Gaming across the generation gap

[DarrenGMiller]

I'm waiting for Elminster and Drizz't to start referring to themselves as Ez E and Double D, respectively.

Double 'D' is the Driznit, yo!

DM

 

[reveal]

Double 'D' is the Driznit, yo!

DM

If I had read that a few seconds later, I would have done a spit-take with my coffee.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Does no one remember campaigns in the 70's and 80's where everything was influenced by hard/classic/metal rock culture? Where NPCs were told they "rocked" or were called "dude?"

If not, you probably had a totally bitchin time in your awesome DM's game!

I don't remember campaigns like that, and yes, I did have a good time.

* No ability to concentrate

Varies from player to player. My last campaign of more than a year featured a player over 25yrs of age who couldn't keep combat mods straight, and another who had the magic system scrambled. Both, however, were cool people who ran interesting characters.

So there's an exception to what I said? Alert the media!

Oh wait, my comment preceding the quote you pulled was...

...I know it's a generalization, and doesn't apply to everyone ...

So maybe try reading the quotes you pull before responding.

* Juvenile sense of humor

Well DUH!

Like you've never had a game night disintigrate into giggles over a malapropism or bad turn of a phrase? Especially one that involved NAUGHTY WORDS?

Please.

I'd tell you to Alert the media again, had I not preceded that quote you are addressing with...

...This one almost goes without saying, and is actually the least of my concerns. But when every single response to "what do you do this round?" is something like "I Fart at him", because somebody laughed at that once, a few weeks ago...it's time to stop asking...

See, it's not about "NAUGHTINESS", it's a about lameness and repetition. You can read it yourself.

I see that in gamers MY age...but it can be a little more obvious when the player is a n00b to your table. It may just be nerves- trying to make an impact quickly to make a good impression.

there will always be apologists from crappy players. I still don't want them at my table.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Who put jalapenos in your enema?

My point, TB, was primarily to get people to look back at the way they used to game, without the rose-colored glasses.

You may THINK you were better and more mature than they were at the same age, but its not likely.

If you could look at videotape of yourself as a gamer 10-15-20 years ago, you'd probably see temporal/cultural analogues of the same behaviors you decry.

 

[Henry]

Who put jalapenos in your enema?

I have GOT to try that one week...

(just kidding!)

 

[reveal]

I have GOT to try that one week...

(just kidding!)

Personally, I like "Who peed in your cherrio's this morning?"

 

[Teflon Billy]

Who put jalapenos in your enema?

Spare me the fantasies your mind cooks up man.

My point, TB, was primarily to get people to look back at the way they used to game, without the rose-colored glasses.

...and you chose to make "your point" by cherry picking my comments out of context. Context that would've shown that your point was not being accurately made.

You're a lawyer are you?

You may THINK you were better and more mature than they were at the same age, but its not likely.

I think nothing of the sort (and don't think I've ever said anything like that, but feel free to pull an inappropriate quote from somewhere "showing" that I have).

If you could look at videotape of yourself as a gamer 10-15-20 years ago, you'd probably see temporal/cultural analogues of the same behaviors you decry.

The topic of this thread is Gaming across the Generation Gap, not Gaming with your Peer Group. I'm sure I was a total disaster as a teenage player, but I didn't bother to inflict it on those who didn't appreciate it, or share my enthusiasms for it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Golly gee whillikers, have I ever been told off.

(Yes, I am a lawyer...one who has heard of things like sarcasm.)

If you have such an intolerance for the younger generation of gamers, they'll never learn the ways in which YOU think they could improve.

By disengaging yourself from the process of passing the torch, you're ensuring they'll never improve their game. Extrapolate that to enough GMs, and the hobby will be hurt in the long run.

Personally, I prefer constructive engagement. Negative habits get excised, rather than being allowed to run rampant like weeds. Firm but gentle suggestions- in private- can correct bad behavior pretty quickly if done with respect.

 

[Campbell]

I'm not Teflon Billy, but I will address your points. In general I have a hard time seeing why anyone should be forced to treat fellow gamers or even potential gamers any differently than they treat other people. Additionally, I don't see how playing roleplaying games infers any obligation towards other people who play roleplaying games. I must have missed that information when I was introduced to this hobby.

Golly gee whillikers, have I ever been told off.

If you have such an intolerance for the younger generation of gamers, they'll never learn the ways in which YOU think they could improve.

I don't view this as problematic. Gaming is an activity I engage in to have fun. I do not game to show others the errors of their ways, espicially if they can have fun playing the game in the manner they wish to if they find a group that is conducive to their playstyle. Besides people engage in social discrimination all the time, and it's not neccesarily all that bad. I'm more likely to enjoy the company of people my age, who dress like I do, go out to the same places, and watch the same sorts of movies. Like Teflon Billy, I pretty much game with people my own age. It's not that I'm passing judgement on everyone in the 30+ age group, but gaming is a social activity, and I prefer to spend my time socializing with other people in my age group that have similar interests.

By disengaging yourself from the process of passing the torch, you're ensuring they'll never improve their game. Extrapolate that to enough GMs, and the hobby will be hurt in the long run.

By engaging yourself in the process of teaching other people "How to Play The Right Way" your placing yourself and the way you play a game of make-believe up on a pedastool above the way other people play the game. Extropolate that to enough GMs, and the hobby will suffer in the long run.

Honestly, *the hobby* most likely doesn't suffer because of normal social exclusionary practices. It probably does suffer due to the existence of a seperate social standard that does not apply in society at large, and serves to retard normal social development.

Personally, I prefer constructive engagement. Negative habits get excised, rather than being allowed to run rampant like weeds. Firm but gentle suggestions- in private- can correct bad behavior pretty quickly if done with respect.

Whereas, I prefer to spend my gaming time gaming, not babysitting. I won't exercise any more compassion with another gamer, than I would with any one who wasn't a gamer. Gamers do not deserve some sort of special treatment. I fail to see any sort of moral imperative. Teflon Billy isn't committing some grave injustice by choosing to spend his free time having fun, rather than engaging in teaching others 'how to play'.

 

[TheGM]

You just brought back a TON of memories. In our gaming groups in the late 80's, we had characters named Angus, Malcolm, Slash, Axel, and half a dozen other rock gods of the day, as well as HJ, BJ, CB, and half a dozen other initials for all types of sex acts imaginable. We were 16 to 19 years old, and having the time of our lives.

On the other hand, the older I get the more different type of game I want. But if I ever run into someone wanting a Bard named "5 Silver P", I'll be more tolerant of him.

Hehe. In one of my worlds, the patron god of Bards has "RR" tacked onto the front of his name to this day - for Randy Rhodes.