How does your family view your hobby?

[Eridanis]

My parents considerd it an extension of the science fiction and fantasy they encouraged me to read from an early age, and the game playng we all enjoyed (chess, Monopoly, etc.). After 8 years of knowing each other, my wife has shaken off the 'geek' sterotypes of D&D she formed in her high school years (getting her to play Magic for a while helped too), and asks intelligent questions about the game. (I hope to get her to play some time - we even rolled up a cleric together one day.) My one-year-old daughter just enjoys playing with the large, pretty d20s that Daddy lets her roll around on the floor.

 

[Dr Midnight]

Gospog has some great in-laws and gaming stories.

 

[Tetsubo]

When I was in HS my Mother thought I spent too much time gaming. She felt that it detracted from my school work. It did. But that was because gaming held my attention and HS bored me to tears.

Now that I'm 38 (well 38 tomorrow) my Mother doesn't seem to know I still game. My Father was a bit surprised last time I brought it up, "You still do that?" My sister has never really understood it. My girlfriend likes the fact that I'm involved in a face to face social event. She will often sit in on a game to watch.

My cats really enjoy the dice.

 

[HellHound]

My parents are proud.

 

[Henry]

Wife: Understands it, takes it or leaves it personally.

My relatives: most are now passed on, but the remainder are devout church-goers who have had no reason to disbelieve what they've been told by their pastors.

Wife's Relatives: REALLY had to come to terms with it, ever since their younger daughter (wife's sister) occasionally plays and now rabidly goes to SOLAR. Formerly wary, they are now quite acceptant of it.

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

Mother: its a good way to use your imagination. maybe one day you'll be a best selling author and i can retire...

Father: shouldn't you be practicing soccer or trying out for your college's baseball team? (i dont even know if we have one)

Mother's side: why aren't you in temple on saturday morinings?

Father's side: what's d&d?

Interesting note to my father's side: My Aunt is a catholic nun and believes that it is satans work. My other aunt is a sci-fi junkie and asks how my games are going. Both aunts ask me what movies are good... and how to fix their computers.

 

[ForceUser]

When I was in high school my folks saw it as a waste of time. Better than drugs, but worse than "normal" extracurricular activities. Today, they still don't understand it but they put on a game face of tolerance all the same. Since a large part of my life involves gaming and gaming-related activities with my gamer friends, my folks and I don't really have a lot in common. I think if I were gay they would understand and accept that more easily.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

My cats really enjoy the dice.

I heard my cat choking yesterday and looked over just in time to see him cough up a d4.


As for my family, they're pretty cool with what I do. My mom thinks that I spend too much money on d&d stuff (which is probably true) but accepts it, and even lets me know if she sees any book sales where they have d&d stuff. (she's a used book dealer)

My dad used to play back in his college days, and he still plays lots of computer RPG's. He's flipped through some of my books and remarked at how things are different, but he hasn't really showed much interest in playing.

My mom's mom thinks that anything involving a book is a good thing (she's a retired librarian). My dad's mom thinks that anything involving a non-bible book is the work of Satan.

 

[Prince of Stories]

My family thinks I'm a little whacked out anyway, and I work in a FLGS. My wife is a casual gamer and works in a bookstore, so she sends all sorts of people my way.
My mother wonders when I will "grow up", my stepfather sees it as a complete waste of time and money, while my brother wants to learn, but my mother won't let him until he makes the honor roll in school this year (he's only 14). My mother-in-law is actually pretty cool with it. She grew up watching those period samurai films and old-school westerns, and has decided that she wants to learn. My father-in-law has actually been playing for 20+ years, and wants me to teach him 3E.
My family's a little strange.

 

[hammymchamham]

My parents think I spend too much on it (which is true!), as well. Though my parents have bought me books for Christmas and Birthday. I think my parents just see it as an extension of my video game playing. To paraphrase 'well, instead of sitting around a TV playing Mario Brothers, he's going to peoples houses and having fun.'

Fathers side:


Mother side: My grandparents bought me a DnD book last christmas, I guess that side is ok with it. And they are all conservative Catholics.


And on another note, I still don't see why some of my religion see DnD as "Satans work." In my current group, one of my fellow gamers is a Christian as well, and my group in college was 66% Christian.