WOTC ad - insulting to gamers?

[Buttercup]

I thought it was apt and funny.

 

[Buttercup]

If you are ashamed to be associated with such people, that's a real shame because many of them are smart and fun to be around. If you are ashamed to be associated with such people to the point where you find a lighthearted, amusing Dungeon Magazine ad offensive, may I suggest that the problem lies not with the ad but with your own social insecurity.

Can I give you a hug?

 

[Buttercup]

As long as he didn't have his two characters get it on with each other, it's all good.

Hong, baby! Where've you been? I've missed you.

 

[Tharian]

I really enjoyed the ad. I thought it was pretty much spot-on. I even know some guys like that who consider pen-and-paper RPG games to be true sign of geekiness while playing online is the epitome of coolness.

I laughed so hard when I read that ad that my GF wanted to see it. Now she wants me to find a way to scan that pic and make a poster of it that she can post next to her computer.

 

[shilsen]

I think it's the other way around, instead of there being people that take themselves too seriously, there are more often than not people who don't take themselves seriously enough.

Don't forget that there are also some of us who take ourselves very seriously, but don't care whether other people do so or not.

 

[Wormwood]

The ad was funny, clever, memorable and (hopefully) effective.

As for being offended? Please. You couldn't offend me if you tried.

 

[wingsandsword]

I thought the ad was funny.

It poked fun at a stereotype that is, honestly, all too often true. Not always by any stretch of the imagination, but there certainly are a lot of "alone in the parent's basement" gamers, both tabletop and MMO. Walking around Gen Con, you'll see plenty of people who validate the stereotype, and plenty of people who shatter it wide open.

Some people are too easily offended. There are things in the world worth really getting upset about, this isn't one of them.

It's probably also effective advertising, since we're all talking about it, and if it leads a few MMO players (seeing it in a computer gaming magazine) who used to be RPGers to look at the hobby again, or gently nudges an RPGer (who reads it in dungeon) to not walk down the dark path of MMO's, it's done it's job.

Personally, I used to play Everquest heavily between '99 and '01, but I haven't MMO'ed since. I've been tempted to start with WoW, but I don't want to go back go gaming for hours on end at my computer instead of gaming at a table where I actually see and interact with actual human beings.

 

[The Persian]

Don't forget that there are also some of us who take ourselves very seriously, but don't care whether other people do so or not.

Sorry, normally I don't make a habit to exemplify this, usually I never care what others think or when i'm compared to a stereotype. I'm just here to point out the other point of view...a sheep amongst wolves, if you may.

 

[yangnome]

I am offended at the people who are offended. Are you trying to imply that there is something to be ashamed about being a 30 yr old man living in my parent's basement with my cats? So what if I choose that for my lifestyle. I find that it offers me much more time to game. There is no need for me to be ashamed of who I am.

 

[Felix]

A player shouldn't have to come into PnP roleplaying expecting to be mocked or insulted.

There's a story about a man sitting on the side of the road. A traveller passes and asks him what kind of people are in the city up the hill. The man asks "What kind of people are there where you came from?" The reply is, "Jerks, the lot of them." To which the man says, "You will find the same people here."

If you go around with a chip on your shoulder looking to be offended by one thing or another, you will be; if you try to find something to complain about, you'll find it. And in the mean time, you'll have a less enjoyable time on this good earth.

Berkeley Breathed coined a term which I like about this sort of thing... Offensensitivity.



Good ad.