GenCon mentioned on NFL Total Access.

[FungiMuncher]

My girlfriend was playing on the giant Settlers of Catan board when the football game let out. She said a lot of fans wandered by and asked what was going on, didn't have a clue about all these different games, and so on.
Look at it as an opportunity for education and recruitment.

While the networks may have gotten it wrong, the local news was able to figure it out. There was at least one decent live converage report we saw while eating lunch on Thursday - in a sports pub, no less.

 

[Psion]

Well, yeah. The IndyStar not only had articles about the presence of the con, it had articles on things like specific workshops and seminars at the Con.

When 28,000 people show up to spend money, people take an interest.

 

[jester47]

I could go on about the negative impact RPGs have on American society (shall we talk about players trying to commit suicide in the steam tunnels under MSU?) But that's sort of not the point.

Or, I could go on about the negative impact video games have on American society (shall we talk about two teenaged screwups shooting up their high school?) But that's sort of not the point...

(/sarcasm)

Using riots thrown by overzealous (and usually drunk) sports fans to say that sports are bad opens up a lot of other interesting possibilites, don't it?

Sports riots apparantly are/were a serious problem in Europe. I did hear that investigation led it back to people that were actually more interested in starting riots than the games themselves. They would just use the energy from the game to fuel their riot. It was explained to me that a group of guys would go into a pub or venue that was allied with a certain team. When the game ended the groups would take on the role of the opposite of the crowd where they were, and they would either pretend to be pissed their team lost (Man U wins and hey were in an Arsenal Bar!) bad winners trying to stick it to those in venue supporting the losing team. Since everyone is already divided, the fight just gets bigger.

But, here in the US, there has been some sociological research done at the Highschool level that shows how much an effect sports have on the society of the kids there. And it is huge and severe. I can look them up for you if you want. The main finding is that Implementation of a Football program typically leads to a heirachal elitism that unchecked eventually polarises the student population. Ironicly this only seems to happen with American Football. I have not seen any similar studies done in other countries where the factors are different.

Aaron.

 

[Dark Jezter]

But, here in the US, there has been some sociological research done at the Highschool level that shows how much an effect sports have on the society of the kids there. And it is huge and severe. I can look them up for you if you want. The main finding is that Implementation of a Football program typically leads to a heirachal elitism that unchecked eventually polarises the student population. Ironicly this only seems to happen with American Football. I have not seen any similar studies done in other countries where the factors are different.

Even without sports, adolescents will still seek out others who have similar interests and form cliques, and certain cliques will inevitably butt heads with each other. It's simply a part of growing up.

But, while we're on the subject, I've got some links to research articles of my own, found after brief searches on google.

Promoting Social and Moral Development Through Sports.

Youth Sports and the Growth of Children

Exposure to Sports May Have Positive Effects on Teen Girls

Speaking from my own expirience, I know that when I started participating in athletics in high school (mostly running and weight lifting, but also volleyball and ultimate frisbee), my confidence increased, I looked healthier, I felt healthier, and my academic performance improved as well (and, at the risk of sounding egotistical, I also became more popular with girls). I also learned that many guys who fall into the category of jock really aren't so bad after all, and a few or them are the most laid-back, friendly guys I ever met in high school. Prior to taking up athletics, I was a typical nerdy kid who spent most of his free time reading, playing video games, or watching TV.

Another discovery I made was that geeks can be every bit as elitist and insular as they often percieve jocks to be. Except where some jocks percieve geeks as being losers and freaks, some geeks arrogantly believe anyone who isn't like them to be unintelligent or unenlightened.

 

[Dogbrain]

As someone else stated in another thread, this "us versus them" anti-jock mentality many geeks have makes me hope that those who participate really did get beat up by jocks when they were younger.

SOMEbody's a gwumpy gus.

 

[Dogbrain]

I could go on about the negative impact RPGs have on American society (shall we talk about players trying to commit suicide in the steam tunnels under MSU?)

That never happened. On the other hand badjocks.com NEVER runs out of material, and that stuff can be verified.

 

[Mindseye]

I was at the Cthulhu for President 2004 rally which finished about the same time as the football game. The marching and chanting Cthuhlu crowd mingling with the football fans was pretty funny. From what I saw, everyone was pretty well-behaved.

 

[Dark Jezter]

That never happened.

Yes, it did. In April of 1979, James Dallas Egbert III, a young man who had a history of mental problems in addition to being an untreated epileptic (also a D&D player), was reported missing. Egbert had journeyed down into the steam tunnels under MSU, not to act out his D&D fantasies, but to kill himself using a bottle of sleeping pills. He failed, but would later succeed in another attempt.

Of course, blaming D&D for Egbert's problems is about as sane as blaming sports for rioters.

On the other hand badjocks.com NEVER runs out of material, and that stuff can be verified.

I took a look at that web site. If ever there was a site run by somebody with an axe to grind, that's it.

 

[Vecnasaurus]

In the end, of course, it doesn't matter if we're Trekkies or not, or whether the Jets had to bunk 20 miles from the stadium. The only thing that matters is that we fiercely cling to the idea that we are far superior to these young, physically powerful men who are paid fantastic sums to play a game on TV.

No, really, it's all I have left.

GO VIKINGS!

 

[Psion]

Yeah, must have hurt them to ride their limo 20 miles. Boo hoo.