Which comes first? D&D or Geekiness

[Quasqueton]

Does playing D&D/RPGs turn normal boys and girls into geeks/nerds/dorks? Or are natural geeks/nerds/dorks drawn to D&D/RPGs?

Quasqueton

 

[Gnome]

I didn't vote, since I think both are true: playing D&D can bring-out the inner geek, and many geeky types are drawn to D&D.

 

[Henry]

I personally think that liking other "geeky" things predisposes you to liking D&D; if you like Japanese manga, especially Fantasy Manga, if you enjoy computer RPGs, then tabletop D&D will at least be tried by you if you ever get a chance to do so. In my day, I liked GI Joe (THE G.I. JOE, not those imposters who showed up in the 1980's ) I liked Shogun Warriors, Ultraman, Speed Racer, Buck Rogers the live-action show, the western toys (John Wayne, Butch Cassidy, Geronimo, etc.), Star Wars toys by Kenner, and loved any sword and sorcery I saw. My imagination soared as a child with these toys.

D&D was tailor made for me.

I do know that in order to like D&D, it helps to like vicarious fantasy of some sort, though this isn't a mandatory thing.

 

[sniffles]

I voted for the "geeks are drawn to D&D" option, because in my experience you will most likely have other 'geeky' interests prior to coming to D&D. At least, I've never met anyone who played D&D but didn't have any other interests that could be labeled 'geeky'.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

For me personally, I played with He Man figures when I was young, loved Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Robotech, Ninja Turtles and most Saturday morning cartoons.

Plus, I liked computers, video games, and it was because I started connecting to BBSes where there were people playing play by post RPGs that I learned what D&D was and I met my first DM who taught me how to play.

 

[Tinner]

Anone who says there is NO relationship is clearly in denial.

 

[Sundragon2012]

I have known plenty of folks who played D&D and only about 70% maybe were geeks in a classic sense. I know a guy who was in the army of 7yrs, served in Desert Storm and was an incredible athelete with a real social life who was also an intellectual with a capacity for technical work. I know other D&D players, including myself who are equally well-rounded.


I think that generally speaking geeks are attracted to D&D and their geekiness is further reinforced by D&D....a vicious circle of geekdom. But seriously, I have known plenty of D&D players who were geeks but plenty who no one could ever call a geek. I personally feel pleased when a girl I am dating looks as me nonplussed "You play Dungeons and Dragons?" I think that if more folks didn't look the part, the D&D=Geek stereotype could become less and less a reality. Those who where surprised I played D&D were also far more open minded about learning what the game is about than if I had an overt geeky quality. They got to see that there is nothing weird about gaming and folks outside of the socially maladjusted can have such a hobby.



Chris

 

[I'm A Banana]

Anone who says there is NO relationship is clearly in denial

Not so sure. Cool people play D&D. So obviously the relationship has yet to be shown to be significant.

And there's also the argument that EVERYONE has something they do as a hobby, D&D or otherwise. Is it nerdy to dedicatedly follow sports stats, or to be a cinephile?

 

[Michael Tree]

I voted that a geek will seek out D&D, but I think the answer is both. Not only does it bring out your inner geek, but it also tends to prevent people from becoming less geeky. Any strongly inclusive subculture tends to reinforce its primary traits, which in D&D's case is geekiness.

 

[Vigilance]

I was definitely a John Carter of Mars and Conan reading geek BEFORE I spent that gift certificate on the Red Box at Walden's so I voted "geeks seek out D&D".

Chuck