What made D&D 'evil'?

[Wippit Guud]

Of course, bringing up Adolf Hitler in AD&D 1e probably didn't win any friends.

(In case you're wondering, it's the example for an 18 charisma)

 

[Mistwell]

Actually you wouldn't.

There are some very specific things Shakyamuni said that would prevent this. And in fact has prevented this sort of issue in the parts of the world that are Buddhist.

You would get other problems. To find them look at the problems ones finds in Buddhist societies. But this specific problem would not be one of them.

Actually, I know a buddhist who was very offended by some of the Oriental Adventures stuff. I think you are very wrong. There are plenty of small minded buddhists, just as in every other group in the world.

 

[BOZ]

Can someone tell me what the incident was, in detail, that caused people to think D&D was evil?

i think it was several bored housewives back in the 80s. that, and people who blamed D&D for suicides. and don't forget the jack chick stuff.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Of course, bringing up Adolf Hitler in AD&D 1e probably didn't win any friends.

(In case you're wondering, it's the example for an 18 charisma)

If they can't deal with it, f**k 'em!

Who else can you think of that actually possessed a charisma like that of Hitler? His mere presence made people determined to oppose him at every turn bow to his whims.

Good grief, I suppose a biography of Adolph must really be high on the "Satanist book" list then...

Gary

 

[BOZ]

Incidentally, some folks thought jazz music was satanic 80 years ago. Just some food for thought there.

that was because it made white women want to do crazy things, like dance with black men, and smoke marijuana. or something to that effect...

 

[William Ronald]

Well, as someone who has been role playing since 1980, I have heard it all.

In general, people tend to fear things that they do not understand. Unforturnately, some people will try to make a political issue out of anything they can use as a scapegoat. Indeed, I recall at a seminar of TSR veterans that there was a Wisconsin political candidate who opposed D&D.

My advice is to try to educate people. Reasonable people, when presented with the facts, can make intelligent decisions. Indeed, sometimes I think the RPG industry needs to improve its image. Ironically, popular culture is helping us now. (I am tired of the geek image, but it is better than some of the other images.)

Sadly, there are too many people with hate in their hearts in this world. They fear any thought not their own or anyone not exactly like themselves. In a sense, I pity them. They miss out of much of the wonder of this life.

As for Col_Plahdoh's charisma example, Churchill, FDR, Napoleon, Caesar, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or Nelson Mandela can be thought of examples of charismatic leaders. Hitler was charismatic, but so were the other figures I mentioned

 

[Jeremy]

I always thought Hitler was in there as an example of a highly charismatic bad person. How you didn't have to associate charisma with a tall handsome winning smile or a breath-taking supermodel but rather with a short little austrian who changed everyone's outlook just with words.

I would think a Billy Graham would be another example. Or any other truly moving or exceedingly magnetic personality, speaker, or politician...

<shrugs>

He was an example how a short, physically weak, not all that good looking person could possess (while not a good) a POWERFUL personality that shaped the people around him. Too bad that personality was in a Lawful (Or maybe neutral?) Evil person.

 

[drothgery]

Oh, certainly. Lots and lots of stuff that would make your paladin wet her pants, too.

Well that's good. I mean, I'd hope that there's everything from things that would be challenging to her and the rest of the party (two rogues and a fighter/bard; I'm not sure how I got elected party leader) right now to things that will be a problem when and if she makes it to 12 Paladin/8 Cavalier...

And a bibliography that's good enough for burning in most of the close-minded fundie churches we've been discussing in this thread, too.

All at no extra cost to the consumer.

--Erik

I'm a lapsed Catholic (more out of moving around a lot than any real problems with the Church); I've never run into anti-gaming fundies (or anti-gaming people of any stripe, really), but I've only gamed in upstate NY, on a college campus in Massachusetts, and here in San Diego.

 

[Ulrick]

Interesting, these are the kind of people I think of as ignorant, close-minded fools. This kind of rubbish goes a long way towards causeing various problems worldwide.

If I were you I'd feel perfectly justified in blaming them for their own actions. Of course you can explain their actions anyway you want.

Wow, this thread is still here!

I did blame them at one time for their own actions. But doing so certainly didn't change the situation, so I ceased. Besides, feeding anger to the fire made it worse. If I blamed them verbally or otherwise that would have made them stronger in their convictions.

I remember trying to convince them the game wasn't Satanic. They just would not listen. And they were doing enough blaming as it was. They blamed me for "cursing" their family. They blamed their son for letting "evil" into their house. They blamed each other. They told my friend's grandma who was recently widow that the strange noises in her home was caused by her husband's ghost being upside with her grandson playing D&D. I'M SERIOUS--THAT'S WHAT THEY DID!!!

It was terrifying to watch and hear about the methods they would use to try to get rid of D&D in their lives.

At one point my mother actually considered suing for custody of their son it was getting so bad.

So it wouldn't have done any good to blame them. To do so would sink to their level. If any good came out of that situation it was learned first-hand what destruction extreme willful ignorance, mixed with fear and unaccountablilty, can bring.

I hope (and pray!) that I'll never sink to that level.

Ulrick

 

[Col_Pladoh]

As for Col_Plahdoh's charisma example, Churchill, FDR, Napoleon, Caesar, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or Nelson Mandela can be thought of examples of charismatic leaders. Hitler was charismatic, but so were the other figures I mentioned

Not at all sir! Not one instance of the influence of the presence of any of those famous people you list can compare to that of Hotler. I am not speaking of leadership, but the influence of the personality of the individual on those around him in close proximity. The power of Hitler's charisma is remarked on by all who write about him.

As for the list you give, some are reasonably charismatic. some are not particularly so, some influential only to a particular persuation.

My choice of example remains unassailed

Gary