The Week claims the economy causes role-players to "flee reality"

[talien]

From: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-week-claims-the-economy-causes-role-players-to-flee-reality

In what can only be described as a tin-eared observation of cosplay culture and role-playing games in general, The Week columnist James Pethokoukis posted an article yesterday that compares the U.S. economy to Japan's, citing:

Two decades of stagnation after the collapse of the 1980s real-estate and stock bubbles — combined with labor laws making it tough to fire older workers — have relegated vast numbers of Japanese young adults to low-paying, temporary contract jobs. Many find themselves living with their parents well into their twenties and beyond, unmarried and childless. Then again, they do have plenty of time to dress up like wand-wielding sailor girls and cybernetic alchemist soldiers from the colorful world of anime cartoons and manga comics.

He quotes Masahiro Yamada, a sociology professor at Chuo University in Tokyo, who said that young people in Japan are:

...escaping to virtual worlds of games, animation and costume play. Here, even the young and poor can feel as though they are a hero.

 

[Janx]

how many young adults who "still live at home" are really out of work AND paying for costume making AND going out in public like that?

I got to imagine the # of arguments with parents would be high, because it's be a sign of wasting money that they claim to not have to not move out.

Seems more like something somebody NOT living at home would be free to take up as a hobby where they wouldn't be embarrased/chided by their parents.

I suspect that "escapism" is less about "escaping" and more about "it's really cool when they get there"

 

[Dioltach]

People have been "escaping" into fantasy worlds for ages: what other purpose do adventure stories, from Homer's epics through the lays of Marie de France through modern fantasy and scifi, serve if not to allow the audience to vicariously become heroes by imagining themselves in the place of the protagonists? Most lives have been pretty hum-drum by the standards of the age, regardless of the economy, and people have always wanted to experience some excitement without any actual danger. Let's face it, most of us aren't really hero material in real life. And to me, that's probably a bigger reason for roleplaying than disenfranchisement with society. It's not like we play D&D because our imaginary lives have more meaning than our actual lives, we play because we want a bit of a thrill and adventure without giving up our comfortable lives.

Of course, that's just my take on it.

 

[Elf Witch]

I have been involved in different fandoms since the 70s and I disagree with this article . Maybe for some it is an escape from a dreary life or a life they are unprepared to deal with. But for most of the people it is just a fun hobby.