Beauty and the D&D Geek!

[Banshee16]

That kind of stuff bugs me a lot. It's embarassing & disrespectful. If they're going to do that to the "geeks" on the show, shouldn't those bimbos professions read: "Bar Fly", "Tramp", "Drug Addict", or "Gold Digger"?

Well, I've seen maybe two episodes of the show, and frankly, the kind of girls on that show aren't the type I'd want my son (if I ever have one) to ever marry anyways. The ones I saw were pretty shallow, selfish, and empty-headed.

There was the one who was a playboy bunny or something, who commented after being forced to work on a farm for one of the shows, that humans have no reason to run...ever.

Then there was the one who was dressing in high heels and a hat to work on that farm, then complained about how dirty it got her, etc.

Frankly, the women in the show were pretty much a waste of space.....so in their own way, they were characterized in as negative a way as the men were.

But the show, by assigning the title "dungeon master" is obviously trying to create a particular reaction among the viewing public. They're setting a preconception of the guy, by which everyone watching the show will filter whatever other information they're given.

The show was interesting for those few episodes, if nothing else, because I couldn't believe how vapid several of the people in it were.

I will make the caveat, that although it's a "reality" show, many of the characters are probably acting to a degree. They might even have scripts or something, for all I know. But the whole purpose of the show is to show contrasts between the stereotypes. So either people are exaggerating their behaviour, or the producers are picking people who are so far off the scale, that they make everyone else look normal. I think I've known one, maybe two gamers in all my years who were completely maladjusted, and one of them had a developmental disability, so I felt empathy for his situation. Most people don't fit cleanly into these stereotypes....*unless* one applies the stereotype, then spends their time searching for evidence to back up their belonging to that stereotype.

Banshee

 

[Waldorf]

It's TV. Get over it.

 

[Banshee16]

Or it's poured down her cleavage. Or down her leg. She's a living lewd drinking glass.

It's not what her Daddy hoped she'd grow up to be.

Of course, for many, it's also likely the way they're paying their way through college...

Maybe not very respectable....but then the guys are equally silly for buying into it in the first place.

Banshee

 

[Celebrim]

Sometimes I think failing to follow this rule made my life complicated.

I speaking as someone happily married for 11 years now, I think its a very underrated 'rule'.

There are a couple of other girls I could have kissed, but doing so wouldn't have made me happier or my life better now. And it could have really screwed things up.

As for the show, Hollywood makes the same sort of use of sterotypes that most DM's do. As gamers, we ought to understand the purpose of a sterotype as shorthand storytelling.

Personally, from what little I've seen of the show, most of the geeks end up coming off much better than the pretty people. It's the 'Breakfast Club' observation at work.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's more like a cotton candy man. They wander around bars, selling shots, and encouraging people to shoot them as quickly as possible so they become more drunk and think it's a good idea to do it again.

You're going to all the wrong (or maybe right) bars.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I will make the caveat, that although it's a "reality" show, many of the characters are probably acting to a degree. They might even have scripts or something, for all I know. But the whole purpose of the show is to show contrasts between the stereotypes. So either people are exaggerating their behaviour, or the producers are picking people who are so far off the scale, that they make everyone else look normal.

Or the editors make it look worse than the reality. One of the guys in my last gaming group probably would have done great on this show (if his wife didn't kill him for it). He is very smart and a really nice person, but if you get him talking gaming, he will talk your ear off for...well, I don't know how long he could keep it going, but probably hours. He does the same thing about football, but were he on the show, they would probably edit out any football conversations as being too "normal," unless they get the best of both worlds and get him talking Madden 2006 strategy.

 

[Gez]

That kind of stuff bugs me a lot. It's embarassing & disrespectful.

I think you find it worse than what they use for the girls because it's a stereotype that targets you. I'll take the pic on this blog post showing the various entrants in the Eurovision song contest. I found the worst stereotype here was that of France, but I suppose an Irish or Englishman would have a different opinion.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

I think you find it worse than what they use for the girls because it's a stereotype that targets you. I'll take the pic on this blog post showing the various entrants in the Eurovision song contest. I found the worst stereotype here was that of France, but I suppose an Irish or Englishman would have a different opinion.

You mean the French aren't like that?

I KID! I KID! Metal Urbain put the lie to that, in my book.

 

[Sqwonk]

Doesn't the US Cellular commercial make you laugh?

The one where the other phone company guys have the US guy in a van
and he asks them what level dungeon master they are.
One of the others replies "Dungeon Masters don't have levels." "DorK"

 

[Banshee16]

Or the editors make it look worse than the reality. One of the guys in my last gaming group probably would have done great on this show (if his wife didn't kill him for it). He is very smart and a really nice person, but if you get him talking gaming, he will talk your ear off for...well, I don't know how long he could keep it going, but probably hours. He does the same thing about football, but were he on the show, they would probably edit out any football conversations as being too "normal," unless they get the best of both worlds and get him talking Madden 2006 strategy.

That's a good point. The editing has a lot to do with it again. And yes, they probably cut out a lot of the stuff that makes the guys look less geeky. Similarly, with the girls, maybe they cut out the stuff that makes them look....intelligent, and just leave dumb remarks.

I'm never sure though....I keep hearing how Jessica Simpson is supposed to be actually smart, and that the "dumb blonde" routine is an act. But I can't for the life of me understand why someone would pretend to be stupid, or take pride in such. Leaving me wondering whether the "being dumb" is a lie, or whether "being dumb is just an act" is a lie.

Banshee