[News] Role-player decapitated (drug addicts arrested)

[Numion]

On finnish news they said that the police considers the victims roleplaying hobby their strongest lead in the case. Hope they're not jumping into conclusions..

 

[Mordane76]

(Hypothetical interview)

Police ---> "We consider the victim's hobby to be our strongest lead in the case."
Reporter w/ RP experience ---> "And why is that?"
Police ---> "It is a widely known and accepted fact that RP leads to satanism and other horrible practices, as well as the decline of civilization as we know it."
Reporter ---> "Haven't you read any of the material that debunked those theories, and the recants of many of the people involved in the cases that brought about these beliefs? Also, much of the publicized criticism of RP comes from usually-extremist religious voices, who are rarely accepted by their representative faiths as speaking for the whole of their churches?"
Police ---> "Uh... um.... LOOK AT THE MONKEY!!!!" runs away and hides...

 

[Mercule]

The psychologist Christer Olsson from Uddevalla, who has warned about anomalies in role-playing games in several articles, does not rule out that the murder can be connected to the victim's hobby.

Or, in other words:

Noted witch hunter does not rule out possibility that witchcraft was involved.

I'm glad they're using unbiased sources.

 

[barsoomcore]

On finnish news they said that the police considers the victims roleplaying hobby their strongest lead in the case. Hope they're not jumping into conclusions..

On the contrary, I hope they ARE jumping to conclusions. I would be horrified to learn that his roleplaying hobby actually was a contributing factor in the fellow's death.

 

[Rashak Mani]

Thank God that is almost impossible to prove that connection !

Thou having seen many a crazy Roleplayer I wouldnt discard it as being game related totally.

(Maybe he read the famous Head of Vecna Story and was trying it himself.)

 

[Zander]

Well we are a community of people that has no monetary interest in no big markets. We are the logical community to bash since it cannot bite them back.

And these things just make so bloody angry...

Me too. That's why I joined CAR-PGa (The Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games), the largest international RPG advocacy group. There are no fees (unless you also want the monthly newsletter). You just have to contribute RPG-related stories from the media, liaise with the media when you can etc.

CAR-PGa has what is probably the largest archive in the world of RPG-related material.

We could sure do with more members in Scandinavia (and elsewhere). Please have a look at our unofficial site.

Thanks.

 

[Kilmore]

You know, it is entirely possible that this unfortunate individual's death may have had everything to do with RPG's. Some freaks in the world will use any excuse to "do what they wilt", and unfortunately, gaming has it's share of freaks.

If worst comes to worst, how as a community are we going to respond?

 

[Nifft]

Re: [News] Role-player decapitates friend

i think once you have decapitated somone you can no longer really call them your friend

y o i n k

-- Nifft

PS: The only way this could be blamed on an RPG is if the beheading was due to a REALLY bad DM call.

 

[Mordane76]

That's a good question, Kilmore.

Personally, every thing in the world has its fair share of nutballs. But we're a fringe community, outsiders... something that the mainstream doesn't understand, and hence they fear. When one of our affiliates has his brain go AWOL, it allows people to justify their fear and lack of understanding.

We can't disavow the hobby, and we can't disavow the person or his friends. We can't disavow LARPers (although it's tempting)...

So, what options are we left? How does a multi-faceted, widespread community without a central spokesperson raise its voice to denounce violence, but also make it known that just because one of our members went loopy doesn't mean that we're all axe-wielding psychoes that dismember other members of our hobby?

 

[Mark]

You know, it is entirely possible that this unfortunate individual's death may have had everything to do with RPG's. Some freaks in the world will use any excuse to "do what they wilt", and unfortunately, gaming has it's share of freaks.

If worst comes to worst, how as a community are we going to respond?

I will respond (if necessary) that they are not freaks (if that word must be used) because of the gaming, but rather in spite of the gaming...