which is it??? Someone smack that individual with a hypocrit stick
I've generally received positive responses as an adult, though I'll admit that I tend to hang around in circles where gaming is pretty tame on the "alternative-o-meter." The oddest reaction I usually get is when people unfamiliar with the game hear about my job at Dungeon and ask things like "Oh, do you get paid?" or "Did you start the magazine?" : P It's fun to give them circulation figures for both magazines and watch the eyes widen. The gamers, they are a mighty and numerous people....
The worst reaction I ever saw to gaming was in highschool when one of my gaming buddies, whose mother was extremely religious but had allowed all four of her sons to play D&D for years, heard a sermon about the satanic dangers of gaming. He came home from school one day to find his entire RPG collection (a shelf's worth of sourcebooks), his warhammer 40k miniatures, EVERYTHING gaming-related in the fireplace, and his mother standing next to it... at which point she said "it's for you're own good" and dropped in a match. Whoosh.
Ironically, but perhaps not surprisingly, this action changed him overnight from a bright, clean-cut, devoutly Catholic boy into an angry drugged-out slacker. Seriously... it was sad to watch. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if his folks had been just a wee bit more tolerant.
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I had some strange reactions to my gaming and the cover when I was reading in the lunchroom at work today. I was called down to HR to talk about how I was reading adult material at work. I then pulled it out of my bag and let HR look at the magazine. She then recanted about how it was an adult material but then started about how the cover was not appropriate for a workplace. I then pointed out the Cosmo on her desk and pointed out to her that that cover model had less clothing on then the artwork on the cover of Dungeon. She became real quiet after that and then said that I should not be reading children’s magazines at work because it will set a bad example for my direct reports. It was an interesting meeting after that when we called the call center director down to HR for the talk at that point. Turns out she played D&D in the 80’s and we then started talking about our favorite adventures from 1st edition. HR was not amused at how this turned out.
ha!
ha, ha, ha
i laugh at the inane attempts of HR to counteract the imagination of their employees, once again.
also: you should probably send that person a note or card or something, with definitions of "adult" and "children's" written in clear, non-mistakeable lettering. and a clipping of ann landers.
why? just because.
hahahaha
you managed to defeat the HR monsters!!!
namaste'
the hamster
The worst reaction I ever saw to gaming was in highschool when one of my gaming buddies, whose mother was extremely religious but had allowed all four of her sons to play D&D for years, heard a sermon about the satanic dangers of gaming. He came home from school one day to find his entire RPG collection (a shelf's worth of sourcebooks), his warhammer 40k miniatures, EVERYTHING gaming-related in the fireplace, and his mother standing next to it... at which point she said "it's for you're own good" and dropped in a match. Whoosh.
Ironically, but perhaps not surprisingly, this action changed him overnight from a bright, clean-cut, devoutly Catholic boy into an angry drugged-out slacker. Seriously... it was sad to watch. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if his folks had been just a wee bit more tolerant.
Holy *pick your favorite expletive*.
I would cry for a week. At least.
This makes me *so* glad my parents never did anything like this. As long as we did our chores and homework, it was all good.
On a side note, I taught my mom how to play M:tG. She then proceeded to STOMP me and my brother in the first game she ever played. Then we played a Dark Sun campaign and she created a half-giant named Bubba Grunt. :P
Back in the day I was very active in my protestant youth group (lots of cute girls) and one evening we watched a video from the 70's about satanism. It was cheesy to say the least, but I lost it when it started talking about D&D. I was laughing so hard they had to pause the tape. My youth director at the time had also played D&D and we had fun explaining to everyone how 'evil' we were. The group was a lot more liberal than most (Southern California + Presbyterian = pretty tolerant of anyone), so we had a good laugh. The same year my brother was attending a private Lutheran high school and mentioned he played D&D and received a 'talking-to' from the school administration about his 'devlish' hobby. He learned to keep his mouth shut after that.
Funny how all the negative publicity of the 70's and 80's really sticks with us.
-Matthew
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I find it interesting that this HR person referred to your magazine as both "adult material" and Children's material" in the same conversation. Which is it??? Someone smack that individual with a hypocrit stick
It was very interesting when I pointed out that same little problem to her. She is not very happy with me today and even more upset that the director is a former gamer. The real big thorn in her side is that she is now coming over on Sunday to play.
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I've generally received positive responses as an adult, though I'll admit that I tend to hang around in circles where gaming is pretty tame on the "alternative-o-meter." The oddest reaction I usually get is when people unfamiliar with the game hear about my job at Dungeon and ask things like "Oh, do you get paid?" or "Did you start the magazine?" : P It's fun to give them circulation figures for both magazines and watch the eyes widen. The gamers, they are a mighty and numerous people....
The worst reaction I ever saw to gaming was in highschool when one of my gaming buddies, whose mother was extremely religious but had allowed all four of her sons to play D&D for years, heard a sermon about the satanic dangers of gaming. He came home from school one day to find his entire RPG collection (a shelf's worth of sourcebooks), his warhammer 40k miniatures, EVERYTHING gaming-related in the fireplace, and his mother standing next to it... at which point she said "it's for you're own good" and dropped in a match. Whoosh.
Ironically, but perhaps not surprisingly, this action changed him overnight from a bright, clean-cut, devoutly Catholic boy into an angry drugged-out slacker. Seriously... it was sad to watch. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if his folks had been just a wee bit more tolerant.
I also knew a kid whose mom gave his books the same treatment.
It's not that uncommon a phenomenon apparently. I think this was like 1984...the year not the book (ironic, huh)?
I find it interesting that this HR person referred to your magazine as both "adult material" and Children's material" in the same conversation. Which is it??? Someone smack that individual with a hypocrit stick
Perhaps gamer mags are moreover a kind of "Adult Children" material.
Never grow up, never grow up. Not me. ;)
I heard that during the height of the gaming craze (early 80's) that many police officers were trained to pick up on D&D hints regarding a suspect because it may mean that they were unstable and more prone to violence - but that was a rumor as far as I know.
I never heard of that myself, but I started in '88 and it wasn't an issue back then. I encountered several gamers during my time in patrol who were rather paranoid and defensive about their hobby, but when they found out I was a gamer as well, they were usually pretty surprised that cops were "allowed" to be human like the rest of them.
I have several gaming buddies at work and we openly discuss the game in front of other officers, who just roll their eyes and make the usual "geek" remarks, but no one really cares.
I even showed my co-workers and supervisors my CW from #135 and they all thought it was cool and proof that I was the nerdiest person on the Department, ha ha....I should mention that the third highest ranking person on our 1100 officer Department ran a mean Judges Guild based campaign back in the early 80's and enjoyed playing 1st edition cavaliers. His garage/bedroom was our gaming headquarters all through high school and the site of many mega weekend games.
As far as pistol-whipping the Jade--that wasn't me, my gun is made of plastic and I would never use it to pistol whip somebody--I have an old Kel-light for that honor (just kidding, of course folks). Thanks for the gaming lesson therapy though, Jade--you're truly my inspiration ;)
As far as idiot parents and idiot HR people--they are a constant bane on everyone's existence--anyone who judges people based on pre-conceived notions without gathering all the facts is just a drone and is stealing all the oxygen from the rest of us ::: can't.....breathe......:::
I was critical of Paizo for some choices of magazine cover titles involving demon lord articles in Dragon, but I am a product of the 80's and I had to live through all that paranoia. After posting my concerns here, the board members convinced me it wasn't a problem because of all the "worse" things out there, but it seems that individual prejudice against D&D still exists and is alive and well.
However, the multitudes of gamers from the late 70's and early 80's are all middle aged and grown up now and many are in positions of responsibility and power--how long before a gamer becomes president?
I've mentioned before that I have a lawyer friend in Phoenix who is still very paranoid about revealing his gaming background, so he carries a d6 with him. Whenever he meets somebody at work or wherever and he wants to draw out potential closet gamers, he pulls out the d6 and asks them "what is this?" If they say it's a "dice" then they're not gamers. If they say it's a "d6" then the secret handshake has worked. He was in the IDF for a while and he never mentioned a negative stigma attached to gamers.
Is it part of teacher training to view D&D participants with suspicion?
i'm a teacher, and each state does decide its own educational approaches independent of other states (well, before 'W' and No Child Left Untested), so i can only speak for NY....we have one class on drugs and other problem behaviors (my class was taught by a cop); in this class D&D *IS* specifically pointed out as a potential 'gateway' activity that will lead one down the path of ruin to drugs, suicide, murder.... lumped with it were black clothes, rock music, wicca, etc, etc. you get the picture. so, people who have less than open minds hear this and think it must be true - even future teachers. i debated all of this with the instructor/cop and brought him ton of literature the next week, but he just blew it all off....
so, all of this is just a long way of saying, yes, even at a college level, at least in NY in the '90s, even future educators were being indoctrinated by those who wanted to ultimately control what american children could play, listen to, dress like, etc.
As I have said before, some religeous folk (many well meaning but ill informed), cause problems, but its often pop-psych types that managed to REALLY cause problems, because then some reporter, or even equally well meaning parents, read it and assume that anyone with a PhD in psychology couldn't possibly be so foolish as to make gigantic, error ridden leaps of judgement when formulating their reports.
Then again, I tend to always remember Fredrick Wertham whenever I think of psychologists that get taken too seriously and the damage they can cause.
this whole thread reminds me of that Dead Ale Wives D&D comedy thing.
I do have to say that some people should NOT game. I'm sure everyone here has met atleast one person who played and was way too obsessed and weird about it to the point of being all nutso about it. In college I had a roommate that was that way. It made me become very wary of who I introduced to gaming or even played with. I am NOT blaming the games, but I have to ask you, do you hand a child a gun or alcohol? Of course not, so dont hand crazy people RPGs. You are only hurting gaming by what they might do.
well depends on the type of crazy
;)
Any pasttime can be abused in the wrong hands, except maybe bowling...no wait...any pasttime can be abused in the wrong hands. RPG's are like a mind-enhancing drug and shouldn't be given to people who may have a potential bad trip, I agree.
Of course, just like all the LAPD 'gentlemen' who beat the tar out of Rodney King made all of us gentle blue souls look bad, these fragile minds get all the publicity and cause the preconceived notions about D&D that cause problems for the rest of us.
Any pasttime can be abused in the wrong hands, except maybe bowling...no wait...any pasttime can be abused in the wrong hands. RPG's are like a mind-enhancing drug and shouldn't be given to people who may have a potential bad trip, I agree.
Of course, just like all the LAPD 'gentlemen' who beat the tar out of Rodney King made all of us gentle blue souls look bad, these fragile minds get all the publicity and cause the preconceived notions about D&D that cause problems for the rest of us.
my point exactly
thanks for saying it less rambling like I didheh
Every hobby has individuals that are an embarassment to the rest of the hobby, and most hobbies that are popular enough to get the public eye, but are not quite widespread enough to get "everyone" to participate in the trend (or fad, if you will) end up being the excuse for all sorts of societal ills.
people that read comic books (Wertham had a field day with these, saying that crime comics caused crime, Wonder Woman and Batman promoted homosexuality, and Superman glorified facism by presenting the image of, well, a superman. The sad thing is that Congress took him seriously). . .
Rock and Roll in general (promicuity and teenage rebellion, as well as "refer use") . . .
people that listen to heavy metal music (heavy metal causes suicides, just ask Ozzy and Judas Priest. Oh, and Marilyn Manson got blamed for Columbine as well) . . .
people that play first person shooters (all the school shootings were blamed on these for a while, at least when they weren't busy with the above scapegoat. Of course, its funny that the report released a few days ago reiterated that the kids at Columbine sent out TONS of signs that nobody caught, but hey, lets blame Doom and Marilyn Manson) . . .
or Grand Theft Auto (any iteration of said series, all sorts of yahoos that have commited vadalism or assulted cops or innocent bystandars have blamed this one, and while its likely they did play the game, how many people with PCs, PS2s, or X-Box's didn't?) . . .
Which is not to say I like all of the above . . . I always preferred Alice Cooper to Ozzy, and Rob Zombie to Marilyn Manson. Played GTA and found that I would rather play other games on my PC. But I have to say Wertham is dead wrong about Wonder Woman, considering Linda Carter was the first woman I ever had a crush on . . .
Of course, just like all the LAPD 'gentlemen' who beat the tar out of Rodney King made all of us gentle blue souls look bad, these fragile minds get all the publicity and cause the preconceived notions about D&D that cause problems for the rest of us.
Now I feel extra guilty for saying you pistol whipped me at a traffic stop.
I noticed that my mindset had switched from civilian to cop when after a few months on the job, I quit wondering why people did messed up things. My civilian friends always ask me "why would someone do that?" and I just shrug and say "because they're f+~!ing a!!@*!# s%++heads" and leave it at that. Any more in depth of an explanation is usually just fishing for excuses for the offender.
It's a survival thing for cops' sanity, I think. It doesn't always work.
Now I feel extra guilty for saying you pistol whipped me at a traffic stop.
Of course, just like all the LAPD 'gentlemen' who beat the tar out of Rodney King made all of us gentle blue souls look bad, these fragile minds get all the publicity and cause the preconceived notions about D&D that cause problems for the rest of us.
Don't feel bad--I put that guy up to it....I was hiding behind the spotlight with my plastic gun eating a donut and laughing!!
Don't feel bad--I put that guy up to it....I was hiding behind the spotlight with my plastic gun eating a donut and laughing!!
Good times... good times... :)
Close to a year back, the Director and my immediate supervisor noticed that I was reading a copy of Dungeon or Dragon (not sure which) at lunch. He pulled me aside and told me that it was inappropriate to have that publication in the work place.
Being stubborn and noticing Entertainment Weekly and People on his desk, I started a debate and a brief education on what D&D was really like. He wasn't thrilled, but he never brought up the topic again when he noticed my reading choices at future lunches.
Then a few months ago, he approached me and asked about D&D again. It turns out that his 10 year old daughter was really getting interested in dragons and coming up with imaginative stories. He then asked me if I would teach her to play.
Then I got a bonus. (AKA: More money to buy RPG's)
I love D&D.
Utak
Then I got a bonus. (AKA: More money to buy RPG's)
I love D&D.
Utak
YES!
Is it part of teacher training to view D&D participants with suspicion?i'm a teacher, and each state does decide its own educational approaches independent of other states (well, before 'W' and No Child Left Untested), so i can only speak for NY....we have one class on drugs and other problem behaviors (my class was taught by a cop); in this class D&D *IS* specifically pointed out as a potential 'gateway' activity that will lead one down the path of ruin to drugs, suicide, murder.... lumped with it were black clothes, rock music, wicca, etc, etc. you get the picture. so, people who have less than open minds hear this and think it must be true - even future teachers. i debated all of this with the instructor/cop and brought him ton of literature the next week, but he just blew it all off....
so, all of this is just a long way of saying, yes, even at a college level, at least in NY in the '90s, even future educators were being indoctrinated by those who wanted to ultimately control what american children could play, listen to, dress like, etc.
Well, I have a very different experience with public education and gaming. I teach middle school, and I sponsor a gaming club for the students on my campus. We had about 30 regular members last year, and I'm looking forward to another great year! It seems that some administrations are just more tolerant than others.
It seems that some administrations are just more tolerant than others.
.....old gamers coming into positions of power, I tell you! The guy in our gaming group who has played D&D the longest is 44 years old and is fixin' to become a "director" at his place of employment.
Somewhere out there is a congressperson or senator who has a copy of "Village of Hommlet" in their attic.....
It seems that some administrations are just more tolerant than others.
.....old gamers coming into positions of power, I tell you! The guy in our gaming group who has played D&D the longest is 44 years old and is fixin' to become a "director" at his place of employment.
Somewhere out there is a congressperson or senator who has a copy of "Village of Hommlet" in their attic.....
Not quite a position of "power" exactly, but...
As someone who occasionally hires people for my businesses (Home Improvement and a Pet Sitting Service), I can attest that telling me you're a gamer at the interview will get you serious consideration. It got one guy hired. Had to fire him three years later but... nevermind that. He was a good man.
...old gamers coming into positions of power, I tell you! The guy in our gaming group who has played D&D the longest is 44 years old and is fixin' to become a "director" at his place of employment.
Hell, they're already there. One of the Directors of Business Consulting at my firm is a Living Greyhawk Triad member. :O
I was actually introduced to real Dungeons and Dragons by my sixth grade teacher. He let me borrow his original module of the Tomb of Horrors (this was about '96 or '97, so it was a show of trust on his part).
On this side of the Atlantic "RPGs are satanic" craze never quite caught on...individual comments here and there show up, usually on more sensational magazines.
I've mentioned it elsewhere that my English teacher was really happy when I started to play English RPGs (a second language for me) and suddenly started to know words like 'disadvantage', 'ambidexterity' or 'odious' (we are talking about GURPS here, if you couldn't guess).
My other teachers were rather cool about the games too (it helped that the "out gamers" in our school were the geeks with good grades :) ).
My parents didn't understand what the gaming was about but didn't mind either.
On this side of the Atlantic "RPGs are satanic" craze never quite caught on...individual comments here and there show up, usually on more sensational magazines.
My parents didn't understand what the gaming was about but didn't mind either.
Yes, that´s my experience, too. Most people don´t know or don´t care about gaming, so the most you got were blank looks and the question "what is this?" (luckily that awful movie with Tom Hanks was not shown here in the cinemas at the time)
My parents thought it mostly a waste of time, but a hobby that was not dangerous or even illegal, just strange.Well, it led my indirectly to my job today, so it was useful in other ways than just as a hobby.
I think CRPGs did actually help the hobby in general, as they spread the phenomenon and made it more acceptable. But these are not true RPGs IMHO.
Stefan
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[Somewhere out there is a congressperson or senator who has a copy of "Village of Hommlet" in their attic.....So that's what all those late-night, closed sessions of congress are about.
Roll your d20, senator and add your "stick it to em" modifier to see if you raise the taxation level. Oh you want to attach a senate pay increase to the bill, well you are Unlawful/Evil and you took the "Special Interests" Prestige class so go ahead and roll a "draft proposal" check. ACK!!
FH (The Non-PC PC)
I read somewhere that the IDF in Israel automatically give soldiers a lower security clearance if they play Dungeons and Dragons.
Has anyone else heard of crazy stories like this one - BADD etc.?
I am sergeant (a.k.a “green parasite”) in the IDF and have the highest security clearance a soldier can get. Many of my friends are serious gamers and have very classified or responsible jobs in the IDF.
We all read that article in the newspaper and had many a good laugh over it.Now here's what's really going on: the Israeli LARP community is made of junkies, drunks and freaks (real ones) and in local slang is called RD&D (Real D&D) those idiots run about with real swords and armor and quite often really wound one another. Some general heard about them and said that these folks shouldn’t get responsible jobs in the army because they live in a fantasy world. The aforementioned article, not making the fine distinction between D&D and RD&D wrote that D&D players are classified as “mad” in the IDF and started all this mess.
And speaking of LARPs, did you know that officers in the Lebanese army learn to fight with the sword and the spear? I think there LARPing is mandatory… :)
In my high school years gaming was still carrying that "weird" stigma, I've only been playing since '91-'92. I've always been one to keep my head down when the topic of gaming came up but as i get older I see that most people just dont care or call me a geek and we move on with our lives. However I am thankful that I didn't receive the close minded and "for your own good" treatment from my parents, my father actually while not a gamer himself thought the game was a good way to expand our vocabulary, problem solving and teamwork skills. He even played a character through the entire Hero Quest board game with us.