D&D 5E D&D Next weekly art column!

[Sunseeker]

When I say "empirical," I mean actual studies, like when a scientist has a hypothesis, performs a reproducible experiment, and draws conclusions based on the results of that experiment. Not a blog article where a woman complains about "douchey white dudes with entitlement issues" who were irritated that she started disrupting the forum. (Ironic that a feminist who thinks that a show should cater to her whims is calling others entitled, but that is beside the point.)

Chances are, the assessment that she was using her "crazy, over-emotional lady problems to ruin everyone's good-natured fun" were true. If you come screeching into a forum where people are discussing the plot of a television show and start accusing the show of racism and sexism and classism, you are ruining things. This is especially true when her attitude is ugh, douchey white dudes.

What you're asking for likely doesn't exist because no agency is going to give out grant money to do a scientific research study on sexism in D&D. There are general studies on sexism in fantasy, games, and videos, though you're probably going to have to pay to access some sort of library or journal for that information. You aren't going to get those kinds of things for free.

 

[variant]

D&D is a very visible property. It affects gaming and geek cultures in the short and long term, despite the myriad other influences that tend to overshadow it. If it presents a strong bias that makes a group uncomfortable, it discourages that group from participating in the culture, which may add conflicts to their relationships that are formed within that culture. Moreover, the depictions, being visible, reinforce discomfort people have with their place in the larger culture. Ultimately, this restricts the value of the property, eliminating a portion of its present and likely future audience.

An RPG should cater to people who like RPGs. RPGs are enjoyed by people of all sexes and races. Moreover, there are plenty of white men who dislike things being catered to white men, so this would make them uncomfortable as well.

I mean cripes man, read the Astrid's Parlor forums for a tiny sample.

Yet catering to other demographics can actually make your base uncomfortable and thus dissuade your normal market base from purchasing it.

 

[Incenjucar]

I'm not sure what you'd need to have proven, anyway.

That people feel excluded from things that intentionally ignore them?

That people feel bad when they feel excluded?

That feeling bad is harmful to that person?

That people avoid things that cause them harm?

 

[Incenjucar]

Yet catering to other demographics can actually make your base uncomfortable and thus dissuade your normal market base from purchasing it.

The base is "people who enjoy roleplaying games."

 

[Sunseeker]

Yet catering to other demographics can actually make your base uncomfortable and thus dissuade your normal market base from purchasing it.

I'd wager that the number of people lost from D&D when it looks to demographics other than "horny white teenage male" is probably negligible compared the numbers gained.

 

[Dausuul]

Chances are, the assessment that she was using her "crazy, over-emotional lady problems to ruin everyone's good-natured fun" was accurate. If you come screeching into a forum where people are discussing the plot of a television show and start accusing the show of racism and sexism and classism, you are ruining things.

...and if the show is racist and sexist and classist, and this manifests itself in the plot, then you are bringing up perfectly valid points in a perfectly appropriate setting, and people who think this is "ruining things" are in fact defending racism and sexism and classism.

The first rule of privilege is, you do not talk about privilege.

 

[B.T.]

What you're asking for likely doesn't exist because no agency is going to give out grant money to do a scientific research study on sexism in D&D.

Because the notion is ludicrous, has no value to society, and is almost entirely subjective.

I'm not sure what you'd need to have proven, anyway.

That people feel excluded from things that intentionally ignore them?

That people feel bad when they feel excluded?

That feeling bad is harmful to that person?

That people avoid things that cause them harm?

First of all, I do not feel "bad" because I am excluded from watching sports or playing with Barbies. I don't care for them, but I don't "feel bad" about it. (I'm not sure exactly how hypersensitive you would have to be for this to occur, but needless to say, I am not.)

Second of all, "feeling bad" is not harmful. Getting stabbed is harmful. Cancer is harmful. Smoking is harmful. "Feeling bad" because there weren't enough black people in D&D art is not harmful.

...and if the show is racist and sexist and classist, and this manifests itself in the plot, then you are bringing up perfectly valid points in a perfectly appropriate setting, and people who think this is "ruining things" are in fact defending racism and sexism and classism.

What's your point? If they don't want to talk about racism, sexism, etc., they're not defending it. They're not saying "racism is good," they're saying "we're not interested in talking about it." Even if they good ol' boys who were, in fact racist, they can think and say what they want, no matter how racist or sexist it is.

Point being, she was still ruining their fun (even if you think that their fun is somehow wrong). I don't go onto 4e forums and talk about why I think the mechanics are bad.

 

[Sunseeker]

Because the notion is ludicrous, has no value to society, and is almost entirely subjective.

The idea that certain material that caters to a particular demographic by negatively portraying other demographics is ludicrous? Buddy I hate to break it to you, but this isn't a particularly new idea, and since it can and does exist in other parts of society, it certainly can exist in D&D.

 

[Incenjucar]

Because the notion is ludicrous, has no value to society, and is almost entirely subjective.

Or because D&D is a tiny niche product.

First of all, I do not feel "bad" because I am excluded from watching sports or playing with Barbies. I don't care for them, but I don't "feel bad" about it. (I'm not sure exactly how hypersensitive you would have to be for this to occur, but needless to say, I am not.)

So you want to watch sports and play with Barbies? Because we aren't talking about people being excluded from things they have no interest in. We're talking about people being excluded from something they do have interest in. What about Barbies do you feel excludes you, despite your desire to play with them?

Second of all, "feeling bad" is not harmful. Getting stabbed is harmful. Cancer is harmful. Smoking is harmful. "Feeling bad" because there weren't enough black people in D&D art is not harmful.

Social exclusion and feeling bad are pretty seriously harmful over extended periods of time, while feeling good can improve your health:

Psychological Resilience and Positive Emotional Granularity: Examining the Benefits of Positive Emotions on Coping and Health

 

[B.T.]

If you really want to play D&D and feel excluded because the art isn't to your taste, then you probably have issues with emotional resiliency. The key to surviving life: getting over things that don't matter. If D&D contained art that was actually offensive (women being raped, caricatures of minorities, etc.), I could see your point. But getting up-in-arms over contemporary D&D art? A waste of energy.