D&D General The Satanic Panic never really died?

[generic]

The nerd in me is always making references to obscure bits of lore and pop culture. It's like quoting Star Wars or Monty Python. If you haven't seen the film, probably means nothing to you.

I apologize, what film is this?

 

[Undrave]

First of all, the OP is a mother speaking to her daughter out of sincere concern. The mom isn't threatening the existence of the game or the pork pies in your pub or whatever. Nor is she trying to shield her beliefs behind "freedom of religion". Beyond that, I'd only say that my guess from the way you talk and think is that you aren't pious and don't know a lot of people who are, so these waters are waters you are intimately familiar with. I could be wrong about that, but it's just the impression I get.

Well the worry being sincere is nice, but it doesn't mean we should just accept her ideas... and we're not interacting with her or the actual Twitter user.

And no, I'm not pious and I'd rather not go further into my view of Religion as a whole so I'd rather just focus on some of the interactions in this thread. And in this thread I've seen people claim the Mother is in her right to believe DnD is satanic and that we should just accept that.

I disagree with that stance.

 

[Azzy]

I'm so unsuprised.

 

[Ratskinner]

I find very little I can comment on here(in this thread) without risking violating board rules. Makes me wonder why this was posted. Still, I feel compelled to offer this up for consumption.

I would hesitate to give the young lady too much advice without knowing things like "Are her parents sincerely held religious convictions the same kind that get gay kids sent to torture/concentration camps to pray the gay away?" Pointing out to your mother that playing D&D is about as close to the occult as watching Top Gun is to piloting a fighter jet may not be as risk-free as some might think.

As much as we might like to think that burning (or other divinely sanctioned murder methods) of witches, heretics, and non-conformists is something relegated to the past or developing nations, a quick youtube search will reveal that the sentiment is alive and well in the west.

Anyway, best of luck to the young lady.

 

[Sepulchrave II]

And we all know that none of the magic or anything else in D&D is actually something you do or can do. That's where the "a belief is a belief" breaks down.

"We all know" lots of things to be true, contrary to religious assertions. That doesn't get us very far.

Do people really think that appealing to reason will disabuse someone of their religious notions?

 

[Undrave]

Pointing out to your mother that playing D&D is about as close to the occult as watching Top Gun is to piloting a fighter jet may not be as risk-free as some might think.

Which is why I would argue it's mostly a bunch of nerds arguing about made up nonsense and numbers and occasionally getting mad at platonic solids. DnD can be pretty silly.

 

[Bawylie]

Sure. I quoted somebody’s tweet (by embedding it). It says:

“Guys......how do I reply......???????? I’m still shook. I guess my mom saw my Christmas list with a few D&D things on it”

And observed for some (the upset young person I quoted) that the Satanic Panic hasn’t quite ended.

So what’s your answer to their question?

I don’t have an answer because I don’t know the dynamics there and I don’t think it’s good to give advice to a woman about her mother and their religion when I don’t know them.

I imagine, if I did know them and they knew I was coming from a place of understanding and love, I would say something like “Hug your mom, tell her you love her and thank her for caring so much.”

And it seems like her tweet did get some positive, good answers and advice. Also some negative, derisive comments about her mother. There are some follow up tweets in which the poster has to defend her mother from some really nasty stuff. It’s the internet, so I suppose a certain amount of negativity is unavoidable.

I think, though, if you wanted this thread to come up with Enworld’s best, most thoughtful and helpful advice for the daughter, you might’ve asked for that when linking to the tweet in the first place.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Which is why I would argue it's mostly a bunch of nerds arguing about made up nonsense and numbers and occasionally getting mad at platonic solids. DnD can be pretty silly.

Occasionally!?

 

[iserith]

It’s possible his comment falls under constructive ridicule that Umbran said is okay.

“Ridicule, like any tool, can be used constructively or destructively.”

That's true. It's constructive when I use it against your position and destructive when you use it against mine.

 

[Xenonnonex]