D&D has threatened my job!

[Hunter Simon]

Why? Teachers are people too, they have as much right to have friends over as anyone else

Because of problems like that one we're discussing in this thread. It's the world we live in. You can pontificate all you want about the way things *should* be, but that doesn't help people like the original poster.

And if the only friends you can find are teenagers, there's something seriously wrong that has nothing to do with gaming.

I'm 33 years old, and believe it or not, I don't *need* to game with teens. I have friends my own age. So it doesn't need to be an issue anyway.

 

[smetzger]

1) If you are not good friends with all of the parents I would definantly play in a public place. If you don't its way to easy to set yourself up for a nasty acusation that will not just ruin your job but your whole life.

2) Given that you will most likely be playing in a public place, why don't you make it an after school club? This gives it legitimacy, a set of rules to follow, and a bit more protection for you if you follow those rules.

3) You could also make it a father-son excercise. Kids can't play unless their father (or mom) comes along to play.

Take it from the parents perspective. As a father I would definantly look into any activity my teenage kids were participating in; especially if they were doing something with an adult in a private residence.

Xath, its not being overprotective. It can only take one encounter with drugs or a pedophile to ruin a persons life.

 

[Mallus]

And if the only friends you can find are teenagers, there's something wrong.

First off, I agree w/the prevailing wisdom expressed here. Fraternizing w/students off school grounds isn't worth it in the current climate here...

Maybe the guy just likes sharing his entheusiasm for the hobby. Maybe he's doing a bit of mentoring as well as just throwing dice --I'm sure everyone on these boards can atest to how D&D stimulates a wide array of academic interests. Seems teacherly...

Suggesting the guy is some kind of social maladjust is mean.

 

[Hunter Simon]

Suggesting the guy is some kind of social maladjust is mean.

I wasn't trying to imply that (although I realize that it came across that way ).

What I *was* saying is that if a person in his 30s cannot make friends his own age and thus has to hang out with teens, then something *is* wrong. I was not, however, saying that this is the case with the original poster; in fact, the original poster made it clear that he has many friends his own age he games with.

 

[Mallus]

I wasn't trying to imply that (although I realize that it came across that way ).

No worries. I took it more than a little personally.

I was introduced to D&D --a long time ago-- by a friend whose father was also my calculus/philosphy/and intro poly-sci teacher in high school [don't ask, it was a tiny private school in NJ]. The dad woound up taking over the game and became our DM for years. Not the same situation, I became friends with a teacher through his son, but still...

I know good advice was given here, but it infuriates me that it looks like what we've got is the end of mentoring. The end of one generation helping another outisde of strictly institutional environments, or familial lines. I learned a great deal from my friends dad, his interests were outside the scope of my family's, and the unproffesional, and personal, space he provided at his home --hell, his friend's homes; we used to join his adult circle of friends for dinner and board games on Sat. evening-- was just nice. No predation, no illicit drugs. For those I could thank some of my other, age-equilavent high-school friends....

Wow, I can't imagine who'd put their head on block and volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters any more...

Am I making too much of this? It seems we're all so interested in being professional and more importantly safe from litigation that there's less room just to be people...

Well, wistful, angry semi-rant mode off. Back to coding...

 

[tarchon]

Wow, I can't imagine who'd put their head on block and volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters any more...

I have a friend who does that - getting qualified was comparable to getting a low-grade US security clearance.

 

[Taluron]

http://www.rpg.net/sites/252/quellen/sources.html
lists quite a few references on gaming education/infomation.

As to advice I leave that to everyone else.

 

[tonym]

Recruit at least ONE girl into the game, if not more. A girl at the table changes EVERYTHING in many parent's eyes, I think.

PARENT: He's a pervert! He plays with boys!
CHILD: There's a GIRL there, too!
PARENT: Oh. Pick you up t 6:30.

I hope you stick it out. Maybe change the name of the gathering to CHESS CLUB or something, meet at school, recruit a girl, and everything should be fine, I think.



Tony

 

[Greatwyrm]

What I *was* saying is that if a person in his 30s cannot make friends his own age and thus has to hang out with teens, then something *is* wrong.

But look at it from the kids' point of view. When I was in high school, I always got along better witht the teachers and adults than the other kids I went to school with. It wouldn't surprise me if there were other kids in the same situation.

 

[Mallus]

I have a friend who does that - getting qualified was comparable to getting a low-grade US security clearance.

Yeah, my ex tried to volunteer... got so angry/frustrated w/the application process she decided to become more involved with her church instead.