Jack7
First Post
I suspect your relatives were acting in good faith as well. They were probably as ignorant on the matter as your parents as I doubt either group actually read the book or really investigated the game. I'm not saying what they did was right, it probably stemmed from lack of personal investigation and they probably took someone else's word for the situation just as your parents took their word. I don't now, that's just speculation, but the likelihood seems very probable.
In any case although I have never faced such a thing concerning D&D, and have been a Christian for a very long time (as a matter of fact I consider D&D sort of a mythological, role-play, virtual game version of the general Christian ideal of the eternal struggle between good and evil), and I run a group of people from my church who play, I can understand how the malignant ideas about D&D developed . Appearances. The game contains books with references to magic, demonic figures (like Orcus), etc. As an initial appearance, unless you understood the context (and much of the combat context of D&D is "kill the demon and slay the monster," that is to say the demons are there as enemies, not allies) the appearances might seem disturbing. Indeed in some ways they are meant to be. You cannot portray evil after all as cute little bunny rabbits who rip your throat out (well, you can if you're Monty Python), so the attempt is made to portray evil as "bad." Perfectly understandable, as is the idea, that without contextual investigation one might assume the symbolic references in the game are supportive instead of adversarial.
But actually, especially in early editions of the game, the intent is to portray evil as something you overcome, is destructive, bad, monstrous, and definitely not something you ally yourself with.
My point is that one should always investigate for oneself what the actual context and intention of anything actually is before drawing conclusions based upon hearsay and happenstance. However it is a common habit of many people to base their assumptions about any number of things not based upon actual research and investigation, but based upon the assumptions of others. Then again no matter what the case you're never gonna convince everyone to view things based upon the strength of your own conclusions and convections either. The best you can do is investigate things to the best of your ability, as objectively as possible, and just remember that not everyone will feel motivated to do the same, and that juts as there is room for them to be in error, there is plenty of room for you to be in error as well. What many of you seem to have run up against was not hostile intent so much as human nature. And that's just part of life.
Nevertheless, sorry for all those who had to endure the shortcomings of others, especially if they were publicly embarrassed. It may be of little consequence or comfort but I suspect most of you endured good intentions gone bad, which isn't fair, but then again, is very human. If your parents can be misguided by good intentions, then so can your pastors, friends, relatives, and associates. And of course the day will come when you will probably suffer the same failing, though maybe not in regards to a game.
As for me I never endured the "Satanic angle" as it has been expressed here. Immediately after high school though, as I prepared myself for the real world I felt I was spending too much time gaming and entertaining myself in other ways. So I sold or gave away all of my books and burned everything I had created, worlds, characters, dungeons, adventures, etc. then turned my attention to other, far more important matters like my studies and career. That was self-policing though. I wasn't encouraged to do that by others. It was just getting in my way and killing time I could use more productively at more important pursuits.
Years later I returned to the game but with a very different attitude and mindset, after all I was in my thirties by that time. I was established, married, had a kid, and rediscovered and enjoyed the game not as escapist entertainment (though I have nothing against that) but for entirely different reasons.
I mention that because one of the tracts referenced said something about obsession. I'm not gonna say that the game encourages obsession, I don't think that is true. However I think the game is so complex and has so many interesting and fascinating components and variables that one can lose track of personal focus and spend time, money, and resources on it inappropriately when one could have far more important things to do at any given point in time. After high school I personally felt that was my situation so I put the game away to focus on more important matters. I returned later when I was settled and accomplished and enjoy it much more now. Though I spend far less time on it that when I was younger. (Course over time I learned a lot of tricks, as I did with may other things in life, that made me much more efficient and capable.)
I guess what I'm saying is that everyone has to decide for themselves how they approach things and what it means to them. Someone who makes a living gaming has far more of a reason and motivation than I do to game a lot, or to spend a lot of time and resources and energy on gaming matters. And I've also learned over time that gaming is a good form of relaxation and recuperation and that you can work yourself into an early grave but that doesn't make your right for doing so. So to me everything in moderation and as is good for you. You shouldn't suppress your natural need for entertainment and enjoyment and relaxation, then again you shouldn't be consumed with the idea that you have to be entertained all of the time. Life is about far more than being entertained all the time, modern culture to the contrary, and yet people need to be entrained and to relax some too.
So, a little of this and a little of that, and it all works out pretty good for most people I reckon.
Well, I gotta get ready for church.
Later folks.
That made me laugh. Out loud.
