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Prison Bans D&D For Mimicking Gang Structure
Trepidity writes "In a case that has been winding its way through the courts for a while now, a Wisconsin prison banned inmates from playing Dungeons & Dragons, using the justification that 'one player is denoted the Dungeon Master... [who] is tasked with giving directions to other players... [which] mimics the organization of a gang.' The prison also cited some sparse evidence that a handful of non-inmate D&D players once committed some crimes that allegedly were related to their D&D playing. On Monday the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the regulation (PDF) against challenges from inmates. The court appeared skeptical of the ban, sarcastically referring to it as the 'war on D&D,' but upheld it nonetheless as having a 'rational basis.' Law professor Ilya Somin suggests that the court may have had no choice, given how deferential rational-basis review usually is."
What if they played any other sort of RPG?
Or is the law so nutty that they'll ban boardgames like Clue because it features a murder? Or Colditz, because it features escaping from a prison?
They are now all playing Mafia Wars.
Why are inmates playing games anyway? They have lots of time - shouldn't they spend that time learning pottery/cooking/raising kids/social skills/programming so that they are fun people by the time they get out of jail?
Soon, the game Paranoia will be outlawed.
After seeing Oz, the concept of "dungeonmaster" in prison brings on a whole new meaning...
99% of all murderers ate bread in the 12 months leading up to their crime, so lets ban bread while we are here. oh, and lets ban judges because they are clearly hangovers from a rather medieval system also associated with chopping peoples heads off.
I get that Dungeons & Dragons is Satan's Game and all that, but this all seems rather beside the point to me.
These people are in there because they committed serious crimes, and are supposed to be facing the consequences of their crimes, doing hard labour, and learning to reintegrate into society.
Sitting around playing games and watching TV all day while the state ensures you're well fed doesn't exactly sound like the kind of negative reinforcement that would spur a behavioural change.
Well, I hope these people don't participate in any work training programs. Those are also structured disturbing like gangs, with a leader and people specializing in different things. I think some people have also committed crimes while at work.
The escapism argument makes sense, in a way. Being in prison is not just about removing a dangerous element from society, it is about taking someone's freedom as a punishment. If you're allowed entertainment that has you exploring vast worlds, you're actually halfway out of prison.
Let's put the genes back in Genesis.
The United States Supreme Court banned the government, using the justification that 'one player is denoted the President... [who] is tasked with giving directions to other players... [which] mimics the organization of a gang.' The court also cited some sparse evidence that a handful of other presidents once committed some crimes that allegedly were related to their governing.
PlusFive Slashdot reader for Android. Can post comments.
If a game where one person moderates the actions of the other players is banned because of that, then they will have to ban every game that has a referee or judge, as well as any plays that have a director, music that uses a conductor, and so many other activities.
Admittedly I never though about prisoners doing any of those things, including D&D, but hey, whatever works.
Perhaps Wisconsin just wants their inmates lifting weights so they benchpress a freaking car during their next robbery or something. Obviously more desirable than letting someone participate in a moderated adlib fantasy play where you (usually) take the part of heroes against the forces of evil. Can't let them criminal types learn ta use dem brains and actually tink dey can better demselves. Why if dey did dat, us cops and law-yurs wouldn't have nobody ta prosecute...
Sorry for the extreme sarcasm, but those idiots deserve it. Maybe if they played more D&D (and a few other PnP RPGs) they'd have less riots, violence, and repeat offenders. Of course, taking away a gamers books and dice might just start one...
There might be evidence that some inmates go on to commit crimes that are related to their spell in prison. So ban prison.
'one player is denoted the Dungeon Master... [who] is tasked with giving directions to other players... [which] mimics the organization of a gang.'
Clearly, no-one involved in the case has ever played a decent game of D&D. But why bother with facts when prejudice and hysteria will suffice ?
For the 0.0001% of Slashdotters who've never played, a good "dungeon master" (just like a good computer game programmer) creates an interactive environment for players to explore.
What the players decide to do from there is what can make the game an interesting vehicle for self-discovery and excercising one's imagination and problem-solving abilities.
It no more mimics the structure of a gang than someone attending a lecture or watching a play.
Wow, this makes me feel a lot better about my youth. Apparently I wasn't a geek who played D&D all the time and never got out, no, I was in a gang! Maybe they'll find that living in a basement is actually the same structure as a president living in a secure bunker giving orders to everyone.
"The prison also cited some sparse evidence that a handful of non-inmate D&D players once committed some crimes that allegedly were related to their D&D playing."
My only crime was to CAST FIREBALL at LEVEL 6 and do 6D6 damage to everyone in a huge sphere in front of me...except the ones who made their saving throws.
I wouldn't even be here except I rolled a 4 on my SAVING THROW VS. JUDGES
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
Freedom of speech
Beyond prison reach
Societal deportment
So hard to teach
Burma shave
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
Nobody is implying that Fantasy_Game => Criminality, except the readers. Actually what's being implied is Criminality & Fantasy_Game => Criminality, which of course is a valid argument. It's not D&D at fault, but D&D being just another environment where preexisting behaviours are reinforced through formal D&D rules (and "therefore" being enabled by the prisons).
The fact that the situation is Criminality & Fantasy_Game => Criminality is what makes the second linked source (volokh.com) call the argument a weak one: the preceding argument's conclusion does not need Fantasy Game to make the argument valid. Whether Fantasy_Game actually has anything to do with Criminality is up for debate. The only thing that can be proven for sure, from the understanding provided by the articles, is that Fantasy_Game either: allows Criminality, or has no effect on Criminality (i.e. it is not preventing Criminality).
Bottom line: nothing more than people getting worked up with (p->q) !=> (q->p).
... magic missiles do.
I'ma tell my crew about it tonight after we execute every single one of those goblin mu'fas, take all they bling, and use it to buy mad straps.
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
I openly admit to not reading ALL comments prior to posting this, but.... I think the top level posters so far are missing the real issue here. These people are in Jail for a reason. Let's not treat them to things they do not deserve. Jail should be a place to serve a sentance and to hopefully let the the criminals reflect on their crime and hopefully learn a lesson. It SHOULDN'T be a place where criminals get to hang out and play board games. That's just ridiculous. Yes, D&D and any other aformentioned board games are harmless, but enabling someone to have fun in a place of punishment is just downright absurd. I know people who have been to jail, and while they say it was absolutely no fun at all, their behavior after their sentance really didn't change. The system is broken. We can't let people forget the reason they're being punished...
I would create a sig, if only something of value could be said with just 120 chars.
What's a warden but a 'dungeon master.' Maybe he didn't want to share the title.
They should ask a prison guard to be the Dungeon Master :)
Patents Drive Free Software as Hurricanes Drive Construction Industry
I guess the wardens don't want to deal with dragons as well.
One person taking charge? Sounds like management to me. Which came first, the gang or the manager?
Yes, yes! Let the only board game be waterboarding!
Seriously. I don't get why you folks are so thirsty for other's punishment.
Ideally, prison should be there for society to protect itself (its members) from criminal behaviour. Anything going beyond that is too much. Society should treat inmates with as much respect as possible and with as little restrictions as necessary.
Get a grip.
led by a warden, which clearly mimics a gang. By way of this presumption, prison guards and the warden should be banned from prisons.
HUMANITY!
This is pure hunter/gatherer humanity: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/12/hadza/finkel-text
Tell me that does not prove that the natural structure of human society is that of gangs!?
Man, stupid, stupid, STUPID.
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
There is a DM someone who sets the rules of the game and make sure everyone plays with in the imaginary boundaries. The DM is an authority figure and the players must acquesce to his/her rules. This is basically a model for prison life and some would say life as a "good citizen".
If the rules are in dispute you negotiate and resolve the issue before moving on. Negotation is definitely something you want to teach to violent offenders since they may not have had any 1st hand experience with it.
Basic mathematics and reading. Playing a game and being good at it requires one to learn the rules of the game. You want to find that numbers advantage? the DM isn't going to hand it to you on a silver platter. Many small gamers learn to read so they can figure out what to do next or what the screen is telling them and the same can apply in a prison setting with low literacy rates and math skills.
Abstract problem solving skills. Ok this makes the criminal more dangerous but it could be a skill set that could be used for good and finding a respectable job. (yes I know about job aps and disclosure of arrests/prison time)
As some one said before socializing with others as well as team work to accomplish goals together.
open source sub sim. I might start coding again for this. http://dangerdeep.sourceforge.net/contribute/
Actually, having a guy called "dungeon master" telling prisoners what to do sounds just like prison.
Note to self: Don't be Chaotic Evil in Wisconsin!
i think it has more to do with S&M than D&D
just saying
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
In my workplace, one worker is denoted the Manager, who is tasked with giving directions to the other workers, which mimics the organization of a gang.
Or a software company. Or a labor union. Or a political party, family unit, social club, tribe, republic, grange, baseball team, or university department. Wow, just about every human institution mimics the structure of a gang!
In a related story, prison officials ban food because its hydrocarbon compounds mimic the chemical structure of explosives.
[Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
Cyberpunk and Paranoia are probably ok then.
i don't believe the issue is constitutionality so much as fear of the precedent this would create from the crummy logic being employed here.
irrespective of whether you feel that prisoners should be miserable in prison, the idea that any kind of hierarchical structure, no matter how innocuous, could theoretically lead to gang activity--which relationship the state is unable to demonstrate, incidentally--is extraordinarily broad. the volokh blog specifically skewers that thinking: should pick-up football games be banned b/c one inmate is the QB and he provides instruction to the other players of his team? couldn't that hierarchhical structure also theoretically lead to gang activity under the state's logic?
ed
Its a pity the prison can't see its way to let people escape into their imagination. The outlet would probably make them healthier and easier to manage. I wonder if an outright ban means that decent prisoners are denied structured story telling to pass their time.
Heh... So, instead of playing D&D they will just shank other inmates in their free time. I'm betting this isnt about security, or gangs, or any of that shit in reality. It's about the warden being a poostabbing griefer. Well, I hope they knife him to death when the riots come.
$10 says that when you boil this down there is a silly bible-thumper at the root of this.
There is a war going on for your mind.
Thank God. Cause there's nothing scarier than being in the prison chow line sandwiched between and Orc and a Half Elf.
Somewhere in this process sat a stupid christian convinced that D&D was a game of devil worship.
Don't fuck with me, I roll with the 4th street black mages! Fire 4 motherfucker, all up in your castle!
Awesome. Because typical prison life doesn't work at all like a gang. A guard is in charge and the inmates have to do what they say or else they are punished. It sounds more like some brainless kook is in charge of the place and trying to get his pet beliefs pawned off as rational ideas for rehabilitation. D&D doesn't make people violent, constant violence around them makes people violent. In D&D there is a structured outlet for aggression that involves defeating an evil being to achieve the rewards. God knows we don't want inmates learning those values. Idiots.
I can see from the sorts of reactions that many people are typing from the safety and luxury of their warm homes and are (seemingly) incapable of realizing that this isn't a warm social gathering for pick nick we're talking about. Also can I see its obviously not their asses on the line of duty out there.
This isn't about preventing people from having some fun; its for keeping the wardens safe from harm. Who cares if inmates are having a little discomfort in their daily lives; most of 'm deserved whats coming to them anyway. You don't end up in jail for nothing.
As to the ban... Psychological warfare. Simply an effort to prevent people from psyching themselves up and training themselves to such extend where they know exactly what the other party members would do in stressful situations. Replace your magic missile casting warlock for a shooting warden, replace the great escape for an outbreak AND replace the casual damages for god knows what some of those guys would do outside the prison walls...
NOW the "nerd community" is complaining about human rights and how these prisoners should be treated with a little more respect. But when it turns out that this game gave the inmates the tools needed to prep themselves for a nice outbreak and the end up pillaging your home I bet you won't be so forgiving as you are now.
Some bans aren't done out of silly reasons; they're for your and our protection. No matter how silly it may seem.
The problem with D&D in prison is that some spells are too overpowered.
I ready an action when the soap is dropped cast grease!
You missed a key word. Some Christian fundamentalists believe that D&D and M:tG have a real spiritual component. Not all of us do.
The game has The banker.
Who has a role similar to loan sharks.
Also, some non-inmates who have played monopoly in the past were found to have embezzled money.
The game directly encouraged that, since the Banker is the one player allowed to sneak themselves as much cash as needed from the vault...
a dungeon is basically a medieval prison. any dragons in such a dungeon are simply a metaphorical abstraction of the idea of the criminals you find there: people who freely transgress against morals and decency
so the idea of prisoners, the dragons, playing d&d in prison, aka, the dungeon, is absurdist in the highest order
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
What an interesting concept. Of course, we would need to ensure that it would actually work for the intended purpose. Would you be willing to be the first test subject of your own suggested "solution?"
Isn't the warden's position similar to the leader of the prison (guard) gang?
Prison is the one place where I'd really want D&D-induced celibacy.
In prisons there is also: "one [person] is denoted the [warden]... [who] is tasked with giving directions to other [people]... [which] mimics the organization of a gang."
The general definition of a gang of people being just a group with a leader is so general that every human on average probably could be considered to be in 5+ gangs.
Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
Saving throw! Saving throw!
Ed R.Zahurak
You know, oblivion keeps looking better every day.
You missed a key word. Some Christian fundamentalists believe that D&D and M:tG have a real spiritual component. Not all of us do.
If you want to be one of them deal with the BS associated with the label and your associates.
That's like saying, "those other gangbangers are violent drug dealers, but I'm not. I just want some friends to hang out with".
Oh, wait, your a Christian Fundamentalist, lying and hypocrisy is okay as long as its done in the name of Jesus. So never mind, as you were.
While I don't relish the thought of a convicted murder or rapist ever feeling freedom again, not every inmate is in prison for Rape or Murder. There are several people in prison for lots of minor things. The idea behind prison served multiple purposes, to punish those for crimes committed, and to rehabilitate someone back into society. I can tell you, that for some people playing D & D is no picnic. For some it is a dull boring uneventful task in their lives.
Do we really want people behind bars to go absolutely insane from being incarcerated? OR would we rather have the prisoners learn something from their mistakes and maybe learn remorse and pay their debt to society quietly and peacefully.
For all those parents who have children and they've caught their child doing something that was against the rules of the house or even society, the parents generally punish them with grounding, and removing games/toys. But most out there don't take decks of cards away, or books to read, or strip a room down to a bed, sheets, a pillow and a bathroom stall. Of course not, that would be considered cruelity.
Life takes interesting turns, but the most interest is when you're off the beaten path.
As someone who was a long-time AD&D player who also worked for a time in a maximum security/close custody prison facility, my perspective may be a bit different from other who have replied here. In the prison environment, there are strict rules regarding fraternization among the incarcerated (prisoners/inmates). Often, there are limits on the number who may gather at one time, rules regarding proximity to others, and rules regarding communications. Inmates might not be allowed to carry stacks of personal papers or items from room to room. Any time inmates gather, it is suspect. Any time they are talking in hushed tones, it is suspect. Any time they are passing notes, it is suspect. Any talk of weapons or violoent actions puts the guards/officers at a heightened state of alert. Anything that might be viewed as gang-like behavior is suspect. Anything that could be viewed as cover for gang behavior is suspect.
Now, if you have been an AD&D player (or a player of any number of other RPG games), think about the dynamics of game play. Games often include more than two or three people. Players often carry a stack of papers (e.g., maps, character sheets, game manuals) to and from game sessions. The group might get loud, but some members of the group might have a secret side conversation with another player or the DM. Notes might need to be passed (e.g., "I want to pickpocket the baron", "I want to move into the shadows behind the paladin"). Table conversation will include various weapons and tactics. Althought talk of some medieval weapons could easily be discerned as fantasy (e.g., "I'll run him through with my halberd"), others could easily match a contemporary context (e.g., "I'll knife the guard while you try to get his keys"). Most groups with which I've played held the DM in high regard; it was as if the DM had his own cult following or at least a lot of resepect. That behavior, to the untrained observer, would appear to mimic some gang behavior. Prison guards have no way of knowing if such a behavior is just a game, overt gang activity, or a game being used to hide gang activity. To strive for safety and control, they must err toward interpreting events as the worst possible scenario.
If you are an RPG player, think through things that were said around your game table, and try to imagine hearing them as a prison guard or corrections officer. How might you interpret them?
People who really got into their game playing often would talk about the game anywhere and everywhere. Can you imagine a guard in a lunchroom overhearing AD&D players discussing a plan to escape the tower by feigning illness before attacking the guards when they come to investigate? Can you imagine players discussing plans to dig an (in-game) escape tunnel while having recreation time in the yard? The game could easily be used as a veil to allow the player to communicate real escape plans out in the open while the rest of the facility thinks they are just a bunch of RPG geeks. I can't say I fully agree with the decision to bar AD&D, but I can say that I understand the reasoning behind the decision.
I use irony whenever I can, but my shirts are still wrinkled...
Let's convince the governor of Wisconsin. We'll get TSR to threaten to move the production of D&D out of state! That'll lead to a reversal. Nobody wants to lose such a major employer!
What do you mean TSR has been bought by WOTC, is now a subsidiary of Hasbro, and has been relocated to Seattle anyway????
How long have I not been paying attention?
Better chance of this working on Thompson than Doyle. Good luck.
How many in a "big group"??? If you have 8 or more people in a DnD game, you need to split the group into 2 or more groups with their own DM.
Are 6 too many for you???
Ironic that this is at a Wisconsin prison (my suspicion is someone doesn't like the "anti-christian" magic in D&D and the gang thing is a red herring) anyway D&D was created by TSR Games whose headquarters were originally Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
So the crusade against RPG's continues long past it's expiration date. I had a couple of D&D books for our game when I was in school for my Navy job. The company commander, a man with strong religious convictions was sure the game was against regs. He confiscated my books and put the whole lot of us on report. Took about 10 days for base legal to determine that the books were not contraband and the game was not against regulations.
Not even so much as an apology from the guy who started the whole mess.
It's time to play Pathfinder!
The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
And in other awesome news, Wisconsin bans being employed.
"Being employed means you have to follow orders, which mimics the organization of a gang and is basically, like, totally fascist, dude."
--statement by the Revolutionary Weed Party of Wisconsin
ITs obvious the Lawyers, Warden and Judge have never played D&D.
DM: So there have been some incursions by a rival gang into your territory. You should go kill them and make an example out of them.
Player #1: What about the old mines outside town I heard there might be a lost treasure there.
DM: That's way outside your territory, if you leave, the rival gang would take it as a sign of weakness, move in and claim even more of your turf.
Player #2: That's ok, there hasn't been much to do here, its just a starting area we were going to have to leave soon anyway.
Player #3: I vote we go to the mines.
Player #4: So are we ordering Pizza or Chinese food?
DM: I'd split a pizza.
Players 1-6: Chinese it is.
Player #3: Did we level last time?
Player #2: I'm buying provisions for the trip to the mines.
Player #1: Don't forget rope, and torches.
DM: Sigh, you don't find any rope or torches. Through your contacts you hear the rival gang seems to have been hording supplies for some kind expedition, maybe you should investigate.
Player #2: GM's railroading us again.
Player #4: Why do we even bother to show up or roll dice? maybe you should just tell us what happens.
The stated goal of prisons in texas is punishment, not rehabilitation.
Can you imagine a guard in a lunchroom overhearing AD&D players discussing a plan to escape the tower by feigning illness before attacking the guards when they come to investigate?
As soon as the knight moves, my pawn takes the tower... OMG VIOLENT ESCAPE PLAN!
Prison and 4chan have something in common!? Egads!
...I guess we'd better pt a ban on the current way o running prisons. I mean, the Warden is tasked with giving orders to the Deputies and COs, right? That mimics gang behavior in the same way. And what about our government? Shall we ban that too, since we have the President who is tasked with giving orders to the various branches of govt., including the Armed Forces, which would also have to be banned because they each have the one joint chiefs of staff who directs the rest of the military branch, much like gang behavior.
I guess Ban America sums it up. Our entire social structure mimics gang behavior.
Actually, it is because criminals are getting smarter and getting away with more.
Lawyers and judges application of what's "rational" is not the same as what's normally understood as rational. In fact, entire sections of jurisprudence is based on such abuse of definitions. They keep redefining them to suit the application of law.
The slashdotter who is confined to his mothers basement with no social contact, is indeed a danger to the general public but ONLY if he were ever to leave. Since he won't, there is no danger.
The prisoner however WILL sooner or later be released and staying in jail is not an option, even for prisoners who want to.
So, you got to deal with this prisoner on the street.
And it HAS been proven that solitary confinement screws people up. You lock up criminals, and they get out worse then they ever were going in, and that is saying something since it ain't the pot smokers who are put in solitary.
You got two options (and personally I incline to the second of my suggestions)
1: You treat people humanely and educate them to become better people.
2: If they are or become a threat, then throw away the key.
Both however cost a lot of money.
Part of the problem is that we look at jail the wrong way. We think that it should EITHER rehabilitate OR punish OR keep them of the street. But you can't do it all at ONCE. So instead you should do it in sequence.
Person is awaiting trial: Decent, hotel like conditions for those who behave, solitary for those who don't, after all, innocent until proven guilty. You don't want someone who is not convicted to be turned into a criminal.
Person convincted: They start with the punishment part of the sentence. Say 10 years, then they are locked up on a decent but not nice environment with few if any principles. Over time, the prisoner can show which way he wants to go, behave, he gets switched to better conditions and can start the second part of his sentence early. Behave badly, and the prison becomes harsher and time is added.
Punishment part over: the prisoner has served his time, now it is time to rehabilitate, education and learning to function in a society and this INCLUDES NOT demanding respect. Nobody gets respect in our society and an ex-con doing some deadend job better be prepared to deal with it or he is going to get back into trouble and you best prepare them with in jail, because outside it is far to easy to stray. And all the time, it is the carrot and the stick method, and since for an con the carrot is very small, it better be a really big stick. During this period, the prisoner can work for a decent wage, but not spend his money.
Release: extended tracking, the earned money is used to arrange housing, and other necessities. It sounds like a punishment to work for pennies but if you put a thief out on the street with 0 cash, how is he going to get money? Geez, that is a hard one. Let him earn the money to get back on his feet during the rehabilitation period.
Safety: For the prisoner who isn't suited to be rehabilitated, continued imprisonment suited to the reason he can't be released. Prisons are increasingly the mental institutions of a country. Somebody might just be to insane to be released, not their fault. Think a pedo. Can lead a fine life, as long as their is a thick wall between him and any kids. Farm prisons for those who are unsuited to be released but not directly a danger to themselves or other WITHIN a prison. For the uncontroloably violent, high security prisons, geared to handle each prisonor always alone in the same way dangerous animals are handled. Humane, but with absolute control.
Such a system would work far better. You can't just lock people up, upset their entire lifes, force them to life by the violent laws of a prison and then just kick them out and expect things to turn out better. But the system would cost a lot and require us to ask ourselves: What are we releasing back into the streets.
I am not a bleeding heart, I think the death penalty is under-used as are life sentences. But we should more clearly seperate prisoners into those who can be released back with the right help AND then give them that help and those who simply can't.
Ah well, to get back slightly on topic: I think those playing D&D are the least of your problems. Anyone who
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
If the incarcerated gamers switch from playing D&D to playing Call of Cthulu, do you suppose that they could be so hardcore CoC as to make a religious freedom claim?
How many crimes have been committed by criminals who do weight lifting and body building in prisons? Have they banned weights and restricted everybody to yoga?
If someone is passing you on the right, you are an asshole for driving in the wrong lane.
'one player is denoted the Dungeon Master... [who] is tasked with giving directions to other players... [which] mimics the organization of a gang.'
This can't possibly be the real rationale.
Banning an RPG from prison because it kind of mimics a gang is like banning submarines from the ocean because it kind of look like a fish.
...only criminals will have them.
Court Upholds Prison Ban of Dungeons & Dragons
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/us/27dungeons.html?hpw
"speaking only for myself since 1957"
I mean, think about it. I'm certain that, if you look at the stats, the number of prisoners who have been playing D&D at some point of time in their life has been steadily increasing for the last two decades or so. Clearly, this is no coincidence.
Now excuse me, I need to check similar stats for video games. I suspect the share of crimes committed under their influence has been steadily growing lately, too. ~
The DM doesn't give players orders. The DM creates the setting of the story if it is not a bought module. The DM's main purpose is to filter information about the 'maze' to the players and mediate/resolve game mechanics and player disputes. The reasons for this are so stupid. The only way this makes sense is if:
Players/Games are really gang meetings. When questioned by prison guards concerning what they are doing..."Oh, we're just playing D&D officer"..we're not planning a hit or a riot...
But it's still stupid! Why allow inmates to congregate into groups like that? Next they'll have to ban Monopoly! Just ban the freaking congregating! dumbs41ts!
Why not ban any type of game that has a ruler/leader type. Including any game that has it's own set of rules because it can be claimed that they are following a gang's creed.
Is there a bunch of people running around saying a some digital pictures are the true and perfect images of Mars?
Play Command HQ online
Yet another one these dummies...
Why don't they try to know what's the game about and its mechanisms instead of listening to the ill-advised advice of other dummies like themselves?
If they had did that they would have realized that the DM has absolutely *nothing* to do with a gang leader, being more like the god of the imaginary world where the game takes place. Thinking about it, it could be that their god is like a gang leader and thus... Oh well...
--
El Guerrero del Interfaz
Well, just that.
We all know that the anti-RPG hysterical craze was based on fundamentalist religious craziness. And now they call it "rational"? Yeah, right, just as creationism, geocentrism, flat-earthism, homophobia,etc.
--
El Guerrero del Interfaz
What about chess and all that "conspiracy" to kill the ruler? Ops, chess is about to beat other rulers, it is about war, war if fine for USs.
Their worried their going to have learn D&D in order to understand the new "code words" the gangs will start using to talk about stuff and they won't understand what's being said. Nope, they can't have that!
[Now, I'm off to lift my le... Um, visit... at another place.]