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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dykstrav" data-source="post: 4390138" data-attributes="member: 40522">My father is an ultra-conservative type who arranged for our minister to counsel me for my D&D hobby back when I was in high school (and at family events, he likes to claim that my D&D hobby is why he was refused a deaconship at that church). But since the ENWorld rules specifically forbid discussion of politics and religion, I'll stop that tale right there... Suffice to say that it's something that we're never going to see eye-to-eye on. I actually had an employer hold a meeting specifically about my vampire LARP hobby, because they were concerned about the liability and press response if I suddenly started drinking blood in front of clients or decided to kill my co-workers. That'll show me to invite co-workers to meet some of my outside-of-work friends. This vampire debacle occured in California, by the way, where the same progressive company hired open Satanists and trans-gendered people. But my hobby was still somehow scary and frightening because I dressed in a black three-piece suit and hung out with women in corsets and black lipstick on the weekends. So yes, I've faced some difficulties because of my choice of leisure activities. I would consider these challenges rather than "persecution." Unfortunately, there are always going to be ignorant jerks out there in the world who want to single out the weird, undesirable people who aren't like themselves. I doubt that I'd be willing to endure real persecution like torture over D&D or RPGS. But damned if I'm going to let dull, unimaginitive, ignorant goobers drive me into the closet with it. As gamers, we don't need a secret sign to distinguish those of us in the club--I'm not doing anything around the gaming table that I wouldn't do in full view of the public and I'm not ashamed of being a gamer. If you're comfortable with your identity as a gamer and just want this sign to distinguish gamers as a secret code, then that smacks of elitism and a generally poor attitude. When I find a great new restaurant or see a great movie, I don't want to keep others from finding out about it. Why would I want to keep outsiders from learning about my great hobby that's so much fun? No, I can't think of any reason to employ a "secret" code for gamers. It's a lame idea. We won't be executed for gaming and there's nothing wrong with our hobby (acting like there is by being secretive about it only reinforces the idea that we're up to something). I haven't seen people forming "clubs" since about the fourth grade. I don't dig it.</blockquote>

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