How open are you about playing DnD?

[~Johnny~]

I chose option #1. For me, geeky activities come in categories. Am I...

...willing to talk about it at work?
I'm open about most of my leisure writing hobbies, like my blog and my posts at Sneakery.
I'm willing to admit that I play videogames at work, but I won't bring up the subject on my own. (I'd likely be more willing if most of my coworkers weren't middle-aged women.)

...willing to talk about it with casual friends?
Both of the above are perfectly appropriate fodder for cocktail parties, and I'll combine the two by mentioning that I sometimes write video game reviews.
In a more casual setting like this, I'll also mention that I read comic books.
This is also the category that covers what I'd "reveal" to a girl I'm casually dating

...willing to talk about it with my best friends?
Only the people closest to me know I play RPGs, and some of them make lighthearted fun of me for it.
My big ol' collection of Star Wars action figures also falls under this category.
If I took up CCGs or miniature games again, they'd also be here.

I'm a pretty confident guy, but the people I hang out with don't "get" roleplaying, and those that do consider it the nerdiest of the nerdy hobbies. I'm not really comfortable seeking out new friends to game with, partly because when I do, they're people who seem a bit weird to me. (I know that sounds ironic, but I've never physically met gamers who didn't fall at least partly into the greasy-haired, socially awkward, Weird Al-listening stereotype who weren't already my friends.)

 

[bubbalin]

When my friends ask me what I was doing I tell them "pornography. i was buying pornography."

Hehe, nah, pretty open about it.

 

[MonsterMash]

I'd probably have preferred another option for I'm shy about it, but I won't totally hide it. As I tend to game on weekday nights it doesn't often come up and my 'more socially acceptable' pastimes are more likely to get mentioned, e.g. running, cinema going.

Its still probably got a bit of a stigma, which is ironic given you're actually interacting with people directly which isn't often the case with people using Computer Games

 

[Cor Azer]

I'm pretty open about it. I'm not evangelical about proclaiming that I play, but I don't lie or try to hide it. Same as any other hobby of mine (drawing, reading, rock climbing, rugby)

 

[Umbran]

I don't treat it any differently then my other hobbies.

I'm with Crothian. I don't beat people over the head with my aspirations at eing a great chili cook, or with the fact that I tie-dye my own t-shirts. If it comes up, I'll discuss it just like any other hobby.

 

[francisca]

fairly open, despite getting ribbed about it.

I wore my GenCon T-shirt on a day we had a staff meeting last august. Someone asked what gencon was, and I explained what it was and that it included RPGs, boardgames, LARPS, trading card games, etc... So then some wise guy (who knew I play D&D) asked what kind of games I played, and I said in front of all 35+ of my co-workers that I played role-playing games. Got some strange looks, but nobody has ever said much to me about it. Except for the wiseguy, who wants to join my game now. In addition to him, there is at least one other guy in my group who games, so around 8% of my group.

Since then, other people at work mention have D&D to me. These are people that I thought in no way would have had any idea about it.

Now at my previous job, we used to play Magic at lunch 4/5 days a week.

 

[ejja_1]

I have the SRD tattoed on my left but cheek, and have taken out billboards with pictures of said tattoo. It caused 4 major traffic accidents in the 4 days they were up. Top that Junior!

 

[Darmanicus]

Never had a problem with it. In fact I'm sure I bored several people to death with 'what I did last night/weekend' when someone was stupid enought to ask!

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I don't bring it up, but I don't mind if people know. I just don't go out of my way to tell them. I also prefer not having D&D conversations in public places (bus, restaurant, etc.) à la "Hey it was cool last night, especially when Azlor the Mighty did 94 points of damage with his greataxe!"

AR

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I don't advertise it, but when I come back from lunch with a new release, I don't bother hiding it in my desk either. Probably not as obvious as tattoos, piercings, and a shaved head/goatee combo, but definately not hidden.