From: ajross@husc9.harvard.edu (Andrew Ross)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Dangerous Journeys
Date: 30 Aug 92 20:13:07 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc9.ajross.715205587
 <1992Aug29.040726.6857@pimacc.pima.edu> <1992Aug30.013723.12724@uwm.edu> <1992Aug29.200230.6860@pimacc.pima.edu>

ppugliese@pimacc.pima.edu writes:


>If you had bothered to research EGG's factual historical record of untruth-
>fulness & deception, you wouldn't buy into his latest con. (Have *you* ever
>considered that other accounts *could* possibly bo more accurate than his?)
>But, noooo, it's too much to ask of you to use a little imagination. (Which 
>is probably why you dislike role-players so much.

>> 
>>   After reading such insightful commentary such as your drivel, it is no 
>>   wonder that role-players make me vomit.

>Well then, since EGG is an admitted role-player I guess he must make you 
>vomit too. Gee, It seems we *do* actually agree on something; EGG nauseates
>both of us!

(above message only included as an example of the sort of abusive nonsense
that gets posted on this thread.)

	I really think this has gone too far. It has gone from ranting
about EGG to personal attacks traded between people who have not, I think,
even met. Perhaps in the heat of discussion you have missed something
which is obvious to the rest of us who are not posting. 
	I had not intended to post this message to the net because I was
certain that I would have replies reading "If you don't like it, don't
read it, (adolescent insult omitted)!" mixed liberally with verbal attacks
upon me which had no basis in what was posted or intended. I changed my
logic. It is obvious that none of you has the least respect for what the
others are saying, and are just spouting off your own opinions (however
well justified you think they are) to no one's benefit; therefore, why
should I refrain from doing you the same courtesy? You will now hear, at
length, my opinions on the matter of EGG.

	After reading this thread intermittently, it has struck me that
many of you really hate Gygax. You've shouted about his lying, bad
writing, and general evil nature, and seem to be trying to draw the
rest of us into your hatemongering. It won't work, I'm happy to say. I
already have deep-rooted feelings about Gygax which all the attacks and
praise in the world cannot change.
	I cannot adequately express the depth, breadth, and sheer power of
my conviction that I positively and without doubt do not give a damn what
Gygax does or ever did. I have read the articles he wrote in his early
days. Yes, those very same ones which made some of you roaring angry and
willing to spend your days flaming about it on the internet. They didn't
move me one bit. I was not convinced, nor was I angered. I just didn't
care, and I don't care now.
	Whatever Gygax may have done to Arneson is a matter that was wholly
theirs to pursue. No matter how close you think you might be to these issues,
you cannot presume to take their feud onto your shoulders. If you are
personal friends of Arneson (which I doubt is true of the majority, even
if one or two are) then the matter is personal; otherwise,
there is no rationalization for getting so worked up over the issue that
is adequate. It's not your life.
	The name of this thread, oddly, is still Dangerous Journeys. This is
a game which I bought, read, and liked despite the fact that I don't care
for Gygaxian prose much. The game may flop, but this is none of my
concern. I don't make my living in the gaming business. It's not my life
either.
	I hope I have not left you with any impression that I care one way
or the other about Gygax. I certainly don't. However bad his prose may be,
none of you have given me an example which demonstrates any great literary
skill. I think I'm better, but I hardly expect you to care. All you've
seen of my writing are my posts, which are admittedly amateurish and even
inane sometimes. I do this for fun. Again, it's not my life.
	In closing, it is unclear to me why Gygax's life should be of such
interest to you. Even if he had shut other games out of the market and
crushed other companies which produced games (which, even if that was his
aim, he was unable to do) he would NOT have stopped the spread of "house
rules", the eventual evolution of the hobby, or the entry of other
companies into the market. I think there are too many people like me, who
really don't care what Gygax does or what the gaming business is doing. We
just like to play games, and will continue doing it in spite of it all.
It's fun, but its not our lives. 

Edward P. Ross
ajross@husc.harvard.edu