D&D 5E D&D and empowerment in the news

[Imaculata]

Do you think that stigma is rooted in its history, or just part of the general aversion to nerdiness suffered by much of the population?

Depends. I'm sure some of the satanic craze has stuck with people, especially in very religious communities. But I think the nerd-stigma, and the idea that the game is 'childish' is probably more prevalent. Many people still seem to resist the idea that a game of make belief can be enjoyed by normal adults, and that there is nothing abnormal about that.

TV and movies certainly haven't done D&D any favors. The game is usually portrayed as something for complete nerds, and is usually made fun of. The show Stranger Things really is the first time I've seen a normal and honest portrayal of D&D.

 

[happyhermit]

I realize I'm being harsh, but I think for good reason. D&D still has a stigma that keeps a lot of people from playing it. I'd like to see an article that doesn't just point out one positive experience, but also gets readers interested in D&D.

I completely get where you are coming from on this, but I see it the other way a bit. I would rather see people exposed to RPGs in small snippets from many different types of players. Long and comprehensive articles that try to cover the breadth and depth of the hobby all at once are, IMO, less likely to have much effect. When every article put out on the subject is not expected to speak for the entire hobby (and describe what it actually is) then we will be in a good spot.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Good to see something "right leaning" that promotes DnD as a good thing.

It'd be better if it didn't passive aggressively, and really inexplicably, throw shade at Beyoncé to do it, but we can't have everything.

 

[Uchawi]

It is nothing new for anyone that has played an RPG. I just assume one more player has been assimilated. Resistance is futile.

 

[robus]

Good to see something "right leaning" that promotes DnD as a good thing.

It'd be better if it didn't passive aggressively, and really inexplicably, throw shade at Beyoncé to do it, but we can't have everything.

I think Beyoncé can take it

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I think Beyoncé can take it

Lol if she was the point, I wouldn't care.

 

[happyhermit]

Good to see something "right leaning" that promotes DnD as a good thing.

It'd be better if it didn't passive aggressively, and really inexplicably, throw shade at Beyoncé to do it, but we can't have everything.

Good to see a not completely negative comment from you.

It'd be better if the comment didn't come across as back-handed and political, but we can't have everything.


The quote in the article that the headline was pulled from is;

Nerd culture, of which I count myself a member, has long been dominated by men, but playing D&D left me feeling empowered in a way that watching Beyoncé videos never has. Instead of looking up to a role model, the game prompted me to discover the badass warrior within.

She is contrasting her experiences with looking up to a role model (Beyonce) and her experiences with the game. I think you have to stretch pretty hard to have that fall under most definitions of "throwing shade", unless you were predisposed to see it as such.

Not saying it is a great article, or even a compelling argument, but that was the point this particular freelance writer was trying to make.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I say positive stuff all the time. Don't know what you're on about, gettin' all personal.

 

[happyhermit]

I say positive stuff all the time. Don't know what you're on about, gettin' all personal.

It was a joke, notice the correlation between your post and mine, I even used a winky face wasn't trying to get "personal".

The rest of my post was sincere though, and the audio clip up-thread (on a left-leaning government funded radio station) makes it pretty clear that she meant no ill will towards anyone. She was just trying to say that RPing a character did things for her that looking up to role models didn't.

 

[Ancalagon]

, and the idea that the game is 'childish' is probably more prevalent. Many people still seem to resist the idea that a game of make belief can be enjoyed by normal adults, and that there is nothing abnormal about that.

I think the "childish" bit may be the biggest obstacle really