Even the Gilmore Girls don't like D&D....

[Thorntangle]

I'll mention one - The X-Files. 2 Lone Gunmen guys were playing a pickup game in a back room at the big hacker convention (can't remember the name).

Portrayal rating - utter Geek-chic coolness by one of the shows that made it's name by pandering to the geek demographic.

 

[Warrior Poet]

"I'll mention one - The X-Files. 2 Lone Gunmen guys were playing a pickup game in a back room at the big hacker convention (can't remember the name)." - Quoted from Thorntangle above.

This was a fun episode. I distinctly recall Langley at the table, dice in hand, muttering, "C'mon, baby, Daddy needs a new vorpal sword."

Warrior Poet

 

[Voneth]

Of course, we also have the example of "Futurama," which had our own Col_Pladoh as a guest star.

Which ep. is that? What happened and remind me who the Col's FL ID.

 

[reapersaurus]

Regarding Gilmore Girls I must say that I really don't care for the show. You can't find 3 seconds of time in that show without at least 5 words being spoken in it. The non-stop chatter chatter chatter wouldn't be so much of a problem if they weren't talking about absolutely nothing most of the time.

"I want my eggs separate from my toast."
"You want your eggs separate from your toast?"
"Yeah, separate."
"Excuse me, these aren't separate. Could I just get them on the side? Except don't just go back and use the same eggs and toast and put them on separate plates because they already touched each other."
"Well if I went back and put them on separate plates and you didn't see me how would you know the difference?"
"Good point. You can go back and put them on separate plates but don't tell me."
"Okay, I'm going to go back and put them on separate plates, but you didn't see me do it."
"Okay that sounds fine as long as I don't see you do it."

Oh, God, this is HILARIOUS!!
That's exactly what bugs me to death about that show.. (my wife watches the show, and inexplicably can tolerate the incessant jabbering and inane infatuation they have with their own writing).

ColonelHardisson - you may be comfortable with your manhood, but now I'll call your taste into question.
How can you get past the ridiculous depths of absurdity their rapid-fire dialogue sinks to?
I must admit, it's smartly written, and impressive in its speed of dialogue, but jeez!
They have to neatly package their dialogue in phrases that have never been uttered in any conversation IRL. The dialogue looks smart on paper, SOUNDS really silly when acted out loud.

 

[reapersaurus]

Re: Mwahahaha!

Good-natured ribbing, I can take. No problem.

What kinda gets on my nerves is when they imply that, somehow, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT.

But this crosses the line. It's not good natured ribbing, anymore. It's Dork Discrimination. It's making yourself feel better because someone is different. It is ignorant and ethnocentric. And it's this kind of thing that lies at the very foundations of things like racism, sexism, and other bigotries.

VERY well said!
*standing and applauding*

I'm glad someone had the guts to say this much about this phenomenon.

While i didn't take this instance this way, IN GENERAL, I really agree at this sentiment.

It continually amazes me that in THIS "PC" of society, where peole go out of there way to take offense at ANYTHING in their culture being used in ANY possible negative light, that Geekdom is apparently the ONLY unprotected class on the planet anymore!!!

In SO many examples, I'm seeing that there are only 2 or 3 classes that are OK to make fun of in media:
white men, nazis (racists or by extension rednecks), and geeks.

Did anyone see the old Outpost.com commercial where the well-intentioned high-school band members go to help out outpost, only to be attacked visciously by a pack of WOLVES??
Being shown ripped apart for being helpful??
I couldn't belioeve my eyes, and have been disgusted for years now at people's apathy and uncomprehension at what is wrong with this?

It's pretty obvious, folks:
the sheer contempt that most people have, and the lack of self-esteem that most gamers have, contributes to an environment of fostering discrimination against geeks.

Now, it's only people who are usijng Geeks as the butt of jokes, which is really not the worst thing in the world, but it really is about as juvenile as the big jock in elementary school who picks on the kid with glasses.

Why?
Because that's what he's EXPECTED TO DO.
He has been trained, by years of people accepting crap, that he's supposed to push down the Geek.

Well, I for one, have had enough tolerance of geekist behavior.
I am a well-adjusted, succesful professional male who doesn't take kindly to non-geeks using the term "geek".

It's OK for a fellow geek (like the Simpsons and Futurama references) to use that word and poke fun, but when a mainstream member of society pokes fun, and uses the term "geek", that is a WHOLE other issue entirely.

If this sounds similar to another word that is used only by black people as a form of empowerment among themselves, but can't be used by anyone else, than you are reading what I'm saying here.

 

[Moe Ronalds]

I AM GEEK HEAR ME ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few D&D references...

My little sister was watching Honey I shrunk the Kids the TV show, they had a group of D&D players hitting on some girl and kept saying "Charisma eighTEEN." >.< >.< >.< >.<

From a friend of mine at school when I mentioned D&D
"I would NEVER play D&D! You know, those columbine kids played D&D!"

Other friend after I said I'd rather play D&D than join a wrestling team (I still don't know what he's been smoking)
"What are they gonna say if they ever put you on biography? You sat around and became a fat little geek while playing little phantisy(he can't spell) games in your head?

My school: I was caught with the DMG at school. It got confiscated, and I had to wait a few days until I got called to the office when I got it back. And then they said they never wanted to see this sort of thing again (They're BOOKS!!! I was planning on reading it in DEAR (some stupid thing where they cut math short and force us to read)) But when I brought a Normal, approved, non-satanic book that obviously made some list that excludes all pornography and role-playing game materials, no problem.

And as for the whole Geek thing, I agree totally. We don't have to become like THEM to be acceptable. Which is what I told a kid in the lunch line when he tried to convert me to what he refered to as "Ghettoism." Yeah, I come from the mean streets of midwestern suburbs, whatcha gonna do about it punk!? I also nearly cried when a friend referred to my choice of shirts as geeky (this wouldn't have mattered if she hadn't been a non-geek.)
And for those who aren't geeks but don't want to be called geeks, I have a good friend who loves D&D and is not a geek. besides, what's so geeky about having a good time? Even if you do keep your dice in a pouch, wear a cape and a funny hat when available?

Disclaimer: This is most likely poorly spelled, with faulty logic and I may be overreacting, but I'm pissed so there.

 

[Pielorinho]

Geez, I guess it's a whole different environment than when I was in school.

I played D&D all through high school. But I also dressed in black, started a pagan club at the school, wrote pinko articles for the school paper, carried a carved walking staff (they put the kibosh on that, at least) and generally made a scene out of myself.

As a junior, I was thrilled when a friend told me half the senior class was terrified of me, thinking I was a homoseckshual Satanist.

Probably my behavior then woulda gotten me expelled today.

Folks who call you geek (and mean it as an insult) really aren't worth the time it takes to curl your lip at them. Any more than people who call folks jocks (and mean it as an insult) are worth much.

Therein lies one of the secrets of well-adjusted happiness, I think.

Daniel

 

[The Green Man]

[BThis was a fun episode. I distinctly recall Langley at the table, dice in hand, muttering, "C'mon, baby, Daddy needs a new vorpal sword."[/B]

Weren't they betting on the game, too?

Another one -- in the movie Airheads, the main character, in explaining how geeky he once was, says that he used to play Dungeons and Dragons. And then all these other guys chime in "I used to play D&D too!".

Kinda negative.

 

[Mark]

AH!

Another recent reference struck me!

Last year, In Disney's Recess cartoon, one of the "gang" of central kids is sent to another class (I cannot recall why - I think it's an advanced class or something like this) - but he meets some D&D "geeks" (the game had another name, like "knights and quests" or some such).

He at first finds it the height of geekiness, but then joins in, and enjoys it immensely. Later in the episode, he denies being friends with the gamers, only to defend one of them out on the recess field. The moralistic lesson of the episode was that "different kids" are people too (or I should say, people with different pop culutural likes). It was possibly the most positive reference to gaming and "geeks" I ever saw on TV. If I ever catch the episode again, I will watch it more carefully.

Disney is pro-gamer?

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Ther was also that Emilio Estaves? scetch from saterday night live.
I think it had something to do with him getting ridaculed when his buddies found out he was the pres of the D&D club in high school.