Taking away the shame...of Roleplaying!

[Holy Bovine]

I had an encounter today on the bus that I'd liek to share. I was just coming home from making my monthly purchases at my local games shop when i couldn't help but overhear the young teenage couple behind me. It seems that the guy didn't want his girlfriend telling people they just met that he player D&D because it was 'so nerdy'. They were probably 16 or 17 and I had to say something. I turned and said

"You know, I'm 33 and I still play D&D. Don't be ashamed of it. But I sure do know what you are talking about."

Unfortunately my stop was next and had to get off the bus - I really wish I had had the chance to tell him about ENWorld!

Of course there is a chance he's here already so if there is a young man out there who was taking the #4 Oxford East bus around 6pm today here in London, Ontario I just want to say, 'Hi!'

From a grizzled old geezer like me!

Anyone else have encounters like this? I love meeting new gamers.

 

[Crothian]

At the local Barnes and Noble I've helpes a few people with their RPG purchases. The people working there never know anything so I'm always more then happy to help people with the hobby. I've yet to mention EN World to someone and have them know what it is though.

 

[tburdett]

I've watched a few of the reality type shows where they go into an adult bookstore with an obvious video camera and start taping the people inside. They scatter, pull their coats over their heads, turn away, and run. Within seconds the store is empty.

I've often wondered what the scene would be like if this happened in a gaming store. Would there be people who reacted the same way? It's possible, but I doubt it. That alone tells me that the stigma from gaming is not nearly as bad as you might think.

 

[Droogie]

I've watched a few of the reality type shows where they go into an adult bookstore with an obvious video camera and start taping the people inside. They scatter, pull their coats over their heads, turn away, and run. Within seconds the store is empty.

I've often wondered what the scene would be like if this happened in a gaming store. Would there be people who reacted the same way? It's possible, but I doubt it. That alone tells me that the stigma from gaming is not nearly as bad as you might think.

I think I probably would act that way. I'm a closet gamer, through and through. The only ones who know I game are gamers themselves.

 

[TeeSeeJay]

I've watched a few of the reality type shows where they go into an adult bookstore with an obvious video camera and start taping the people inside. They scatter, pull their coats over their heads, turn away, and run. Within seconds the store is empty.

I've often wondered what the scene would be like if this happened in a gaming store. Would there be people who reacted the same way? It's possible, but I doubt it. That alone tells me that the stigma from gaming is not nearly as bad as you might think.

No, they'd flock to the camera, salivating at the thought of an unblinking eye listening to them rant about their rawk-arse paladin and his holy sword of idealistic slaying

 

[tburdett]

I think I probably would act that way. I'm a closet gamer, through and through. The only ones who know I game are gamers themselves.

Thanks for replying! What is it about gaming that makes you feel that way? I know what some of the common reasons are, but I'd love to hear yours. Thanks.

 

[Skade]

I am a roleplaying evangelist.

I have brought a few into the hobby that would never have considered it before. I explain the game in terms they get. If they are into action movies I explain it in terms of Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. If they like anime I use Inu Yasha and Akira (I avoid Dragonball Z, though that is known to happen....damn fly spell ). For my intellectually elitist friends and acquiantances it has been described as ad lib acting excercizes for those who enjoy the idea of acting, without the ridicule of an audience.

I also bring a certain party atmosphere to my games when I can. I have good foos usually, not always pizza and fast food. I almost always have beverages of all types on hand, and when I can I tie these both into the session. So if its a banquet in the game, I prepare some special dish, bring a bottle of wine or two, put on some good music and enjoy the evening.

Once I can get people to understand it fills the same social niche as weekend poker games, and with the added benefit of having so many more levels to enjoy it on, I can usually reel them in for a while. If nothing else, they realize that while it may not be a hobby they like, it is not for the socially undead.

 

[Joseph Elric Smith]

I never realized there was any shame in being a role player.
Ken

 

[Harlock]

No shame in it for me anymore. I admit as a kid growing up a gamer in the early 80s onward it was tough at times and there are certain people I just preferred to not mention it to. Now, I am older, wiser and more mature and realize there is nothing to be ashamed of. I even bring books to work when I have new ones to read on breaks. Oh, and I carry my Bible to work too, so that is sometimes fun, but once people realize you're a fairly normal person, don't drink, do drugs, sleep around etc. is when they usually think you're weird. But since they can't say, "Brian is weird because he doesn't cheat on his wife and get plastered at the office party," I guess they might say I'm weird because of D&D and being "too" religious. Maybe other people have had different experiences but I'm too old now to give a rat's rump what people think about me. With age comes the wisdom that trying to impress people that do not give a darn about you anyway is like peeing in the wind. Game on ladies and gentlemen, life is far too short not to enjoy it while you can because you are worried what some close-minded fool may think.

 

[Gez]

I neither hide it nor publicize it. If people ask me about my hobby and are not the kind of people I reply "not your business", I have no particular trouble saying I game.

But I don't care much being taken for a geek. I'm already a student in computer science, so...