Mental stability and roleplaying games

[SpringPlum]

I got into an argument (although a friendly one) today with a Christian girl I know, where she said she'd hear that roleplaying games can turn people mentally unstable, and make them gradually "become" the role they play in the game, in real life. Of course, we all know that this is false, but I want to show her some better arguments than just my own. Some time ago, someone in this forum linked to an excellent article about things like these, but I can't find it again.

I'd appreciate it if any of you can link me to online articles about this topic, preferably well researched ones. She said she'd like to read any articles about this.

Hey guys, don't automatically assume that this girl is a crazed religious fanatic who is bent on denying us all our right to play rpgs. Chances are she heard all of this from her parents whose exposure to rpgs is what they heard and saw on the news during the days of the 'moral scare' and Patricia Pulling.

I think she deserves some credit for being interested in reading articles debunking the 'evil DnD' hoopla. It takes courage and an open mind to overcome these prejudiced precepts.

 

[Espen Gätzschmann]

Yeah, she's no fanatic by any stretch of the word. It is indeed her immediate family which has given her these ideas, especially due to a close relative in his early twenties, who lost touch with reality and "became" his RPG character.

I'm pretty certain that I'll have her fully convinced that roleplaying games are more or less harmless, after I've shown her the articles you people have linked to. This thread is becoming very useful.

 

[Agemegos]

a close relative in his early twenties, who lost touch with reality and "became" his RPG character.

Good God! Does that really happen?

 

[WizarDru]

Good God! Does that really happen?

Uh...maybe you should creep up to the firsrt or second entry by Torm in the thread, and read that again a little more closely. The answer is Yes.

 

[Steverooo]

I think being socially engaged is IMPORTANT in combating feelings of despair, loneliness and depression. It is very easy to feel isolated in today's busy high tech society. We can chose to isolate ourselves from the world, or to participate in it. I think the latter is generally healthier and leads to a more fulfilling life -- the exact opposite of what was portrayed on a TV show that should at least strive for mediocrity.

It is! In his book, Mathematical Illiteracy, the author examined many myths, including the one about "RPGs Cause Suicide". Looking at the overall suicide rates, and comparing the rate for RPGamers, he found that it was substantially lower, not higher! In his investigation as to WHY, he found that people involved in ANY type of "team" or "community" had lower suicide rates, and that any type of social interaction, even something as simple as a local gaming group, fulfilled this "interaction" role.

So in other words, D&D doesn't promote suicides, it helps prevent them! As long as you don't play alone!

 

[Henry]

In his investigation as to WHY, he found that people involved in ANY type of "team" or "community" had lower suicide rates, and that any type of social interaction, even something as simple as a local gaming group, fulfilled this "interaction" role.

So in other words, D&D doesn't promote suicides, it helps prevent them! As long as you don't play alone!

The BIG question is, would this also apply to, say, Online RPG's? I have no hard evidence, but I believe it would NOT, because even though participating remotely with other people, it is, as said, "remote." It would be a tough thing mentally to separate the actions of the fellow remote gamers from their computer iconic representations. However, in a table-gaming session, there is a physical presence, body language, peer standards, and many other subtexts that give a person a feeling of being involved.

My supposition is based on the emergence of prevalence in "PKing" or "Player Killing" that became a household word when the MMORPG explosion happened in 1999-2000. Gaming remotely is, ultimately still anonymous, and does not foster social contact in the same way that a local gaming group would.

Thoughts on this?

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

At the risk of getting religious - I have no problem with Christian gamers, nor have I ever. The only Christians I ever have a problem with are the ones who call themselves that, but have little idea what it means. It always disturbs me a great deal when I'm around a group of "Christians" and somehow I'm the only one who knows that Aaron was Moses' brother or the basis for Papal Authority or how Paul brought the faith to the Gentiles or some such. Seems like people who believe He died for them would read His book once or twice, at least.

I really think that comes down more to having a problem with hypocrits, though - and those certainly exist in almost ANY religion.

More on topic, I think the purpose of the thread is more about how to show Christians that D&D is okay, than any sort of message about Christians themselves. (Although, back to what I was saying above, it would be a LOT easier to do so if those same Christians actually knew what Christ had said, rather than just what their pastors and clergy or even parents (who may have their own agendas, unfortunately) have told them.)

P.S. I apologize if I have offended you in any way. I assure you that if I have, it is because you didn't understand me, and that could be either of our faults - mine for not being clear enough, or yours for reading this while expecting it to be an attack. If either of these is the case, try going back and rereading this post while hearing it in your head in the voice of the sweet little duck that wanted Tom to eat him in the Tom and Jerry cartoons, and see if it works better.

No, no...I wasn't offended. I was merely asking that people not attack us, because this thread's topic could've been an open call for such by a lot of folks. No harm, no foul!

 

[Steverooo]

Thoughts on this?

Agreed!

 

[pdkoning]

As a Christian I often have and had to defend myself because of D&D and Fantasy in general. This usually helps:

Refer to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, both Christians, Tell them that instead of reading such an adventure, you play a major part in the story/adventure.
Also tell them you play with pen and paper: So no real action.

As for escapism, I consider D&D/D20/Fantasy much more harmless than huge amounts of alcohol or drugs.

 

[WayneLigon]

Yeah, she's no fanatic by any stretch of the word. It is indeed her immediate family which has given her these ideas, especially due to a close relative in his early twenties, who lost touch with reality and "became" his RPG character.

See, now right there is something to investigate. It would be interesting to see how or if the information given to them about this person has become distorted or misunderstood. Many, many have extreme discomfort or outright fear of the mentally unstable. They feel very uncomfortable talking about it, and the fact that it's a relative will only make things worse (Relative in what manner? If a direct relative, the fear will only be heightened by 'will I go crazy too?' thoughts.)

It could be simply that when discussing therapy with them, the doctor mentioned the word 'roleplaying' (used in the sense mentioned above - the therapy tool) and that word stuck with them because the only other place they're likely to hear that word is in discussion of role playing games.

Just a thought. The whole thing could be just a big misunderstanding.