Vyvyan Basterd
Adventurer
I say, "Both are examples of segregating us and them, and either there is a valid segregation or there is not. If there is, then suggesting that we are more critical (and thus less likely to just drink the kool-aid) is valid. If not, then suggesting that we are more critical (and hence more toxic) is not."
Certainly, the CNN comments were not "raving", yet they were pointed out as an example in this trend.
It's not just a matter of being critical. It's the delivery. I agree that the CNN comments were not "raving." I just believe the audience those people were speaking to was wrong. You are trying to equate toxic with critcal when no such assertion is being made and you are pointing at specific examples when the issue is more of general image.
Really? Not my experience at all.
Lucky you. Apparently you don't watch American media and see how D&D players are typically portrayed. That image is in the average American's mind when they think about roleplayers. Some strides are already being made in TV shows like Big Bang Theory (although they barely mention roleplaying) and movies like Role Models, but only in a small way.
I am quite certain that they have far more chances than you imagine, and are far more restrained than you imagine.
To me that's like saying a serial killer is more restrained than I imagine because he doesn't kill everyone he encounters.
Ah, well then. First you need to define what hobby you are talking about, as I suggested upthread. I feel quite certain that there are a number of people who feel 4e actually drains gamers from thier hobby.
I'm sure there are, but that leads into the Scorched Earth mentality mentioned upthread. 4E might lead someone away from RCFRP. Or the person might play 4E for a while, get deeper into the general RP community, learn about other games like RCFRP, and decide they like your game better than 4E and switch. If they turn away from 4E because of jerks on CNN do you think they'd be likely to ever find RCFRP on their own? I don't think it's likely at all. WotC seems to suffer alot of heat for being the 500-lb gorilla, yet their game is the gateway to most people finding the smaller RPG companies.