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

[Wolfspider]

Well said, Kamikaze.

 

[Sir Hawkeye]

On the Catholic thing: I cannot ever recall hearing of the Catholic church having a problem with D&D or any RPGs. In fact, they seem to look favorably on them as most mentions of Catholics and D&D seem to involve the Priest-led game group or things like that.

Anti-D&D though seems to be pretty much limited to particularly closed-minded variants of Protestantism (as I've never heard of anti-RPG from any of the other major religions on the planet).

Woo! Catholicism! We're the ones who like science, gaming, and people of other religions! And Jack Chick hates us, which is just about the strongest endorsement I can think of!

Let's hear it for the inertial religious doctrinal moderacy factor!

I'll be quiet now.

 

[JohnRTroy]

Re: Poking Fun and Insulting

I'd say the geeks on Buffy and X-Files and such were stereotypes, definately. But they're not overly insulting stereotypes. They do present a "gamer geek image," but, at the same time, being gamer geeks doesn't make them bad people. The Lone Gunmen are quirky, but they're the only guys to go to, sometimes. D&D is just a way to enhance their geek-chic, and, at the same time, is almost empowering, as it displays geeks as people who are worthy of respect, and dignity, even if they are a bit different.

It's more a case of bad writing, IMO.

The Lone Gunmen was a horribly-written show. Maybe it's a case of West Wing and Gilmore Girls having much better writing than X-Files and Buffy. Who knows.

I do know I expect more from the writers of such shows. Then again, I find the more poorly-written shows have far "jumped the shark" a long time ago.

I didn't see the episode of the Gilmore Girls in question, but, judging from the reprint of the idea, it's not empowering, encouraging, or anything but an insult. She sneered.

It may be with the character, but I still take offence at it. It's implying that D&D is bad, in some way, and makes you worthy of contempt. It's implying that being a D&D nerd means that you don't deserve to be treated like someone who isn't.

It was dismissive, but not mean-spirited.

I'm comfortable with the stereotype. Stereotypes are just that, and they don't reflect reality in any but the most minute of ways. I can live with a stereotype.

I can't live with people assuming a superior attitude based on that stereotype. The moment people read that "that's not like me, so you're worse than me," a problem crops up.

Not me. I find stereotypes more insulting--as a viewer/reader. I would rather see a show that was much more well written and have people derisive of D&D than a poorly-written show that praised D&D. I'd rather have a more realistic portrayal than an "agenda".

With Buffy and the X-Files, I would hold them to a higher standard--because the writers KNOW their audiance. In the beginning, Buffy was a lot better written, and showed a more realistic portrayal of a nerd (Willow) and the millieu. Now, they are running out of ideas--so instead of having three-dimensional akward people, they resort to stereotypical geeks. Do me a favor--show a postive portrayal of a RPG character for a change.

Note that I don't mind stuff like Dexters, Simpsons, etc, because it's way over the top. The Jesse thing annoyed me because it was the more simplistic and hackneyed stereotype.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'm aparently on a roll in this thread. Quick, someone make a comment so I can make another telling observation about the nature of mankind! This streak can't last forever! I'm not used to being this astute!

 

[Wolfspider]

Maybe it's a case of West Wing and Gilmore Girls having much better writing than X-Files and Buffy. Who knows.

We're going to have to agree to disagree here, I guess, since I think that Buffy is one of the best written shows I've ever seen. It has it's rough spots, sure, but when it shines, it's like the light of heaven.

 

[birdboy2000]

I don't watch live action anyway. I would much rather watch anime inspired by D&D(Not that I don't like other anime as well) then boring american shows bashing it.

 

[I'm A Banana]

::shrug::

Well, I'm more concerned with the character portrayal than the quality. I'm not insulted by bad writing, I just won't watch it.

Of course an actual, dimensional character is nessecarily better than a quick stereotype. But the stereotype is mostly included for laugh-factor, and not for an extensive character development. Quirky, comic-relief characters don't have to have much dimension to them to serve their purpose in the melieu of the TV show. Willow needed a lot more dimension than these three joke-villians.

I think we are gonna have to agree to disagree. I'm comfortable with a stereotype, as long as no sense of inferiority is implied by it.

Sure, I'd like to see a well-written, dimensional D&D player, and I'm happy when I do see it, but I hold no illusions about the stereotype being "proved wrong" with any amount of quality programing, especially when a largely D&D-ignorant audience may find it hard to sympathize with a character who plays D&D (or at least one character to which that is a large part of the development).

It's Hollywood. If you're looking for a realistic portrayal of *anything*, you're looking in the wrong place, largely. TV is fantasy, and stereotypes get fantasized. It's not insulting to me.

Not that I wouldn't love it. I just entertain no expectations or demands that it will be done. That's like asking people who make movies based on true stories to stick to the facts. No one wants to know what *really* happened.

 

[Oogar]

Well, I read every post, and I just could not get upset. I guess that I don't see these quips (in general) as anything too extensive.

We might react if someone says a negative thing about D&D.

How many of us feel indignant if someone slights Cheerleading? Country-Western Music? Avon?

Sure, we might be a bit offended when the target is us. But do we not recognize that there are many others targeted with much more frequency then ourselves?

If the writers at GG thought it was funny, more power to them. If you want to protest the image, go ahead. If you have never laughed at anything others would be offended by, please start throwing stones.

And if you want to think about a group that is denegrated far more frequently then gamers, consider the Star Trek fans.

 

[Pielorinho]

And if you want to think about a group that is denegrated far more frequently then gamers, consider the Star Trek fans.

Yeah, but Trekkies are such DORKS!


Daniel

 

[Lothaire]

*sighs* I would get angry over the anti-geek behavior, but it happens so much I really don't care anymore.

People that are superficial enough to judge me based on the color of my skin, the clothes I wear, the music I listen to and the games I play are not worthy of my attention. Stereotypes are limits that people place upon their perception. By narrowing the focus of their imput they ultimately limit theirselves. So let the superficial stay confined in their comfortable little close-minded reality while we go to fantastical worlds of adventure.