Taking away the shame...of Roleplaying!

[Kilmore]

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.

They probably just didn't believe they were talking to the REAL Crothian.

As far as getting chicks to dig it, go with anime first, especially something like Lodoss Wars, then spring it on them: "You know, there's a game where you can have a character like that..."

Okay, I'm not entirely serious about that, and no, as a matter of fact, that HASN'T worked for me.

 

[Skade]

I talked my most recent recruit into playing my explaining Lord of the Rings and Braveheart in game terms. Anime can't hurt.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Re: Re

I don't mind telling people I am gamer, but I certainly wouldn't mention to a woman I was interested in until the relationship was secure...)

Heh, I met my fiancee through gaming. Although I admit that I am one of lucky ones. I have a fiancee that not only like RPGs but also has collected comics, reads more sci-fi and fantasy than I do (and has the book collection to prove it!) and loves action/scifi movies.

Man I'm gonna go tell her how awesome she is right now!!

 

[Merlion]

Hey Merlion, this is a bit off-topic and all, but at which GK did you work? I worked at PE26 in Arlington, VA from 97-98, so I'm just curious.

On topic: I rarely tell anyone, mostly due to a desire to avoid long discussions about how I spend my free time.

I worked at store #863(I think that was the number) in Douglasville Ga up till Sept of last year.

 

[Angcuru]

oh yeah? Well even pepsi's precious diva sponsor can't stand the allure of coke.

that's because she's so stupid that she can't tell a blue can from a red one

 

[Lalato]

Hmmm... interesting question... A little history, I started playing D&D when I was 10 (1980). I played off and on until I moved away from my home town in 1992. I started playing again a few months ago.

Back in my hometown (Jacksonville, FL) I never had a problem telling people I played D&D... after I moved to Orlando, though... I never brought it up... and no one else did either... so, unfortunately, I never played. My friends in Orlando know me more for my dancing ability than they do for anything else...

Fast Forward to now... A few weeks ago I was at a friend's birthday party. The party was mostly people I've known for most of the time I've lived in Orlando. One friend that I hadn't seen in about a year asked what I was up to... and I said... "Well, I've decided to fulfill the needs of my inner geek... so I started getting back into D&D..." He looked at me with a bit of surprise and said... "Really... I've been playing in a game for the past couple of years every Monday night." I was floored... and then he started listing the other people in the group... all people that I've known for several years.

The very next day... I went rollerblading with another friend... I mentioned the D&D incident from the previous night... and she starts laughing... "I used to play D&D when I was a kid... I always played... uhm... Clerics!" Then she noted... "If you're getting back into it... keep me in mind... I would love to play."

Ever since then... I make sure to mention D&D to my acquaintances... you never know, you might find a closet gamer.

--sam

 

[Angcuru]

There's also the factor of trying to find a guy/girl you can get into a close relationship who's also a gamer. But then, hey, you can always turn them to the light.

 

[Lalato]

My girlfriend had an interesting anecdote about gaming...

When she was about 13 she asked her cousin (a boy) if she could play the game. His reply was... D&D is a boy's game... and girls aren't supposed to play.

Which makes me wonder if there are other women out there that were similarly turned away from gaming... If so, that's a real shame.

--sam

 

[Angcuru]

Well, it may be just a coincidence, but most of the ladies whom I'm good friends with seem to have personalities that would latch onto the gaming life quite easily.

 

[Merlion]

I addicted my b/f to DnD and he addicted me...for a while...to MMORPGS. I've only ever played DnD with one girl...and I think she played mainly because her boyfriend did. Wait thats wrong...I do know another female gamer although we've been out of touch for a while.
I'm sure the stigma of gaming and the like is a lot greater for girls/women than it is for us. especialy DnD and most other RPGS...theirs lots more anime-freak girls though in my experience. of course they DO tend towards certain types of shall we say less intense anime...as a rule..