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| | From:  Arashi_Ken2 (Original Message) | Sent: 8/27/2008 2:38 AM |
Hey guys, Long time no talk. I'll fill in the how i've been doing and such a little later but i'm going to present an old argument and see what some of my favorite RPers have to say about it. I'm asking this because I have a college paper that i'm writing as my final and I would look other peoples views. Is Dungeons and Dragons a link to the Occult? The christian view says that D&D leads to teen suicides and satinism. However the gamers point of view says that it is the opposite, it helps gamers to not blow their brains out and not to practice heathen arts for their is a difference between reality and fantasy. What do you guys think about the subject? is the game harmless fun or a link to the afterword like a Ouiji board, I'd honestly like to know what you all think. . Later, Joe ps. Asside from the stress from college, i've been doing grand and i'm looking forward to gaming with those whom wish to game with me again. |
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Joe, Laurel here, and as you've asked for different views , always a dangerous thing!, here is mine. I have played D&D for 25 years off and on, in many forms. I've played table top, I've done chatroom and IM gaming, and I've done posting. In my case gaming always has been a bit of escape from the pressures that come from living. I've had situations where I was personally powerless, but my charactor could act and solve the problem. I believe that gaming encourages creative thought and in some ways logical thinking. Just look at the process we go through to create a character. We have to be able to read, do simple math, think on what Non weapon proficiencies would work best, and we have to be able to infuse that character with a personality. The game also encourages us to develope the ability to work with others in a cooperative effort, for without being willing to work togather the game would be no fun. I know of people from all walks of life who have played some form of Role playing game. Afterall what do you think make believe is that children play? Do they not take on different skills? At parks I've heard children say "I'm the firefighter!" or "i'm a robot from plant Q!!" If the person has no underlying psychological issues, then they should be able to keep a firm grip on reality. The suicides that people claim to have been 'caused' by D&D is pure BS. In most cases a Parent is desperately looking for some reason why thier child Killed themself and blaming it on RPing is a way for them to duck on the true issue. Teen years are full of other Pressures. Peer pressure, pressure from parents, and self-imposed pressure as to not 'let down' anyone. In my honest opinion, I believe that the violent video games are much more an influence for teen suicides, satanism, and violence then D&D. Hope this helps. BTW I'm 41 now, still enjoy gaming. My husband who is a very sucessful Engineer, heavily involved in Boy scouting and mentors 2 other boys plays a wonderously skilled cleric!! ~L~ |
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| | | From: _LOKI_ | Sent: 8/28/2008 5:01 AM |
I have a distinct problem w/organized religion. Christianity in particular. My family is full of south baptist and pentacostal. Speak in tounges and all that crap. A handfull of them are evangelist and a few more are self proclaimed born again missionaries. They are a bunch two faced back stabbing money driven hypocrites in my case. I worship satan every tuesday and sacrifice small mammals whenever I can. I would just assume shoot you in the knnee than have than to deal with you. I think I was raised like that. No game instills that kind of behavior? Does it? I would have cut my wrists long ago but this norelco electric razor just doesn't seem to work. WTF? Over. in fact it seems to me that the majority of players want to do good (paladin), protect the innocent (all the good aligns), preserve nature and the natural flow (rangers) ect ect .......... every time I throw up an evil char or a demon thang the whole site rises up to nutrealize it (sp) which proves the exact opposite of most of the claims you site. And then again i'm a speed metal/rap core/alternative fan and all that gets the same category. Remember Judas Priest and Ozzy causing all that trouble years ago? (or am I older than I want to admit) ppl need to start being accounatable for their own actions and quit blaming everything else for thier shortcomings DnD is a mental sled for the imagination. Ok so some of us want to succeed or do a lil wig splittin but I believe that all of us crave that from time to time The releasing of anger is better than any medicene under the sun - Pantera Ok so it IS violent in most cases but many players overcome opposition w/out the first clenched fist (raven/ari/amagato) PS- UL is right DnD encourages alot of skills. Hence the Nerd label. Stupid or impaired ppl can't play well. Fact. |
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| | | From: Hiel- | Sent: 8/29/2008 4:35 PM |
Joe, I'm with UL on this. It's a dangerous thing to be asking, as the answers can often affront someone's beliefs. Insulting someone's belief's have often been the cause of wars and feuds - e.g. Protestants and Catholics. But as you asked, and I enjoy WAR and insulting peoples' beliefs, here's both barrels. - Everyone has a right to believe in a supreme being - whatever form that may take. I have faith that there is a surpeme being. I don't know what the supreme being looks like or expects of me, but still live my life as I see fit. Like Loki, I have NO faith in organized religions. Why. Because they are of man, created by man, for control over man. Granted, millenia ago, these organizations were needed and useful for framing the philosophical arguement of GOOD verses EVIL. Is man inherently good or evil? Our country is found on Judeo-Christian principles. Religion gave form to the boogey man, to the devils and demons, to the angels and cherubs, to heaven and hell. And without those there wouldn't be monsters for D&D. Unfortunately, and this applies to D&D as well, SOME people get TOO book bound, TOO wrapped up in the WORDS and miss the message. The point of religion is faith. The point of D&D is fun.
- Now, being of the same age as UL, we're looking at this from the perspective of multiple decades of maturity. We've had time to form our view of the world. This is not necessarily so for teenagers. They are still in the process of maturing. The neurological pathways don't fully mature until around age 25. Here is where parents MUST be parents, and not friends. They must show PARENTAL GUIDANCE and mentor their children. Where am I going with this? In today's age of XBOX and what have you, those are even more addictive, but of less educational or socializational value. I submit that playing D&D can be an educational and socializational tool for children WHEN in group settings. But it requires some parental guidance and oversight. You must know your children and look out for their wellbeing. I prefer a mature setting when I RP, and that can lead to settings which may be uncomfortable or inappropriate for certain players or age groups. That's easy to determine for table top games. Chat and post roleplaying is a crap shoot. There's no telling who's on the other side typing away. I'll treat everyone as an adult until prove otherwise.
So, that's my take on this. Hope it answered your question.
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