(OT) Are gamers close minded?

[RolandOfGilead]

Hi everyone,

I know I haven't posted much yet. I have a terminal case of marriage.. anyway, I posted some time ago regarding a philosophical question, and was both attacked in the thread for "Preaching", and was lectured for opening a thread regarding such topics. Which kind of makes me wonder...

We Gamers, we're so busy patting ourselves on the back for being educated, intellectual, open minded individuals, that we
fail to see the reality of the situation. Currently in our society,
the majority view is that you can believe anything you want, but dont you talk about it! Now I always thought that we gamers were secure enough in our escapism that we could entertain any idea, any notion, and give it some thought. It appears this is not the case. I'm not attacking anyone.. I'm just saying, It's very easy to attack someone who says "I believe in something", or "I think this is true"...downright cowardly, in my opinion. The mark of a great mind is the ability to entertain an idea without accepting it. It just looks to me like we're afraid of entertaining an idea that doesnt fit our world view, because we may accept it.. or we're too lazy to commit to thinking about things. "Don't bother me with issues, I've already bought my philosophy this month"... (sigh)

 

[Crothian]

Like with all groups we run the fiull gambit. There are some who are going to be close minded, other open minded. Many it will depend on the day and subject.

 

[Frostmarrow]

I think we are open minded and that we are able to entertain an idea without accepting it. I think the problem is how the things we _think_ come out typed. It's very hard to write down one's exact thoughts and even if we do pull that off we sometimes find it hard to interpret what others write. Moreover, I think we often make the mistake of underestimating the sender (or typer in this case) and find it necessary to explain to the sender basic stuff the sender in reality has of course already taken into account.

 

[RolandOfGilead]

I'd like to agree..

I'd like to agree Cro, but I think we have to look at the big picture.. yes, There are a minority that are open minded.. but in my experience in 20 years of gaming, nearly to a man, regarding religion, gamers shut down. I think its an interesting idea too, when you consider that the outsiders look just like the insiders, they're just on the other side of the window.. if that makes any sense .. (Gamers - intellectuals - despite being seen as different in school, emulate the behavior of other groups quite well)

 

[Timothy]

I cannot speak for other gamers, but religion is a topic a would gladly discuss with anybody at almost any given time. I have been to a monastarya couple of weeks ago, and although I did not believe in God before that, I am having doubts right now.

Furthermore, to get on topic again, I believe that most DND players are open minded, but that most also belong to other groups that influence being open minded about subjects and their opinion in things.

Just my two Cents though

 

[RolandOfGilead]

...

I agree that it is a complicated issue, not just involving gaming, I think it reflects society as a whole. I was just referencing our little intellectual community because you cant even OPEN a thread here about religion and have it stay open. It's like its the policy to just close threads relating to religion. Treating philosophy like offensive language is bad form! hehehe.

I can understand the desire to get away from controversy - but to gag people in order to achieve that end?

 

[Berk]

It's mainly because religion and politics (what I'm guessing you are mainly talking about) are very touchy subjects with most likely 60-75% of the population. Those 2 topics right there spark wars irl, and if they can do that then they will deffinately do it here on the message boards. It isn't that we aren't open minded or educated or intellectual. It's just that these are beliefs and faiths and when one "attacks" them we do get defensive.

You can be as open minded as you like but you can't tell me that you never once made fun of another's religion or political beliefs. I know I have (quite often regretably) and I am the most open and open minded person I know and that several people have told me that they knew.

All in all in general I think gamers are a very open minded group of people. Probably the most open minded group of people. But that doesn't stop hatred or anger or just a plain old slip from coming through. We are all just human. Well maybe some of us are gnomes and elves also but the majority are just human, and to err is our way.

 

[s/LaSH]

Antipathy is sourced in imperfect information. Or at least that's what I think. If we all knew just a little bit more about things that concern us, the world would be a happier place.

That said, I'm religious and I don't have a problem with the stuff I see around here... or I try not to. I'd like to think I'm open-minded. Can't speak for anyone else, though.

I suppose being a DM helps... or open-mindedness helps DMing. It's easier to play a villain who is the exact opposite of all you hold good and dear when you can empathise with them.

 

[RolandOfGilead]

what would be a good criteria for you to determine if a group were open minded?
Lets say we asked the following question:

DOES GOD EXIST?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Dont know
What would you guess the gaming communities %'s to be?
and what standard would you hold for an "Open minded"
community?

or maybe a better idea:
DO YOU SUPPORT THE FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS?
1.Yes
2.No
3.I dont know
Follow by:
IS IT OK IF WE SEND A MORMON ELDER TO YOUR HOME TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT RELIGION?
1.Yes
2.No
3.I dont know..
hehehe. I dont know.. its late. I'm tired. I'm just complaining at the lack of spirit in our society nowadays... (sigh). We've lost everything but our belief in science, and by the way, in order to accept scientific proof you have to accept the evidence of your sense on faith...

 

[jdavis]

When you make assumptions on whole groups of people with limited information; that tends towards closed mindedness, when you state you opinions as though they were facts, that suggest closed mindedness; when you attack people who don't share your opinions that smacks of closed mindedness.

For me to say that gamers were closed minded would tend to make me closed minded in my views. Are all D&D players closed minded, no. Are all Christians closed minded, no. Are all of any group closed minded, no. You can't group people together like that and arbitrarily assign a social trait. Now are there closed minded people who game, yes, but not all gamers are, for that matter most gamers tend to be openminded on alot of subjects. As far as posting on religion, well you are just asking for trouble, there is just too much of a difference in people beliefs.

One of the things I like about this board is the fact that so many people are open minded and will will discuss viewpoints with out it turning into a brawl.