RANT: My sister thinks you're all losers

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

My sister and I usually get along quite well. We love and respect one another. BUT, like our father, we can both tend to be boorish, close-minded, and obstinately opinionated despite appalling ignorance.

Little by little, I've been helping my sister repaint her house during the cool hours of Monday mornings over the last few weeks. My wife came over after work this past Monday to help her clip her dogs claws.

I don't remember now what we were talking about, but I made some reference to EN World, and my sister started in on this tirade about how people who post online about a fantasy game are no-doubt wierdoes: fat (or scrawny), unwashed men with bad hygiene, tattoos, piercings (my wife's ears perked at this point, as she has both piercings and tattoos.) These men (sorry female ENWorlders, my sister assures me that you are men claiming to be women) have no female friends or romantic interests, unless they're wierdoes, too.

According to her, people who post on a board like EN World frequently do so because they are unable to interact with the real world in a meaningful way - in short, there is something wrong with them.

So, naturally, I said "You mean, like me?"

Well, she back-pedalled a bit, and assurred me that these things were not true of me, but insisted that all EN Worlders are uneducated losers with serious psychological deficiencies and a cornocopia of aberant behaviors, but no education, no jobs, and no real, substantiative value as people.

I regard many of you as friends, after a fashion. I have respect for your opinions and for the time you spend as you enjoy. I love roleplaying and see nothing abberant about it. I know that a significant portion of ENWorlders hold advanced degrees, and that many of you hold jobs where you make valuable contributions to the rest of society, or at least a respectable income. In short, I know that EN Worlders are regular folks.

I guess I knew that my sister was pig-headed, opinionated, and often wrong, but I was sorely offende nonetheless. I defended you to her as best as I could, but eventually, I just gave up and we agreed to disagree. There is simply no convincing some people.

I just wish that people I otherwise respect didn't express stupid, stupid, hateful, small-minded opinions. I'm just pissed.

Thank you for listening to (or reading) my rant. At least I know that I can count on EN World to keep an open mind and be understanding of my annoyance.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Let it Go

I would just tell her that she's right and let her wallow in her ignorance.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Eh. She's probably one of those people who thinks everyone who isn't blessed to be her is some kind of filthy drooling moron who has to take off their shoes to count to 20 and thinks a shower is "someone who shows things".

In other words, my dream girl. What's her number?

 

[Desdichado]

Eh, who knows. She may largely be right. I mean, what've we got now; nearly 12,000 members, and who knows how many unregistered lurkers? How many of them do you know?

 

[Masquerade]

You know, I was given an almost identical tale of a friend of mine concerning his girlfriend's opinions of roleplayers.

Don't let it be too big of a deal, but let her know how wrong she is.

 

[kanithardm]

These men have no female friends or romantic interests, unless they're wierdoes, too.

According to her, people who post on a board like EN World frequently do so because they are unable to interact with the real world in a meaningful way - in short, there is something wrong with them

*sniff*

 

[DaveMage]

Bah - there's plenty more wrong with us than what she said...

 

[Psionicist]

Just for fun, I replaced the reference to gamers with "homosexuals".

... and "jews".

My point is: It's socially acceptable to attack gamers, but not other minorities, just check out mainstream media when they talk about star wars or lord of the rings. Do we care? Not much. But it's still not right

Sorry Psionicist, I've edited out your concrete examples while leaving your main point in place. The examples were proving a little offensive to some people (which does make your point nicely, I might add) - Plane Sailing

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I'm a little wierd (no where near as wierd as she thinks but I won't deny it) and if someone has a problem with it they can say it to my face and we can 'work' something out.

Sorry I'm just in a bad mood and am very belligerent today.

 

[devilbat]

I kind of think we are all losers, to a certain extent.