Get ready to defend your hobby again...

[kenobi65]

It's not explicitly stated, but the fact that they felt the need to mention D&D in the same story implies a link.

It's already been said here but why aren't there other pasttimes mentioned in articles about murderers? I just want to hear a headline like "Macrame fan slays seven" or "Knitting enthusiast kills former roommate."

My suspicion is that it got mentioned because, in the mind of some (at least the original writer of the article), "D&D player" is more evidence of the guy being weird / maladjusted. Which is sad, but a very difficult stereotype to change (and, honestly, a stereotype that's not entirely unwarrented).

 

[Ceresco]

Absolutely. That being said, I think there's something implicitly wrong in the notion that the man with a samurai sword is a *victim*. Yes, there will be jerks of every colour at work, but if they are teasing you over something as innocent as D&D (as opposed to, say, "give me your lunch money, dweeb!" or "I'm going to beat the living tar out of you") you do not respond with a samurai sword and consider it a fair reaction.

When people do respond as such, it's just *wrong* for someone to suggest that "well, he was being bullied". It's much more likely to say "hey, I'm glad I didn't get mad at the guy for leaving the door unlocked.... he might have sliced me to ribbons".

I agree with you 100%. There is a point in life at which we must take account for ourselves, Ralph Waldo Emmerson called it "Self Reliance," a small book with great advice. It seems that many people are unaware of this concept.

The trouble is, not everyone has equal ability to self advocate. I don't want to digress into a political / economic / ethical discussion. It is importnat to understand the cause of violence to learn how to stop it before it happens. Another area America lacks, preventative medicine.

Sorry, I'm in nursing school and these are very important issues to me. The point is, this guys obession with fantasy and D&D is a symptom of a greater problem, not the problem itself. This is not different than how the medical community looks at alchoholism and drug addiction, as symptoms of a greater, underlying problem. And every time the media or religious right tries to connect these events to gamers in general they are approaching the issue from the wrong perspective.

 

[IcyCool]

The medical examiner ruled that Williams died as a result of "multiple chop wounds to the neck."

Looks like his vorpal enchantment was faulty. What a way to go.

 

[Sejs]

*reads the article*

...well, at least he was nice enough to provide the other guy with a weapon before going to town on his neck.

That's the kind of refreshing courtesy you don't get from your common, everyday nutjobs. No siree.

 

[Ranger REG]

D&D is for dorks, not for satanists.

*Scoffs*. Tell self-proclaimed satanist Marilyn Manson that he shouldn't be playing our game.

 

[pogre]

Considering the nature of this crime the title to this thread is highly ironic!

 

[Mark CMG]

Considering the nature of this crime the title to this thread is highly ironic!

No doubt! I've been doing some surfing today to see what armaments are available lest some gamer decide to come after me! Shame the Frank Frazetta: Death Dealer Helm and Axe are out of stock.

 

[Shadowdancer]

Made it himself, eh? If it was a samurai sword, it had to be a masterwork sword.

 

[Nyaricus]

So, here's the result: 1) a guy who was probably a jerk anyways has been eviscerated and B) a guy who should be institutionalized, is. Sounds good to me, less traffic on the streets.

Actually, partially beheaded, not eviscerated.

It's not explicitly stated, but the fact that they felt the need to mention D&D in the same story implies a link.

Link? Naw, I wouldn't say there is a link here. However, a bias? Oh yeah :\

*Scoffs*. Tell self-proclaimed satanist Marilyn Manson that he shouldn't be playing our game.

Actually, Marilyn Manson isn't a satanist (no, not even a self-proclaimed one), though he doesn't mind being associated as one and is an honourary Reverend in the Church of Satan (meaning, in CoS lingo, that he is one to be revered by the church, and not necessarily an active member - which he isn't).

cheers,
--N

 

[Unkabear]

This I believe falls into the 'there must be something that caused him to do this because people with good pastimes and hobbies like gardening don't do these things' it is the same people that claim the video game Doom caused Columbine.

There are people that just cannot believe that people would play a video game or an rpg for fun and still be able to go about their lives in a normal fashion. They don't understand that it can be as much a bonding ritual as a group of people gathering for poker Friday nights, or Canasta. These are people that refuse to take responsibility for themselves and others. If you see your friend crafting a sword saying that he will use it to kill a coworker...well I admit I wouldn't believe it. But if he is obsessed about it and talks about work as if it was a hostile environment, I might. If he seemed the type that wasn't all there, I would probably call his boss and give him a warning or do what I could to seek medical attention. Someone who would do this is a person in serious need of therapy. Not because he plays this or listens to that, but because there is an imbalance. But then again it is amazing how a good friend can stop the situation from getting this far.

Too many people have people surrounding them a good deal of the time but have few people that they could call a true friend. Or they isolate themselves into a position that did not leave themselves any friends that would have taken steps to prevent such actions.

And the media that stuffs the references into an article or story are just seeking to sensationalize the story. They don't care about the person or the event, they just want the ratings. The news isn't about news anymore, it’s about who they can get to watch or read. And in this soap opera world that we live in the news is over the top. I remember turning the channel several times trying to find something to watch during the OJ 45 minute non exiting freeway chase. It’s about ratings and getting the public stirred up, not about who, what, where, when or why anymore. Though what I think is the most disturbing bit of this? If the general population of the United States of America wanted real news instead of action adventure news then we would have it. The media is only mirroring society, and that is the true tragedy here.


<Steps off soapbox>

Thank you