:) Ignoring the whole violence issue, I would say gamers tend to be more intelligent. D&D tends to use a lot of number-crunching and language skills, not to mention would help develop some social skills. It's sort of like how computer gamers would tend to be good with basic computer tasks and hardware issues because it helps them get the best experience out of their game. I read awhile back how gamers were thought to be well suited for a role like Army Intelligence because of the quick thinking and processing of many many pieces of information together into a cohesive picture. I love to hear something that reinforces my own opinions, most everyone does. I just think gaming is portrayed as having no benefit whatsoever to the person besides wasting time and this is simply not the case, gamers get more out of it than someone that spends equal time watching tv.
The report about the study you linked seems to indicate once more that the problem is not the game - be it RPG, violent Computer games or LARPing - but some of the people playing. People who have a tendency towards mental deficits have these traits probably amplified by games they play. Those who are mentally stable won´t be negatively influenced by their games. It reminds me of the discussion that gaming (D&D) led to some youths committing suicide long ago (around 15-20 years). The press found out that they played D&D and blamed the game for the suicide, IIRC. It´s the same nonsense about rock music played backwards that drove teenagers to suicide and containing "secret" messages (back in the time you could play an LP backwards, don´t try this with your CDs :-))
So, people having a mental problem won´t get these problems solved by gaming, but might have them amplified. Those who blame the games just don´t get that.And four hours gaming are surely more rewarding than four hours watching TV. (I just had this nasty image in mind of a middle-aged, fat man in very casual wear hanging around on his couch watching TV, drinking beer and eating snacks. Gave me the creeps... Thankfully, I´m not like that and probably won´t get that way). If you don´t have any better ideas for your leisure time that watching TV, thats rather sad...
Stefan
One big thing that I have had experience with is that it has expanded my vocab a ton, and now I'm a lot better at reading and writing than before.
One big thing that I have had experience with is that it has expanded my vocab a ton, and now I'm a lot better at reading and writing than before.
Absolutely! I´m not even a native speaker, and I only encounter difficulties when colloquial language is used on these boards. Otherwise, I can read the books fluently and tend to think that my writing here is comprehensible. So, gaming has done a lot for in learning english.
Stefan
Absolutely! I´m not even a native speaker, and I only encounter difficulties when colloquial language is used on these boards. Otherwise, I can read the books fluently and tend to think that my writing here is comprehensible. So, gaming has done a lot for in learning english.
Stefan
Colloquel? Co-lol-quee...nvm. I can't pronounce that. Regular reading will do wonders for your language ability and it's great that you can completely understand books in english. I wonder if readers/writers tend to game or gaming tends to spur people into writing/reading?
Another thread wondered if D&D players are sometimes regarded with suspicion by bureaucracies
Again I must state that that the aforementioned thread (dealing with the IDF not accepting role players) is based on a popular misconception that somehow spilled into the civilized world:
The IDF (of which I am a more-or-less proud member) looks poorly only on LARPers (RD&D in local slang) who, at least in Israel, are a real bunch of nutcases. Role players are treated with love and admiration and are worshipped like gods by the populace, as are nerds and freaks, who are considered avatars of the great DM above.And don't you dare question my nerdy fantasy!!!
Colloquel? Co-lol-quee...nvm. I can't pronounce that. Regular reading will do wonders for your language ability and it's great that you can completely understand books in english. I wonder if readers/writers tend to game or gaming tends to spur people into writing/reading?
Co-low-quee-all. That colorful way that we hunt down the English language and rummage through their pockets for loose grammar.
I know gaming tends to spur those that like to write into telling their stories (campaign journals, anyone) or drawing for those that like to draw. As far as reading to gaming, that I don't know.
I know gaming tends to spur those that like to write into telling their stories (campaign journals, anyone) or drawing for those that like to draw. As far as reading to gaming, that I don't know.
Well, I enjoy reading, and find that it often spawns character ideas, plot ideas, and the like. Reading didn't motivate me to pick up the game, and playing D&D doesn't really add to my motivation to read (apart from reading D&D manuals and supplements), but I don't really need any added motivation -- except that I'll be picking up some Lovecraft novels before the next campaign I start up. *Maniacal Grin*
But gaming definitely is a good "muse starter" for me as a writer. I've gotten more mileage out of writing up backstory for characters that I really like than, well, anything else.
Conversely, I've found that some of the character backgrounds I've come up with for D&D have been interesting enough to spark ideas for novels...
D&D keeps me sane...Technically oriented & creative mom at home with kids...I'd be crazy without my regular game every week and a chance for real adult conversation (which is why I'm so glad I found these boards...)
--Fang
Hmm, there is a song about the world being built on the shoulders of geeks and freaks; it is like 30 years old or so; I heard it on the Doctor Demento show and it is on his cd; this thread made me think of it. Personally, I dont think of any of us a geeks, but dont really have a clear understanding of the word. As for governments and special interest groups; do you really think they are more suspicious of us than we are of them? Gamers tend to be alert people who pick up on other things the normal cattle misses.
My dad had a saying something like "if you know nothing and do nothing, you are nothing." RPG'ers tend to be quite frankly more interesting people than so called normals; LARPers even more so, the group tends to have interests and skills and apply them to crafts, music or whatnot. Granted, some gamers are way out there, so far any reality check they wrote would bounce pan-dimensionally, but on a whole; I much prefer them to those so called normals all stuck in the rut of a boring life. One group I never understood is those that go hiking and rollerblading; bicycling and stuff. I have done it am like where is the fun in this. I just dont understand that group at all and think them very wierd. Now that said, going camping all weekend to play D&D in the mountains is very cool and can add a whole new dimension to your game.
Colloquel? Co-lol-quee...nvm. I can't pronounce that. Regular reading will do wonders for your language ability and it's great that you can completely understand books in english. I wonder if readers/writers tend to game or gaming tends to spur people into writing/reading?Absolutely! I´m not even a native speaker, and I only encounter difficulties when colloquial language is used on these boards. Otherwise, I can read the books fluently and tend to think that my writing here is comprehensible. So, gaming has done a lot for in learning english.
Stefan
hehe, this whole board is a colloquium :)and yes, good gamers tend to have good communication skills. Somehow I ended up with degrees in English, History, and Electronics which has improved my game. BTW nice sentence structure Stebehil, well written except for not capitalizing English. No kidding; you probably do better than most natives.
I too am getting bumper sticker envy.
BTW nice sentence structure Stebehil, well written except for not capitalizing English. No kidding; you probably do better than most natives.
Thanks for the compliment!
A reason for native speakers to be unprecise in their writing might just be that they are native speakers. If you know something as well as you native language, you are probably prone to use it somewhat superficial and without much thought on details. If you have to think more about what you write, you will put more effort into it as a matter of course. If you have a working knowlegde on the language, as I think I have in English, then this effort probably shows in your writing.Stefan