From: mark@trillian.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Manning)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Dealing with "you're sick" syndrome...
Date: 10 Apr 1992 14:58:32 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Simulacron I

I have (luckily) never had to deal with this.  Even from very religious
people I've always had positive responses.  Even so, when this D&D
bashing started I thought about it for a while.  Here are some thoughts:

1. First off, the best thing to do is to show whoever it is that D&D
   and the SCA are not the same thing.  Many times people equate D&D
   with the SCA yet I've never had anyone ever show up at my games
   wearing body armor or waving a magic wand.  Of the people I've
   played with, several _have_ been in the SCA (and I help out with
   the mailing of the monthly newsletter [The Black Star from Anestoria
   {at least I think it is spelled that way}]).  At any rate, even
   though the people from the SCA are all very nice people, the
   general public sees them as other than your normal person.

   Now, don't get me wrong.  As I've said - I really do like everyone
   I've ever met in the SCA and there isn't anything wrong with being
   in the SCA.  But neither the SCA nor TSR want to be associated one
   with the other.  They are both separate entities and that is how
   they'd like to keep it.  So you should explain the differences to
   others so no problems can occur in this respect.

2. Next I would explain that there are many people in this world who
   are on drugs or unhinged in various ways.  RPGs in general and
   D&D in particular do not support, nor want, to be associated with
   people who do use drugs or are crazy.  It is unfortunate that
   a few people happened to do things which seemed to be related to
   D&D - because it gives the game a bad name.  But I'd ask them:
   What about baseball?  Basketball?  Football?  And even boxing?
   Haven't we heard, recently, about the many, many problems people
   in these fields have had with drugs, rapes, robbery, and even
   murder?  And in relation to the few people who have committed
   a crime in a style similar to what people term as the "D&D way";
   don't they feel these other "games" are evidently more likely
   to produce drug addicts and the like?

3. Then, I would point out that, unlike sports, D&D has a much
   lower fatality rate.  How many boxers have died from head wounds?
   How many baseball people have gotten killed?  Football?  Motorcycle
   racing?  Car racing?  Skiing?  Hundreds more than the four crimes
   committed by the "D&D way" people.

4. Finally, I'd end with this:  "Let's talk reality for a moment if
   you would.  Remember that D&D is nothing more than a set of books.
   Some paper, a few pencils, and the like.  Do you seriously think
   that an inanimate object has control over your life?  Do you think
   other books - like Stephen King's books should be banned because of
   what they _might_ do?  What about the Scarlet Letter?  Flowers for
   Alergeron?  The Moon is a Harsh Mistress?  All of these books are
   just that - books.  PEOPLE are what commit the crimes - not books.
   Nor games.  People.

   "One of the worst possible things you can ever
   do is to allow news agencies to influence you to such an extent that
   you give up your freedom to truly understand what went on during
   a crime.  All news agencies want to do is to sell their product.
   To do this they have to use something which will grab your attention.
   And you've swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.  In every case the
   people had some kind of a mental problem.  The only difference is
   that they didn't stand around and say they were Napoleon.  Instead
   they picked some other personna to emulate; did so; and killed
   someone (or jumped off a roof or hid in the sewers or whatever).
   The fact that they played a game called D&D has no bearing on the
   situation.  You can not tell me that they didn't also play other
   games.  Risk, Monopoly, Hearts, and who knows what else.  Yet this
   one game has been singled out.  Why?  Why did we have the McCarthy
   era?  It is the same, exact, thing.  Bigotry, hatred of the unknown,
   and power plays.  The same tactics used, time and time again to
   destroy something these people have never even tried.  So I say to
   you - why don't you try it - before you condemn it?  You might be
   surprised."

Thoughts:

   "Man destroy's those things he can not understand in order to
   maintain the status quo.  Many men fear change, for in change
   there is uncertainty, and in uncertainty control can not be
   retained.  Control is all.  You are controlled, but it is done
   with slight of hand so you feel you are free - but you aren't."

   "I like the Japanese.  I like them because they are _making_ us
   change.  The big businesses which have kept us back, telling us
   lies, giving us less and charging us more, rightly run to the
   white house and cry like children that their playground is being
   spoiled.  I say we should tear down the fences and let everyone
   come in to play.  It can't be any worse than what we already have.
   Besides - maybe we'll finally get a space station, lunar base,
   Mars station.  And if we are lucky - a real Enterprise.  Wouldn't
   YOU like to be able to beam from one place to the next?  Be in
   Tahiti for lunch?  Moscow for dinner?  And go to bed in California?
   I would."

Disclaimer:

Neither the US Government, NASA, BTI, the State of Texas, Houston City
Council, ClearLake's Ministry, nor anyone else you can think of is
responsible for what I say.  I take the full burden for it.  And all
that other legal stuff like that there!