Status of Gary Gygax

[Frostmarrow]

Gary is a tough bird. If it in his power, I'm pretty sure he'll come back.

Yes! Go Gary!

 

[Krieg]

After all the Gary bashing that's been going on lately, I'd be surprised if he ever comes back.

Personally I would be surprised if he wore it as a badge of honor. No one bashes folks who have never done anything. You actually have to have accomplished something before you become a target of bashing.

 

[MerakSpielman]

After all the Gary bashing that's been going on lately, I'd be surprised if he ever comes back.

Believe you me, he's pretty used to it at this point.

 

[Incenjucar]

Frankly, I think most of the bile comes from the reaction of people who get annoyed at fanboyism (Gary is to D&D what Katanas are to Japan... very cool, very spiffy, but sometimes blown waaaay out of proportion).

Gary is a clever individual who has a permanent place in history. He's had to deal with some rough stuff in his day, including She Who Shall Not Be Named. He's had some great ideas, and some not so great ideas.

However, the more people act like Gygax is Der Uber the more people will roll their eyes at his mention. Gygax is spiffy. He (and OTHERS, yes, OTHERS) started the game that redefined fantasy, anime, gaming, art, video games, comics, horror, and who knows what else. He's managed to turn people on to reading and math and history arguably more than Harry Potter has. (Certainly in regards to math).

He's also human, and prone to being flawed. While I love what he created, I personally don't care for his tastes, and his business mind is sub-par. No big whup. I'm more arrogant via ego than he could ever comprehend being, so I can hardly begrudge him it for his actually deserving a bit.

It's the bloody fanboyism (fanpersonism?) that I don't care for, and that I feel is the reason so many people sadly direct their bile at the 'gaxster, failing to understand the origin of their own attitude.

 

[Ourph]

Is it really fanboyism to object when people make such insulting and ridiculous comments as "Gygax's mental problems joyfully no longer being part of the game"?

Is it really fanboyism to object to people who claim a man who started out folding cardboard boxes in his garage and built that endeavor into a multi-million dollar company has no head for business?

Is it really fanboyism to object when people essentially rewrite history, blaming the latter day financial woes of TSR on Gary at a time when he wasn't even involved with the company?

Is it really fanboyism to object whe people equate an unpopular opinion with an uninformed opinion?

Anyone who says so probably has an axe to grind.

 

[tleilaxu]

what is the point of getting into a discussion about gygax fanboyism? i mean, really.

 

[MerakSpielman]

what is the point of getting into a discussion about gygax fanboyism? i mean, really.

Irony? That's a point, isn't it?

 

[Incenjucar]

Is it really fanboyism to object when people make such insulting and ridiculous comments as "Gygax's mental problems joyfully no longer being part of the game"?

Is it really fanboyism to object to people who claim a man who started out folding cardboard boxes in his garage and built that endeavor into a multi-million dollar company has no head for business?

Is it really fanboyism to object when people essentially rewrite history, blaming the latter day financial woes of TSR on Gary at a time when he wasn't even involved with the company?

Is it really fanboyism to object whe people equate an unpopular opinion with an uninformed opinion?

Anyone who says so probably has an axe to grind.

Next time, try reading what I wrote and not what you wanted to gripe about.

I said that the reason there's so many people anti-Gygax is because there's too many people who would be Gygax's lover at the drop of hat if only he'd bless their dice.

Just like with katanas: Do you really think people rolled their eyes when someone said "Katanas are cool" before masses of people insisted "Katanas are the perfect unbreakable swords that could cut through a tank."?

I never accused people feeling bad that Gygax was being dissed were fanboys. I merely noted why I feel people are dissing him to begin with.

Read, dammit.

 

[mossfoot]

Just like with katanas: Do you really think people rolled their eyes when someone said "Katanas are cool" before masses of people insisted "Katanas are the perfect unbreakable swords that could cut through a tank."?

Wha... you mean... they can't?

I'm so disillusioned!

(but they can cut through a hamster really well!)

 

[Ourph]

Next time, try reading what I wrote and not what you wanted to gripe about.

I said that the reason there's so many people anti-Gygax is because there's too many people who would be Gygax's lover at the drop of hat if only he'd bless their dice.

And I think you miss my point. The rampant Gygax-bashing came first. Any refutation of the bashing is immediately labelled as empty-headed fanboyism by people who have an axe to grind. Saying that the fanboyism CAUSED the bashing is just an excuse for more bashing.

I have to admit though, it's a GREAT tactic and I'm thoroughly impressed. Using defense against an attack as an excuse for the attack is brilliant if you can pull it off. That would be like the Japanese convincing the world that Pearl Harbor was a reasonable response to US aggression by citing the battle of Midway. As long as you can obfuscate the timeline to your audience it's bound to work. Brilliant!