Are We the Devil's Children?

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

How about Jack Chick?

(slight hijack)

I find Jack Chick to be utterly fascinating. He's rather old (in his 70s) and very reclusive. But you want to know the really wild stuff? He started writing his tracks years before Chainmail (the proto-D&D) was released. Which is astounding because he claims to have been part of D&Ds development. So he would have had to found his version of God before his involvment in satanic D&D.

It's an easily checkable falsehood, but from reading his stuff and his bios I have little doubt that he sincerely believes this to be the actual truth.

edit for the curious: Chick converted in 1948, started drawing comics in the 1950's and was first published in the 1970's. Gary Gygax was born in 1938, so Chick's purpored involvement in D&D would have had to be with a very young gamer indeed!

(end hijack)

 

[SpikeyFreak]

So satanic cultists wear a Spawn of Satan sign and have giant horns and bat wings?

--Curious Spikey

 

[d4]

Without getting this specifically into the realm of religion (which would get this thread shut down REAL quick), how about just sharing gaming misconceptions you have encountered?

i haven't directly encountered the "D&D = Satanism" folks before, but the common misconception i always have to deal with is this:

"D&D? you play that game? isn't that for kids?"

Originally posted by Tonguez
Never had the Devilworshiper shtick, I tend to get more:
"Whaa- I don't get it. You sit around telling each other stories? Why don't you just go outside and do something instead?"'

i get that a lot too. even from people who think spending 16 hours a day in front of a TV is perfectly normal and healthy.

hey, at least we're creating something and interacting with other people...

 

[Brekke]

I have this happen to me at a Barnes and Nobel but not over game books. I am Wiccan and I was looking at some new books on the craft when I was accosted by two nuts trying to save my soul.

The only gaming thing like this was when my son was in high school and I had to go down and rip his math teacher a new one for taking my players handbook that my son had brought to school because he was going to spend the night at a friends and play. The book was not even out it was under his desk with other books. The teacher a born again christian did not want satan's tools in her classroom.


Carol

 

[PowerWordDumb]

So satanic cultists wear a Spawn of Satan sign and have giant horns and bat wings?

Well I do, but only when I'm out trolling for nutjobs. Who ever said baiting the true believers wasn't fun?

 

[Rel]

What IS inoffensive and not evil looking? Puppies?

It's sure as hell NOT clowns, I'll tell you that!

How we roleplayers can be getting a bad wrap while there are still clowns roaming the streets and in some cases ATTENDING CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY PARTIES, I'll never understand!

Damn clowns.




Not too keen on mimes either.

 

[WinnipegDragon]

I was once accused (by a Psychotherapist) of being Satanic because I painted a friend's fingernails.

No, really. She was a super hottie, so I got suckered into doing her nails I painted a different design on each one, stuff like Masonic pyramids, eye of Horus, spiders and webs, stuff like that. Actually got thrown into a hospital psych-ward over it.

Of course, I'm feeling much better now...

Where is my damn prozac?!?!

 

[Orias]

Being that we have several comic shops around here, I don't think D&D is really given an "eeeeevil" rep around here. As for being called a devil worshiper, being that I look like an iconic "Satanist", most people just ignore me.

 

[Remus Lupin]

Anectdotes

A story:

After a long break from gaming, I got interested again a few years back, at the age of 30. When I stopped by my local Borders to see what they had in the gaming section, I decided to pick up the 2nd edition Forgotten Realms Box Set. At the cash register, the cashier said to me: "Is that Dungeons and Dragons? Oh, I'm not sure if I should sell you that. Promise me you won't sacrifice anybody or commit any murders."

I replied: "I make no promises."

Another story:

Early in my relationship with my wife, before we were married, I started to tell her a bit about my gaming hobby. At first, she seemed tolerant, but uninterested. But as we got more serious, her concerns grew and grew, until it finally came out that she was concerned about the "magic" and "devil worship" aspects of the game. It took us a good long time before she realized that there was nothing of the sort in the game. Now she watched my group play when we gather at our place, and I've even gotten her to play twice.

Finally:

My wife coaches Tennis. One day she was talking to the Bus Driver at a tournement. The Driver was reading "If Chins Could Kill." My wife was curious about the book and the started to talk. It turned out he was a gamer, and even gamed with his pastor. He told her that D&D was not a bad game and was quite enjoyable. He then cautioned her against several games that WERE evil. Specifically, he named Vampire and Call of Cthulhu. When my wife came home and told me that, I said, "Oh yeah. Call of Cthulhu. I love that game." She looked at me with Horror.

Two nights later, at Barnes & Noble, I picked up "If Chins Could Kill," not knowing it was the book the driver was reading. She looked at me as though I had read her mind.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

Isn't there a commercial that spoofs the whole animated mascot thing?

A family is at home, and they are viewing some product, when suddenly it animates and starts talking to them. They scream and run out of the house...

Very funny. Of course, since I can't remember more of the commercial than that, it obviously failed to leave a lasting impression.

And I STILL want to see the dang "herding cats" commercial again!!!!