D&D General The Satanic Panic never really died?

[Bardic Dave]

EDIT: Seriously misread post I was quoting. Whoops! Deleted.

 

[Garthanos]

I am not going to bring up the evidence I have in mind for there being less evolution than might appear

 

[Xenonnonex]

Hard to say, it's not something I agree with but generally believe parents should be able to raise their kids in whatever religion they like (or none) with the exception of those that actual harm (starving kids etc).

Generally I find whether a person turns out to be a good person or a piece of shite has nothing to do with religion but with how well they are raised overall. And of course on their own merits.

 

[Xenonnonex]

“Does he hold himself accountable for the content on his site?” I think is the more relevant question.

And another: “Does his status in this community, and the broader RPG community, have any influence on the behavior of others on this board?”

I think it does; and that’s a good thing. He’s a good person. But maybe that situation comes with a different, higher standard, too.

How impossible do you want to impose the standard?
He does hold accountability for this site. Others have not blindly followed him. And everyone generally follows good standards of behavior and discourse. In fact this is one of the better sites out there.

Regardless of any of that. He is not the one stirring the pot.

 

[Sepulchrave II]

So just so we can be clear about what is, or is not being said - are you contending that the assertions, "People playing D&D are engaged in occult practices." and "Playing D&D increases the likelihood of becoming wiccan." are religious assertions?

Broadly, yes. They are unevidenced claims informed by a particular faith position.

They're not doctrinal assertions according to any denomination - at least, as far as I know. But even the word occult issues from an antagonistic world view - its sense of "hidden' isn't really used any more; rather it's a religious pejorative with all kinds of value judgments attached.

I feel the question of whether something can or cannot be disproved (e.g. D&D spells don't actually work) isn't really germane, and doesn't really enter into it for someone who holds their religious views very closely. Upthread, there are some views expressed which are wholly unsympathetic; I understand, and sometimes I get frustrated too. But I think it's important to distinguish between the social phenomenon (intolerance, anti-intellectualism, psychology of fear), and the individual, who might be in a very different place.

If I were - say - an Evangelical Christian, I might be very concerned about many elements in D&D; it would be inconsistent if not downright reprehensible of me to encourage or allow my children to pretend to conjure demons. I lost a good (Evangelical) friend in my mid teens because he (or his parents) didn't approve of my demonocentric games - that was during the height of the Satanic Panic.

I do love me some demons.

Because Christianity does operate from a position of enculturated institutional power, there is a tendency to pound it pretty hard, understanding that it can take the knocks - it's also (for most of us, I'd venture) our cultural heritage. So it's sort of expected to bash it.

The individual people who comprise it are just people, however, and probably don't deserve to be bashed. And helping someone to change their lens - from the irrational to the rational - is a painfully difficult process, in which confrontation is seldom useful.

 

[Uller]

Also the Satanic-panic-panic has never died down.

The response for the OP should be pretty easy: "I love you mom. You did a good job raising me. D&D is a game. You don't actually practice real magic any more than you buy a real railroad when you play monopoly."

That said, of course fantasy RPGs and stories can spark an interest in the occult. I'm an engineer. Watching Star Trek definitely inspired that interest. I was a soldier. Playing "Army" when I was a kid inspired that interest.

 

[Bawylie]

How impossible do you want to impose the standard?
He does hold accountability for this site. Others have not blindly followed him. And everyone generally follows good standards of behavior and discourse. In fact this is one of the better sites out there.

Regardless of any of that. He is not the one stirring the pot.

I don’t think being a little conscientious and maybe being careful about singling someone out is an impossible standard.

I agree this is one of the better sites and Morrus is a reason why. Should I blindly be okay with whatever he says, then? Or, is it alright with you if I voice a problem or make a critique?

 

[Garthanos]

I played risk as a kid got pretty good at it... and I love playing the Warlord class and conversely designed a pacifist build for it. Go figure. People bring themselves to the game ever more than the opposite. Video game violence in no way corresponds to real world violence. Basically this discussion looks like that is a direct analog.

 

[Zardnaar]

Generally I find whether a person turns out to be a good person or a piece of shite has nothing to do with religion but with how well they are raised overall. And of course on their own merits.

Pretty much yeah.

 

[Garthanos]

I seem to recall a study which indicated that D&D players seem to have better than average ability to distinguish fantasy from reality.