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

[Hand of Vecna]

Alright, alright, sheesh, sorry about the whole Catholic school thing... I'll just go back to my hidey-hole and sit quietly...

 

[Vander]

I have to chime in and say the people who taught me to play DND where the school jocks, and one of them got a full ride to Purdue, and one of them almost turned pro in Football. Just proves you cant stereotype people.

During my gaming years, i have played with people who were the most popular people in school (although they wouldnt admit to gaming). The ridicule is a shame. I dont admit to playing, not because i am embarrased, but because i dont want to deal with the truckload of *crap* that comes my way.

 

[Doc_Souark]

First mention of DnD

Correct me if I'm wrong (I know y'all will anyway ) but wasn't the first mention of DnD on a network show in a Simon & Simon episode ?

 

[William Ronald]

Simon and Simon?

I am not sure.

Role playing is poorly understood by the public at large. So perhaps it is not surprising that the portrayals are not accurate.

Furthermore, too many entertainment writers fall back on stereotypes. Why? They may be too lazy to find out the truth or might believe using the stereotypes helps their script.

Of course, I find the stereotypes absurd.

Doc_Souark: Good to hear from you. I have missed you on the boards of late. (I have been busy with the IR thread. How is everything?) Can you tell us how the game was portrayed in the series?

I did see the Freaks and Geeks episode. I liked the series and wished it had been a success. They broke many stereotypes and tried to create characters that seemed real and plausible.

Gaming was presented just as another activity that some people might find fun. It was a positive, and accurate portrayal. And quite rare.

 

[CullAfulMoshuN]

I'm suprised no one else mentioned it, then again maybe they did and I skimmed past it. There was another episode of X-Files once where the psycho the picked up made a reference to DnD, something like,

"I didn't play Dungeons and Dragons for so many years and not learn something about courage..."

I didn't know whether to be impressed that it wasn't a completely negative reference of pissed that the reference was made by a complete nut. oh well, stero types happen in all areas of life, and I guess we gamers get an easy time than many due to them...

On a side note about sterotypes, the guys at school who used to get a real hard time for being geeks didn't even play D&D as far as I know. The guys I used to play with at school were all the druggies and dope fiends of my school, who looked more like gothics and bikers than geeks. Since leaving school, the people I've gamed with have ranged from bikers, hippies, cool designer types of the in scene, programmers, a psychiatrist, some brickies labourers (big fellows), homies, a good number of girls included, and the CEO of my company (granted it is a games company ).

Very few of them could come close to being labelled a sterotypical geek, though many are self proclaimed ones. As for myself, my girl friend accuses me more of being a yuppie than a geek. ::Sigh:: so many sterotypes...

 

[Draco Argentum]

"I didn't play Dungeons and Dragons for so many years and not learn something about courage..."

I thought that was that guy with the cape from Angel.

Does anyone actually care what the mass media thinks? Its not like there are hate crimes directed at gamers so I don't see how their opinions are relevent.

Most important lesson for anyone who is not considered "normal" by society: learn not to get hurt by their crap. The alternative is depression.

 

[Maldur]

Not that they bothered me with it but the host-family in my year as an exchange student in Rochester NY (im from Holland) did ask me in a very serious tone: "Are you a satanist?" It was quite hilarious. (ok I was dressed in black, leather jacket covered in anarchy signs and very long hair, and I even played RPGs).


btw try paying attention to the manners and attire of people really into their hobbies, they usually look ridiculous. I mean nothing can make you look cool in Wading boots. Or bicycle pants, or ...... you get the point. And have you ever tried to have a normal conversation in a room filled with people training racing pigeons???

Hobbies make everyone geeky

 

[William Ronald]

Good Point

Draco Argentum, you made a very valid point.

I have had people judge me badly because of my hobbies, my intellectual interests, and even religious faith. Sadly, I know about some of the meaner sides of my fellow man.

However, I have learned not to let other people determine who I am. One of the most important lessons I ever learned was that YOU have to decide who you are. Be true to that person.

I kind of view the stereotypes as wrong and painful. And ultimately silly and meaningless.

Muldur, good point about the extremists. Extreme gaming enthusiasts sound little different than someone who makes a professional sports team their religion. I like to say hobby extremists of any sort have more in common with each other than they know - or would ever admit to.

Good thread, guys.

 

[Mojo]

I feel I have to defend the Gilmore Girls show, though the D&D reference did irk me, if only momentarily.

Very snappy dialogue, interesting characters (the grandmother never fails to crack me up, very much like my mom)

And in the time I've watch it, I've heard two Monty Python references...

Rory and her boyfriend were going to watch The Holy Grail and Life of Brian

And another time the boyfriend said "I'd do a funny walk, but I'm not feeling very 'John Cleese'."

Any show whose writers like Python is good in my book

(Though I wish they'd take it easy on my favorite RPG)

 

[LcKedovan]

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.

Yeah it's funny, when I was in grade 4 or 5 there was a group that played in the Library... I distinctly remember sitting in on a few games...

-Will