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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mallus" data-source="post: 6320691" data-attributes="member: 3887">While that's true for some individuals, I think they're corner cases (there can't be that many bona fide Internet addicts, can there??). The larger issue of distracted players is really just a reflection of the basic structure of traditional RPGs, ie a single GM serving multiple players. A GM who can't give equal attention at all times. Regardless of how well a GM manages their attention, there are going to be times when individual players are out of the action. This has always been true. Before smartphones and laptops, it was players leafing through rule books, or their friends books/comic collection, etc. Side-conversations about Monty Python and The Princess Bride.  Facebook, Candy Crush Saga, and even WoW during a session are only newfangled ways of addressing an old issue, one baked into the very set-up of these games. Then there's the added issue of gamers who a mainly at a session to hang out w/friends. They've always been with us, too, and banning their devices isn't going to change them. To be fair, I have a general bias against blanket bans of, well, anything. They say to me, "we can't figure out a more nuanced or targeted solution to a specific problem". I'm also coming at this as someone who mostly GMs/DMs. Asking players to focus on the game is really saying "pay more attention to to me, damnit!". It strikes me as vain. Players will listen with rapt attention when I'm doing a good job. If their attention wanders... that's valuable feedback.(We're also a pretty laid-back group. We play on Friday nights, so we're often tired, if not haggard after a week of careers and families. It doesn't feel right for me to demand they treat the game as SERIOUS BUSINESS. If my players reach for Candy Crush, I'll just reach for another glass of wine. I'm confident something will happen that'll draw them back in.)</blockquote>

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