Please read this tract:
For discussion: What is your reaction to this message? If your reaction is to mock the story, ask instead if it raises any valid points - try to put yourself in the author's position... Does this change your thinking at all?
For discussion: What is your reaction to this message? If your reaction is to mock the story, ask instead if it raises any valid points - try to put yourself in the author's position... Does this change your thinking at all?
posted by Anthony at
9:34 AM
11 Comments:
Prior to reading this message, I felt that Dungeons and Dragons was an innocent game through which people simply pass time, however now I'm beginning to feel that it is nothing more than an cult, which is exactly what this reading conveys. Although I shouldn't necessarily stereotype people who do simply have innocent fun with the game, it is overwhelming how there is such a large amount of people who take it as seriously as they do. In general, I would say that Dungeons and Dragons is acceptable as long as it never controls one's life or actions outside of the game. I can definitely say I agree with this message.
By
SamValentine, at Wed Nov 11, 04:53:00 PM 2009
Yes this reading has really changed my viewing of the game. When we first watched it today I thought of it as just some game that people enjoyed playing, but after reading this I now view it in a whole new way. It is ok to play a game to play it but if you let it become a life then there can be real problems like the one that accoured in the reading. So in my oppion it is ok to play the game to play it but don't let it become a way of life.
By
Ryan Baron, at Wed Nov 11, 11:06:00 PM 2009
My reaction to this message was, "Wow." I knew people liked the game and got addicted, but I had no idea they could get that addicted. This game is okay to play to a certain point. It has its good sides of course like the social aspect and it makes a person more creative. But if this game is all they focused on and all a person's life is about, then something more drastic needs to be done. The message that the author is conveying is very acceptable and brings awareness to those few people who are completely addicted to Dungeons and Dragons.
By
Amanda Readinger, at Thu Nov 12, 09:45:00 PM 2009
I have to admit, I have a lot of mixed feelings about this article. I feel like it is very biased religiously, obviously, but it also reminds the public about the danger of obsession. I will have to disagree though, that D&D is a satanic game or anything of the sort. I believe, like anything else, it is what you make it. The dark images and magical themes are just part of a giant ongoing work of fiction. People who take it so far as to do harm to others or harm themselves in the name of the game have something else wrong with them. A more recent comparison is with first person shooting games that people claim "promote violence". A person who is likely to take D&D too far is most likely the same type of person that would constantly play first person shooters and use that experience to dehumanize themselves and try to bring the game into real life. I believe that the message of the pamphlet stressed this side of the select over the top D&D players too much. Not every person that plays fantasy role playing games, or first person shooters for that matter, tries to bring it with them into real life. It is not a dangerous game if it is kept in perspective that it is a game and not real life. Despite my opinion that it is not generally a dangerous game, I clicked on http://www.chick.com/reading/books/204/0204_10.asp and it was almost disturbing to read about the different murders and suicides that have occurred. Not only was it gruesome, but it was also kind of sad that people will let something as fake as a board game control their lives so strongly.
By
Melissa Caprio, at Fri Nov 13, 03:59:00 PM 2009
The story was very interesting. It shows a religious view on D&D. However this article didn't change my view on the game. It is just a game. The game itself is nothing bad but if people get too into it then it can change them and control their lives. But D&D isn't the only thing that can do that to people. Some people become obsessed with the internet or facebook or video games. But that doesn't make those things evil. It just means that people get to into it. D&D is the only thing portrayed as evil out of the many things that can take over someones life because it is seen as weird. It is only understood by those who play it or those with a very open mind. People don't want to always try to understand things that take time, if they don't understand it at first then it is weird. And because D&D is seen as weird those who play it are weird too and when they become obsessed with the game people turn it into more than it is. They make it seem like they are possessed or worshiping the devil but really they just love the game and are addicted to it. The only difference between people who are truly addicted to video games and people who are addicted to D&D is that D&D is not understood by most people so they are seen as freaks.
By
AmyAsher, at Sun Nov 15, 02:12:00 PM 2009
Everything depends on point of view. Most people who play this game do so innocently, believing that it's just a fun way to pass the time. But there are some who turn a simple game into an obsession. Now I doubt a large percentage take it to the point where they become REAL witches and wizards, but you never know. The author comes from a Christian viewpoint, believing that anything that tries to empower people with magic is evil. While I agree with this to a point, I refuse to blame any game for this. As long as everyone in the game realizes that its just a game, I don't see a problem. When people take it too far problems ensue. But you can't account for this when designing the game. Otherwise, no one would have any fun.
By
Thomas Mike, at Sun Nov 15, 09:34:00 PM 2009
Dungeons and Dragons is only a game. This is just my opinion, of course. But like anything else it is what you make. I believe that D&D is a way for people to get together and have fun in an imaginary land. I don’t see any religious or satanic views to this game. However, before reading this article I did not realize that people became so completely absorbed in a game. I found it disturbing that the girl in the comic had nothing else to live for besides her character in the game. I am sure that there are two types of D&D players, the ones that can separate their real life from the game of fantasy and the ones that become completely absorbed in the game to the point of obsession like the girl from the article.
By
Katelynn Simcox, at Mon Nov 16, 02:30:00 PM 2009
In high school, I had friends who were avid Dungeons and Dragons players (Magic: The Gathering was pretty huge too). They played it because they (as well as I, for a time) were in the Drama Club and enjoyed taking on roles. And that was it, they played it merely so they could delve in the role-playing aspect of it. No homicide, no obsession, just a simple game, and through them, that's how I always looked at D&D (though I had never actually played it myself). Just a unique little game involving the taking-on of another character.
I can't help but feel like this comic only focuses on the most extreme of cases. Multitudes of people play D&D. These murders and suicides, which are undoubtedly tragic and unnerving, are probably among the worst of cases that have spawned from the game. When considering the author of this comic, I wonder if he had any extraordinary experiences with the game. I also wonder if he had read similar sources to the ones Melissa came across, which detail some of the real-life fatalities from D&D, and was so greatly affected that he'd want to create a comic, which was completely not funny, detailing maybe one of the worst possible outcomes of taking the game too seriously.
As for me, this comic hasn't really changed my view of the game itself. A game is a game, and that's it. From it's creation, all it has ever been is a game. I don't think there is anything evil or terrible about the game itself. A game can't harm someone. I do think that the people involved in the game, who take it way beyond the borders of gamedom and take it so seriously that they kill themselves or others ought to reconsider their choices and subsequent actions. People should never die or be harmed over a game. That's just plain ridiculous. Tragic, disturbing, but ridiculous.
By
ToddOravic, at Mon Nov 16, 02:35:00 PM 2009
In my option D&D is simply a game and nothing to devote our lives too. But in every aspects of life, may it include gaming; there are individuals who devote their lives to the game. Taking every free hour and devoting their time to playing “their game.” Like in the article individuals take their passion too far, resulting in death. There are also individuals who play the game but just as a past time and that is understandable, but life devotion?? I don’t think so.
By
kaitlin barrett, at Mon Nov 16, 09:05:00 PM 2009
I was very surprised after reading this message. I cannot believe that someone would be so into a game that they would do something like that over it. I believe that Dungeons and Dragons seems like a fun game to play for certain people, myself not being one of them. A person who plays this game must have a lot of free time, because the game seems addicting, and must be creative, which I am not. This game is good for the social aspect and for fun, but once it starts negatively affecting someone's life, it needs to be brought to a stop or at least to a slow. The message that the author is conveying is useful and acceptable. It should bring awareness to the people who play D&D and cause them to hopefully look at their lives as a whole and decide if they are too devoted to the game. This message also comes into play to anyone. People are addicted to different types of things, including gambling, the internet, and TV. After looking at this, even if a person is not a D&D addict, it makes one think about other aspects of their lives and if their priorities are set straight.
By
rachelzomerfeld, at Tue Nov 17, 10:19:00 AM 2009
This message struck me by suprise but acutally made me kind of laugh. I can't believe that people can actually get so self-absorbed into a game. I've played games in the past and have never actually played them into real life, however, thats just the type of person I am. I tend to find these games as fiction. There is a fine line between fiction and reality. Which is why I feel that games should be played as long as theres no after affects. I feel that D&D is a fine game to play, like they say "To each his own". People read books and take advice, some people get so into things that they live them out. I think that is a bit extreme but it's not the game played, it's the person playing it that takes it to that extent. Like the discussion about Davey Moore and boxing, it wasn't the boxing that took his life.. It was the people in the match. Like D&D, I don't see a problem at all, I feel the person playing is responsible for their actions.
By
Nicole.Najaka, at Tue Nov 17, 11:30:00 AM 2009
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