Defending our hobbies

[kristof65]

On another list, this article was linked to:

 

some political nonsense.

 

Now, I don't really care about the actual political content of this post, what ticked me off was this line right here:

It may be typical of the pro-Obama Dungeons & Dragons crowd to disparage a fellow countryman's memory of war from the comfort of mom's basement, but most Americans have the humility and gratitude to respect and learn from the memories of men who suffered on behalf of others.

Emphasis is mine.

 

Apparently, this guy goes around using D&D player as an insult. Last month he called some NY Times editors he didn't agree with a bunch of D&D players, too. It's time we broke him of this habit.

 

For the first twenty years I gamed, I was embarrassed about my hobby because of the stereotype. Well, in recent years, I've realized it is just that - a stereo type, and unless we gamers stop treating it that way too, the stereo type will never go away.

 

I'm encouraging all my fellow role-players (since it's highly unlikely this guy knows the difference between D&D, Tunnels & Trolls and Warhammer), regardless of your political leanings, to email this guy at [email protected]

and denounce his use of D&D as a stereotype. If you're a republican, be sure to mention that; if you're not, ask him if he would dare say the same thing about stamp collectors or model railroad enthusiasts.

 

BTW, this little tirade has nothing to do with my own political leanings, I'm simply tired of D&D being portrayed negatively. When it comes to my fellow gamers, I don't care if you're repubican, democrat, libertarian, communist or otherwise when you sit down to play D&D with me as long as your political views don't ruin the game.

[vejlin]

yeah I agree. And by looking at our little forum here I don't really see the "D&D crowd" as being particularly "pro-Obama" or out of touch with what it means to serve as a soldier. In fact it seems to me that current and ex servicemen might actually be overrepresented in the "D&D crowd".

[nytflyr]

I dont know, after reading it over a couple of times, maybe he meant the D&D Players who were Pro-Obama. If I understood correctly, someone asked Obama if he ever played D&D in a forum earlier. either way it was a pretty stupid thing to say

[VelveteenRabbit]

Done.

 

Hello,

 

I'm writing because I have to take issue with your mention of the "Dungeons and Dragons Crowd" as an apparent derogatory in recent columns.

 

I happen to own a store that sells Dungeons and Dragons, as well as many other products that you likely frown on. I won't try to sway you towards my perspective on the value of my products or even the store itself for the community, but maybe I can tell you a bit about our clientele.

 

First off, not all of them live in the mother's basement. Actually, virtually none of them do. I can't say none, just none of I know of and I know a good many. I myself moved out at 18 and have managed to be a productive citizen just fine now for 16 years despite having played Dungeons and Dragons since the age of 6.

 

Second, a good number of active duty personel happen to play Dungeons and Dragons as well. We get customers down from the Cheyenne military base on a regular basis and often have customers come in who are on leave while serving in Iraq. I've heard from people about 24 hour D&D games that run constantly on aircraft carriers even. Whatever their political affiliation, I doubt these are the people who your insults are targetted at.

 

Please do not take my writing as an attack on your politics. I feel everyone is entitled to their opinion. One of the guys I game with three times a week is as right wing as anyone I know (and happens to be ex-artillery) and I feel no need to talk politics with him. All I am asking is that when you write, you keep in mind that there are real people out there who maybe possess a different perspective on things. You are likely offending what should be your political allies by off-handedly commenting on the value of a hobby that many people enjoy. If all the D&D players you've met live in their mother's basements all I can say is you've met a sad few and should make an effort to meet at least a couple more before you condemn us all.

[tombwalker]

Excellent write up.

 

Maybe he should also consider the fact that to Role Play, you need a strong grasp of mathematics, the theatrical, good imagination, ability to 'think on your feet' and the ability to empathise with the character that you portray.

 

Oooh, that sounds an awful lot like an actor. Would he dare call down someone like George Clooney or Brendan Fraser. Not if he wants to keep a roof over his head!!

[Helltown]

I sent a similar letter to what VR wrote. Minus the bit about being a productive member of society despite playing D&D for years... I still don't play that regularly and only learned how to play because heh... I was in the Navy

 

I doubt it'll puncture the guy's ego, so it was probably a waste of electrons. Least it made me feel better

[Spike]

The sad truth is that he's not that far off the mark. Hell, I even play D&D, but face it folks...we all know the type... sweaty meat-mountain no-job-having trust-fund slacker hanging out at the game shop talking about his 30th level bard.

 

But one thing Obama fails to realize...is that most of those losers seldom bother to vote.

[VelveteenRabbit]

Hmm... Not sure what you mean there actually. I think this thread was about defending our hobbies from people who don't know a thing about them, not those who actually play! I think there are plenty of annoying people who frequent my store that I wouldn't consider to be losers at all. They just aren't people I want to talk to. Yes there are some strong stereotypes that come in also, but they're far from the average person who frequents my store at least.

[kristof65]

I doubt it'll puncture the guy's ego, so it was probably a waste of electrons. Least it made me feel better

Probably not, but it might make him think twice the next time. Years ago, there was a NYC magazine columnist who wrote an article that was supposed to be humorous in which she referred to Mazda Miata's something along the lines of a "cute little college girl's car". Her article some how ended up being seen by the Miata enthuisiast community at large, which, at the time, was actually dominted by white middle aged males. She got got so many emails and letters chiding her for her misperception of the typical Miata owner that she wound up having to apoligize in a later article. My guess is that the number of Miata owners is probably about the same size as the number of D&D players, so it could have an impact, particularly among the PC sensitive presidential campaign crowd.

 

And VR is right Spike - as an RPGer, I am getting quite tired of being lumped into the stereotypical demographic of a D&D player by people who know little to nothing about it. I don't fall into that stereotype, nor do many of my fellow gamers. Sure, a few do, but the vast majority don't. I've decided I'm taking a stand against it now.

[Heisler]

The sad truth is that he's not that far off the mark. Hell, I even play D&D, but face it folks...we all know the type... sweaty meat-mountain no-job-having trust-fund slacker hanging out at the game shop talking about his 30th level bard.

 

But one thing Obama fails to realize...is that most of those losers seldom bother to vote.

 

I'm sorry Spike I don't understand what you are saying here. This was a McCain supporter saying these things not an Obama supporter.

[Spike]

Either way, still does not change the undenyable fact that those people are the ones who get the public attention. Believe me, I feel the same way whenever something happens in the South that gets media attention, and the first person to get a microphone shoved in his face is some beer-gut-having wife-beater-wearing Confederate-flag-waving y'all-come-back-now-yahear hilljack who requires subtitles to be understood.

 

Another point in case, Randy's topic about Fat Gambit. I'm sure there's plenty of guys at comic cons who can walk past a Twinkie without breaking into a cold sweat, but look who gets their pictures made.

 

For more fun, go look at some of the ads for game conventions. Count the regular-looking guys at the game tables. You'll probably find just as many people dressed up like Mistress of the Dark or Felix the Cat.

 

It don't take much to spoil the soup, does it. :P

[armydillo978]

Interesting.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

[anvil]

Perhaps WotC/Hasbro should run a marketing campaign like Playboy used to "what kind of person plays D&D" then show a picture of Vin Deisel or something. (maybe that's a bad example)

[Spike]

Remember the ad WoTC ran a few years back picking at the "typical" WoW player? It showed a pic of some kid sitting in what was obviously a basement staring at a monitor, and the slogan was to the effect of "If you're going to pretend you're an elf, invite a few friends over." In retrospect, the ad probably did more to support the stereotype of the gamer, but like Homer said, "It's funny 'cuz it's true."

[Shakandara]

I wouldn't bother with sending him anything. I suspect his head is so far up his own *** as to be unable to hear anything anyone says. If you write to him, you are only fueling his fire and wasting your own time, IMO. I stopped being concerned about defending the hobbies I enjoy a long time ago. If other people don't like it, let them bury themselves in their own ignorance.

 

~v

Edited August 20, 2008 by Shakandara