Taneel BrightBlade
First Post
well I should have said no. nothing major ever
Has anyone ever tried to 'save' you from D&D?
- Thread starter Agemegos
- Start date
s/LaSH
First Post
I've encountered the requisite disproving looks and such, but never actually had anyone make an effort at me. Or if they have, and tried to go through my parents, they discovered that my parents bought me the game in the first place, and I never discovered it. When the topic has come up in more recent years, I employ reasonable discourse, measured tones, and generally things turn out all smiles. A good summary for Christians, I've found, is to describe D&D as 'good guys kicking evil hiney' or some such. They tend to smile.
Drifter Bob
First Post
Elrik_DarkFury said:
This is a good point, and along with the crazed fundamentalist Iran -esque religious climate here, is another reason to be embarassed about being an American some times. You don't have it in Europe, really, at least, I never noticed it when I was stationed in Germany in the Army over there, or travelling around Spain, France, Denmark and Holland. Over here, some kind of wierd mixture of marketing, sports mentality, and fundamentalist religion has led to this bizarre anti-intellectualism. Thats why they have banned evolution in several midwestern states, it's why 60% of American high school students can't find Mexico on a Map, and think Iraq blew up the WTC.
This anti-intellectualism has led to this subculture of "nerds", any kid genuinely interested in science, history, literature, etc., (dont even mention computers!) is ostracized. As a result, it became something of a self fullfilling prophecy; cut off from their peers, many U.S. kids fall into this wierd geek subculture which actually does exist, as all here know. Thats why you end up with psycho events like the Colombine massacre.
It's really warped but I think it's finally starting to change a little, with the mainstreaming of computers and the popularity of fantasy and sci fi films like The Lord of the Rings, the Matrix, Star Wars etc.
There is still a long way to go though.
DB
GrayIguana
First Post
I'm so glad to see that most people have never had someone try to "convert" them away.
My gaming hobby was questioned so much when I was in high school (mid 80s), that almost everyone in our group began to keep it a secret. You would think that we were peddling porn the way people would react if they found out. Luckily, I had a reputation as a rather upstanding young man, so many people just refused to believe that I would stoop to such vile behavior. I still remember overhearing someone saying, "He is too nice of a guy to do something like Dragons and Dungeons." After explaining it to so many people, I just denied it whenever anyone asked.
I was fortunate enough to have level-headed parents who fielded calls from the parents of kids who did play with us. The game kept us away from beer parties, and there is not much else to do in the winter where we grew up. My parents also noticed that the top 10% of our class was well represented at the table. While I did not fall into this category, I think my parents didn't mind me hanging around students who at least seemed to have intelligence. My dad would also join in our games when he could.
My gaming hobby was questioned so much when I was in high school (mid 80s), that almost everyone in our group began to keep it a secret. You would think that we were peddling porn the way people would react if they found out. Luckily, I had a reputation as a rather upstanding young man, so many people just refused to believe that I would stoop to such vile behavior. I still remember overhearing someone saying, "He is too nice of a guy to do something like Dragons and Dungeons." After explaining it to so many people, I just denied it whenever anyone asked.
I was fortunate enough to have level-headed parents who fielded calls from the parents of kids who did play with us. The game kept us away from beer parties, and there is not much else to do in the winter where we grew up. My parents also noticed that the top 10% of our class was well represented at the table. While I did not fall into this category, I think my parents didn't mind me hanging around students who at least seemed to have intelligence. My dad would also join in our games when he could.
(WARNING!! Big Post…)
I can’t say I was ever persecuted for playing D&D… Of course I have always been a very convincing speaker, and anyone even remotely curious about the game where given a lengthy explanation on its intricacies.
I was introduced to D&D by a neighboring kid that always seems to get everything I ever wanted. His parents spoiled him rotten. One day I walked over to his apartment and noticed he had a red box opened up with dice inside, and a bunch of papers. He, his friend, and my little brother where playing. I stood there watching for a while and was instantly hooked. So I saved up my money and bought the red and blue D&D boxed sets from Toys R Us. That was over 16 years ago.
There was a short period in my life where I was not the most popular kid in school, but I lived in predominantly minority neighborhoods and they all considered me “That White Boy”… I would get funny looks as I sat in the empty halls during lunch reading my DragonLance Novels. But when I moved to Texas, I started high school in a Hicksville town where I wasn’t messed with every day for being white. I immediately started playing football, and became quite the jock.
I would spend nearly every free moment I had making adventures. Even in the middle of class. Of course I always passed my classes and was otherwise a good student, so my teachers never bothered me about it. I even got passes from my homeroom teacher to spend lunch and homeroom in the library where I could read and write in privacy.
When the guys I knew from football would ask me why I was into that stuff, I told them exactly what was up. They all respected me for it and accepted the fact that I hung around with a few geeks and played *cough* Dungeons and Dragons. As a matter of fact, most people I knew where bewildered that I played a game that they associated with ‘geeks’ and ‘Losers’. But I usually shut them up about it and defended my friends whenever I thought it was necessary. It didn’t happen often because I was an imposing presence.
Every girlfriend I have ever had has been explained too that I am a gamer/computer geek. They have never had any problems with it. Now that I am quite older I have been known to bring my books to work and write stuff on my breaks or between work. Anyone that was curious was given a healthy explanation about the game and never asked again. As a matter of fact, I have managed to change quite a few people’s minds about the game after having a short one on one with them.
Put simply, D&D was the best thing that could have every happened to me as a child. I am slightly dyslexic and no one could figure out why I was having such a hard time with my reading and writing skills. By the time I was 11 I was being sent to special Ed classes with kids that couldn’t hardly write there names and where mentally handicapped. Of course I didn’t understand why I was in these classes because I have always been an above average intellect and never got failing grades. However my reading and writing scores where abysmal.
That is until I got into D&D. Until I got into D&D I had never read a single book from start to finish. I never wrote anything unless I was in school and even then I struggled. I couldn’t spell at all, and would regularly misspell the simplest words… Once I found D&D I was suddenly reading every chance I had. I was writing adventures, drawing maps, and creating stories in my head. Though I never quite had the English skills of my peers, D&D made it possible for me to enjoy a semi normal school life. Especially after hitting high school and having to write so often.
Not only do I owe D&D credit for turning my academic life around, I am a firm believer in the power of games to educate and think that things like D&D should be incorporated into normal school curriculum. Learning the most mundane facts can be made so much easier if they where tied into the mechanics of spell casting, or historically significant to the plotline of an adventure… Anyway, I am rambling now.
Anyway, D&D has always been a very positive influence in my life, and I know many of you can appreciate that.
So no, I cant say anyone ever tried to ‘save’ me from D&D. And as far as I am concerned I will do everything I can to promote it in the lives of my friends and family.
I can’t say I was ever persecuted for playing D&D… Of course I have always been a very convincing speaker, and anyone even remotely curious about the game where given a lengthy explanation on its intricacies.
I was introduced to D&D by a neighboring kid that always seems to get everything I ever wanted. His parents spoiled him rotten. One day I walked over to his apartment and noticed he had a red box opened up with dice inside, and a bunch of papers. He, his friend, and my little brother where playing. I stood there watching for a while and was instantly hooked. So I saved up my money and bought the red and blue D&D boxed sets from Toys R Us. That was over 16 years ago.
There was a short period in my life where I was not the most popular kid in school, but I lived in predominantly minority neighborhoods and they all considered me “That White Boy”… I would get funny looks as I sat in the empty halls during lunch reading my DragonLance Novels. But when I moved to Texas, I started high school in a Hicksville town where I wasn’t messed with every day for being white. I immediately started playing football, and became quite the jock.
I would spend nearly every free moment I had making adventures. Even in the middle of class. Of course I always passed my classes and was otherwise a good student, so my teachers never bothered me about it. I even got passes from my homeroom teacher to spend lunch and homeroom in the library where I could read and write in privacy.
When the guys I knew from football would ask me why I was into that stuff, I told them exactly what was up. They all respected me for it and accepted the fact that I hung around with a few geeks and played *cough* Dungeons and Dragons. As a matter of fact, most people I knew where bewildered that I played a game that they associated with ‘geeks’ and ‘Losers’. But I usually shut them up about it and defended my friends whenever I thought it was necessary. It didn’t happen often because I was an imposing presence.
Every girlfriend I have ever had has been explained too that I am a gamer/computer geek. They have never had any problems with it. Now that I am quite older I have been known to bring my books to work and write stuff on my breaks or between work. Anyone that was curious was given a healthy explanation about the game and never asked again. As a matter of fact, I have managed to change quite a few people’s minds about the game after having a short one on one with them.
Put simply, D&D was the best thing that could have every happened to me as a child. I am slightly dyslexic and no one could figure out why I was having such a hard time with my reading and writing skills. By the time I was 11 I was being sent to special Ed classes with kids that couldn’t hardly write there names and where mentally handicapped. Of course I didn’t understand why I was in these classes because I have always been an above average intellect and never got failing grades. However my reading and writing scores where abysmal.
That is until I got into D&D. Until I got into D&D I had never read a single book from start to finish. I never wrote anything unless I was in school and even then I struggled. I couldn’t spell at all, and would regularly misspell the simplest words… Once I found D&D I was suddenly reading every chance I had. I was writing adventures, drawing maps, and creating stories in my head. Though I never quite had the English skills of my peers, D&D made it possible for me to enjoy a semi normal school life. Especially after hitting high school and having to write so often.
Not only do I owe D&D credit for turning my academic life around, I am a firm believer in the power of games to educate and think that things like D&D should be incorporated into normal school curriculum. Learning the most mundane facts can be made so much easier if they where tied into the mechanics of spell casting, or historically significant to the plotline of an adventure… Anyway, I am rambling now.
Anyway, D&D has always been a very positive influence in my life, and I know many of you can appreciate that.
So no, I cant say anyone ever tried to ‘save’ me from D&D. And as far as I am concerned I will do everything I can to promote it in the lives of my friends and family.
Oh my, yes. A guy named Brother Bill came to our Sunday school class and preached about how D&D was EEEEEEVIL. He was so full of himself. Another guy in the class (in my gaming group) was standing next to me and we were having a hard time not laughing at Bill. My friend's little sister was giving us odd looks, since she'd sat in on some games and found them boring rather than soul-stealing.
The guy had a set of stand-up foamboards (like science experiments) about various EEEEEEVIL things, and a small group of cultists (I mean, groupies... I mean teenagers he'd saved... ahem, really) telling us how great Brother Bill is and how his preaching had saved them from sin.
Ah, memories. That was the most amusing (and longest) Sunday School class I'd ever had. Ugh.
The guy had a set of stand-up foamboards (like science experiments) about various EEEEEEVIL things, and a small group of cultists (I mean, groupies... I mean teenagers he'd saved... ahem, really) telling us how great Brother Bill is and how his preaching had saved them from sin.
Ah, memories. That was the most amusing (and longest) Sunday School class I'd ever had. Ugh.
adembroski3
First Post
I met my friend Kevin when I was 5 years old. In Jr. High, the two of us got into gaming through a mutual friend, and we started playing. Around the same time, we both "found Jesus" (I'm not sure why... it was kind of on a whim. We both decided it was time to check out religion and see if it was cool. We got into it).
After a while, our youth pastor, who was an awesome guy who'd actually gamed with us twice, was fired (interesting thing about babtist churches is that the congregation makes the personel decisions. Babtist congregations are a notoriously fickle lot), and the regular pastor took up double duty.
Now, we had both liked this guy as the regular pastor. He was a good speaker, never seemed over bearing, but had strong leadership qualities. He was sincere and level headed... everything a babtist pastor was not supposed to be
Anyways, the guy found out about our gaming (we didn't hide it, really, because the last guy had been very tolorant of it) and the storm began.
Now, I could understand his issues with me listening to Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg at the time. I could even accept that he wasn't happy about my Metallica tape. I wasn't even all that bothered when he came to me about my habit of listening to Garth Brooks (yes, I have very diverse musical tastes... my two favorites are rap and traditional Irish drinking songs), but when he came to me about gaming, I was shocked. I had no idea at the time that there was any stigma at all connected too it. My mother had been pleased by my getting into it, honestly, she thought I was too much of a jock (I'm not only a gamer, but I love soccer and American football. Football is my first love, but gaming is my mistress. Soccer is weekend p***y).
Anyways, I listened to his arguments, and as much as I respected the guy, I just couldn't put the logic together. I explained to him that it was far from satanic, I explained that the spells were fake, and even asked him if I used Christianity as the base religion if that would make him feel better Nothing would make him budge. We were at an impass, and he left. Next sunday I saw Kevin and found out that he had been visited by the pastor as well... a more successful conversation. In fact, Kevin had already trashed ALL of his role playing stuff... including Hero Quest (god I loved that game!).
Kevin and I grew apart over the early High School years. We still got together to play football after school, but we didn't speak much. It was more or less due to our circle of friends being the same. Eventually I moved from Prescott Valley, Az to Fargo, ND, and didn't speak with him for a while.
A few weeks ago I decided to call another friend in Arizona and Kevin happened to be hanging out with him at the time. The two of us talked for a long time and patched up old disagreements. He'll be stopping through Fargo this summer on his way to a business meeting in Minneapolis (it's a tad out of his way, but 200 miles or so shouldn't stop a 21 year friendship). Last thing he asked me is if I was still gaming. I said yes. He said good, have something ready to go when I get there.
After a while, our youth pastor, who was an awesome guy who'd actually gamed with us twice, was fired (interesting thing about babtist churches is that the congregation makes the personel decisions. Babtist congregations are a notoriously fickle lot), and the regular pastor took up double duty.
Now, we had both liked this guy as the regular pastor. He was a good speaker, never seemed over bearing, but had strong leadership qualities. He was sincere and level headed... everything a babtist pastor was not supposed to be
Anyways, the guy found out about our gaming (we didn't hide it, really, because the last guy had been very tolorant of it) and the storm began.Now, I could understand his issues with me listening to Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg at the time. I could even accept that he wasn't happy about my Metallica tape. I wasn't even all that bothered when he came to me about my habit of listening to Garth Brooks (yes, I have very diverse musical tastes... my two favorites are rap and traditional Irish drinking songs), but when he came to me about gaming, I was shocked. I had no idea at the time that there was any stigma at all connected too it. My mother had been pleased by my getting into it, honestly, she thought I was too much of a jock (I'm not only a gamer, but I love soccer and American football. Football is my first love, but gaming is my mistress. Soccer is weekend p***y).
Anyways, I listened to his arguments, and as much as I respected the guy, I just couldn't put the logic together. I explained to him that it was far from satanic, I explained that the spells were fake, and even asked him if I used Christianity as the base religion if that would make him feel better
Nothing would make him budge. We were at an impass, and he left. Next sunday I saw Kevin and found out that he had been visited by the pastor as well... a more successful conversation. In fact, Kevin had already trashed ALL of his role playing stuff... including Hero Quest (god I loved that game!).Kevin and I grew apart over the early High School years. We still got together to play football after school, but we didn't speak much. It was more or less due to our circle of friends being the same. Eventually I moved from Prescott Valley, Az to Fargo, ND, and didn't speak with him for a while.
A few weeks ago I decided to call another friend in Arizona and Kevin happened to be hanging out with him at the time. The two of us talked for a long time and patched up old disagreements. He'll be stopping through Fargo this summer on his way to a business meeting in Minneapolis (it's a tad out of his way, but 200 miles or so shouldn't stop a 21 year friendship). Last thing he asked me is if I was still gaming. I said yes. He said good, have something ready to go when I get there.
Creamsteak
Explorer
I had (and I guess vaguely still have) a friend who's grandmother despized me for a lot of things including dungeons and dragons. Had to click no in your poll though, as she had the hat on for me for a lot more reasons than just playing RPGs.
Minor Note: Like the poster above me, my friend's name is/was Kevin, but I havn't seen him in a while. Emailed him a few times, but as far as keeping in contact, he hasn't seemed all that interested.
Minor Note: Like the poster above me, my friend's name is/was Kevin, but I havn't seen him in a while. Emailed him a few times, but as far as keeping in contact, he hasn't seemed all that interested.
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Strange, how it's ALWAYS Ozzy & D&D. Gotta love it. Almost like it's a script.
Anyway, highschool, 11th grade I think, theology class (Lutheran East in MI). Ozzy & D&D. Evil. I brought up the question of why. They said anything not directly in worship of God was evil. I asked him if he had children. He did. I asked him then if he pictured Jesus on the cross as he helped his wife conceive. I was sent to the principal's office, with a very self-satisfied grin on my face. When asked by the principal why I had asked the question, I simply told him that you may be able to teach me raw information, but no one, ever, will teach me how to think.
I didn't even play yet. Or like hard rock music.
Hmmm.
Today I like to have select Rob Zombie music play in the background while my wizard obliterates the bad guys.
Today (13 years later), I just have to endure my father's continuous berating of any interest I have that he does not share. My reply to him recently was less than diplomatic: You're inflexible and unimaginative, and you're like this by choice. Try it out, then you can tell me how it's a waste of time. Til then, you may keep your lack of respect to yourself, or give up the respect I have for you.
My wife never played before I introduced her (though she did sort of--long story, I'll spare you). She plays all the time, now. She plays the coolest rogues. . .
Anyway, I play as often as we can get together. I avoid the crazies, and there are a few (I seem to attract them-Hope it's the opposites thing). However, just because a crazy chooses to play D&D does not make all D&D players crazy. After all, are mailmen-and-women all crazy because 2 of them shot up their workplaces? Is Satan coming in my mail?
E-mail, maybe, but not my mail . . .
Anyway, highschool, 11th grade I think, theology class (Lutheran East in MI). Ozzy & D&D. Evil. I brought up the question of why. They said anything not directly in worship of God was evil. I asked him if he had children. He did. I asked him then if he pictured Jesus on the cross as he helped his wife conceive. I was sent to the principal's office, with a very self-satisfied grin on my face. When asked by the principal why I had asked the question, I simply told him that you may be able to teach me raw information, but no one, ever, will teach me how to think.
I didn't even play yet. Or like hard rock music.
Hmmm.
Today I like to have select Rob Zombie music play in the background while my wizard obliterates the bad guys.
Today (13 years later), I just have to endure my father's continuous berating of any interest I have that he does not share. My reply to him recently was less than diplomatic: You're inflexible and unimaginative, and you're like this by choice. Try it out, then you can tell me how it's a waste of time. Til then, you may keep your lack of respect to yourself, or give up the respect I have for you.
My wife never played before I introduced her (though she did sort of--long story, I'll spare you). She plays all the time, now. She plays the coolest rogues. . .
Anyway, I play as often as we can get together. I avoid the crazies, and there are a few (I seem to attract them-Hope it's the opposites thing). However, just because a crazy chooses to play D&D does not make all D&D players crazy. After all, are mailmen-and-women all crazy because 2 of them shot up their workplaces? Is Satan coming in my mail?
E-mail, maybe, but not my mail . . .
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