Oh no Conan just DIDNT!

[prosfilaes]

That's about as likely as someone seeing the bit and going "Hmmm.. Wedgies. I love wedgies! Must look into this."

So advertising companies spend millions of dollars showing people using their products surrounded by beautiful women for no reason? Or is it possible to build up a positive assocation with a product, but not possible to build up a negative association?

 

[Barak]

So advertising companies spend millions of dollars showing people using their products surrounded by beautiful women for no reason? Or is it possible to build up a positive assocation with a product, but not possible to build up a negative association?

"Speak of me well, speak of me badly, just SPEAK OF ME" is a famous line for a reason.

 

[Larcen]

I really doubt it's part of the reason the industry is in dire straits.

I think it may have played an indirect part. Negative popular perception of the hobby may not be responsible for it's slump, but it certainly hurt it from growing. For example...

"Speak of me well, speak of me badly, just SPEAK OF ME" is a famous line for a reason.

Reminds me of when I was in Amway way back when. My single biggest obstacle in growing that business was the negative perception people had of it. Most people didn't even know any details of Amway's network marketing model. Not a clue. All they knew were the "pyramid scheme" rumors and negative hearsy. As a result they didn't even want to hear the details, much less try it. Needless to say I don't do that anymore. So let me tell you, public opinion counts, and a bad reputation hurts.

 

[Barak]

Yeah but Amway -is- a pyramidal scheme right? Right?

Point is, a skit on Conan won't affect jack. Overreaction might.

In fact, I'd bet all the people who get offended about the skit are those the skit make fun of, and, you know, those who find it funny are those it was targeted as. And most of those play or have played D&D. And if you keep on whining about it, I'll give you a wedgie.

 

[Larcen]

Yeah but Amway -is- a pyramidal scheme right? Right?

Point is, a skit on Conan won't affect jack. Overreaction might.

In fact, I'd bet all the people who get offended about the skit are those the skit make fun of, and, you know, those who find it funny are those it was targeted as. And most of those play or have played D&D. And if you keep on whining about it, I'll give you a wedgie.

LOL! You may have missed that I added "pyramid scheme" to my last comment as well.

Again, I think you are underestimating the power of negative publicity. Any negative publicity.

Here is something else to consider. The ONLY thing the guy said and did was "I play Dungeons and Dragons." That's it. It was if that was the sole reason he should be dragged of stage via wedgie. A direct "attack" on D&D, as it were. And only D&D. Not nerds in general. (Although I suppose it could be argued that one presupposes the other )

 

[Barak]

*shrug*

I'm honestly not overly concerned. Everytime this comes up, I'm forced to point out that the two places D&D is played most is in jail and in the military. None of which are exactly nerd central. Yeah, Colleges come third.

 

[Hairfoot]

the two places D&D is played most is in jail and in the military.

That's interesting. Where'd you find those data?

 

[Arrgh! Mark!]

I remember watching a comedy show showing that normal, nightclubbing men were horrible in relationships - the answer? Geeks!

Geeks were being advertised as stable, attention giving spouses and completely free of all STD's and violent complexes. The only problem was the fact the girlfriend would have to listen to crap about elves for hours but generally the stories are more interesting than listening to footy stories for the same period and then dealing with jealous issues. There was no problems with worrying if the geek guy was out picking up other girls - if he even could - it was far more likely he'd be at home with all of his male friends pretending to be an elf.

It was a good 15 minute segment (in which the wife could barely stay on the couch from laughter) I found it quite funny. It was the sort of humour when one can laugh at oneself, as opposed to laughing at the pain of something else.

 

[Ranger REG]

Everytime this comes up, I'm forced to point out that the two places D&D is played most is in jail...

I recalled having played a couple sessions in a police station, but there were no bars around me.

 

[ssampier]

*shrug*

I'm honestly not overly concerned. Everytime this comes up, I'm forced to point out that the two places D&D is played most is in jail and in the military. None of which are exactly nerd central. Yeah, Colleges come third.

I'm quite proud of the second and third. The first not so much.