Encountering anti-D&D sentiment

[Napftor]

All true, but only if you care about the opinions of said paragons of virtue. Admittedly Napftor seems to do so.

I only care because I have to see woman at least once a month. I'll use the next opportunity to educate her if the subject comes up again.

And Mark's comment about working for WotC/TSR: Yes, I should probably say, "I write Dungeons & Dragons compatible products." But that just muddies the waters even more IMO. Besides, my way sounds more prestigious (or so I thought! ).

 

[rounser]

Well, let me say I might just as easily said I was the spawn of Satan.

Although there's no reasoning with this kind of prejudice, nowadays there is a touchstone which you can use to explain the game to people. Ask them if they've seen the Lord of the Rings movies, and say it's very much like that.

EDIT: Ah, I see Mark beat me to it.

 

[DaveMage]

Bret: You could have said "I write fantasy", but then she probably would have thought you meant "porn."

Some people are also convinced that Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc. is Satanic and, unless you are speaking from their pulpet, you won't be able to convince them otherwise.

Logic and reasoning is irrelevant to these people. (I know because I've met some of them.)

 

[diaglo]

Encountering anti-D&D sentiment

i get it all the time on the internet.

i tell people to play D&D.

and they tell me D&D is broken, archaic or just plain wrong. they try and convince me that d02 is better.

i tell them d02 ain't D&D.

 

[Napftor]

i get it all the time on the internet.

i tell people to play D&D.

and they tell me D&D is broken, archaic or just plain wrong. they try and convince me that d02 is better.

i tell them d02 ain't D&D.

You know, diaglo, I'm think there's a rap in there somewhere.

 

[Ashrum the Black]

And today a leading story in the news is how a man made a sword out of scrap metal in his shop and decapitated another man that had been bully him everyday in the shop for the last several months. Of course the fact that this guy also played dungeons and dragons was brought up in the story as though this might explain why he used a sword and did what he did. (sigh)

Knowing that he was into fantasy may explain his use of a sword to kill his bully, but they specifically mentionede DnD and showed some old black and red website that had DnD logos on it. I suppose black and red looks more sinister than the fluffu white and brown of the current one.

Wonderful. I can now start re-explaining my hobbey to the people I know.

-Ashrum

 

[Desdichado]

Logic and reasoning is irrelevant to these people. (I know because I've met some of them.)

It's irrelevent to many gamers too. (I know because I've met some of them.)

Howsabout this; instead of dehumanizing people who don't like D&D, painting them as brainwashed mouth-breathers who can't even think, and then sitting around acting all smug and superior to them, we recognize the facts that a) anti-D&D sentiment is extremely low; at most, folks generally think it's nerdy, and b) there are some things that just make other folks skin crawl.

I mean, I certainly don't run around thinking that folks who draw hardcore furry sex art are pedophiles or Satanists or anything like that, but it makes my skin crawl. That's just the way it is.

 

[Siobharek]

We are Satanists! Satanists, I tell you!

On my way back from Gen Con, I sat next to a nice Canadian lady. She asked me why I'd been to the states, and when I told her she also got a strange look in her eyes and said something about "But isn't that a dangerous game?". In my jetlag-induced torpor, all I could think to reply was, "It's just about as dangerous as poker, ma'am. And cheaper, too."

 

[CarlZog]

I usually respond by saying something like, "Are you familiar with the Conan movies that star Arnold Schartzeneggar? Or the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter Movies? Well, there are games based on the type of fiction on which those types of movies are based. In them you take on the part of a character and work with others as a team to overcome obstacles and hardships, solving puzzles and mysteries, fighting against injustice or evil sometimes, to reach certain goals."

I've found that for a lot of people, "take on the part of a character" equates with dressing up and running around. Many I meet think D&D is the same as LARPing. Getting over that hump is the first challenge. I usually compare it to games most people know and understand. "It's no different than pretending to be a detective or real estate developer in games like Clue and Monopoly, only a lot more detailed. You play it sitting at a table; you decide what you want to do; and the rules tell you what happens."

 

[diaglo]

You know, diaglo, I'm think there's a rap in there somewhere.

my advice is to rejoice in your differences.

and be polite in telling her (if she brings it up again) to do the same.

our differences are what make us greater.