BS. Sociopathy is not a healthy attitude.
You misunderstood, Psion. Sociopathy is not healthy, but deciding what you do in relation to what people might think of what you do is no more healthy. You end up doing nothing for fear of displeasing someone. I personally don't care what people think of the fact that I roleplaying, and if they make an issue of the fact that they don't like it, they can take a hike.
The people who matter to me (and there are many) would NEVER make me feel out of place because I game.
Blatant bifurcation. You don't have to (indeed, can't) adhere to all the expectations every group or individual lays on you. But that doesn't mean that you can't come to an peaceful relationship with the world around you and try to make it a better place for yourself, your fellow man, and would be gamers who would know the joys you have known without having unnecessary disdain cast upon them.
Don't get me wrong, I'm advocating neither anarchy nor blatant disregard for your fellow man. I'll try and get along with everyone if I can. But don't say that not publishing the BoVD makes the world a better place for "myself, my fellow man, and would-be gamers etc. etc." Because it won't.
I certainly do NOT disdain would-be gamers, or indeed anyone else except those who would judge something before knowing anything about it. But if gamers quit gaming just because they're afraid that some people might disapprove, maybe the hobby deserves to die out. There's something to be said for "doing your own thing", after all.
People are talking about the release of this book as though it were the coming Apocalypse. I'd bet dollars to dimes it won't make more than a few tiny ripples caused by indignant puritans who haven't even read it.
CoC is scary, and deals with madness; Monte Cook wrote that book, and no one's any more insane than they already were. Why would he suddenly write a book that's going sink everything he's worked for?! Think about it, people. The man ought to know what he's doing.
