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Court Rules Dungeons and Dragons Threatens Prison Security
KermodeBear writes "Dungeons and Dragons — originally Satan's Game — has now been found to encourage gang-like behavior. In a finding by a three judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, D&D 'can mimic the organization of gangs and lead to the actual development thereof.' From the ruling: 'during D&D games, one player is denoted the "Dungeon Master." 'The Dungeon Master is tasked with giving directions to other players, which Muraski testified mimics the organization of a gang.'"
Okay, okay, fine. Just have them play Paranoia instead. That oughta screw up the Court of Appeals.
Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
the DM is anything but a "leader" in D&D. His job is more akin to that of the judges themselves, that passed this retarded ruling.
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
[Offtopic] Is it just me, or the new Slashdot design seems to have chased away most of the people out there? Most stories are very short on comments! Come on people, get back to trolling and bashing stuff!!
Have you heard about SoylentNews?
So don't let them all play rogues. What's the big deal?
"Ok, what do you do?"
"I backstab"
"Backstab"
"Um...Backstab?"
"I shank him"
"You're not supposed to say it like that! We'll get in trouble"
"Fine, jeeze...'backstab'"
"These people look deep within my soul and assign me a number based on the order in which I joined" --Homer re:
I served 15 days in a county Jail (under Huber law) about 15 years ago or so I actually brought a few roleplaying books in with me, and set up a gaming session. (most of the guys in there with me were in for minor drug possession, and quite a few were gamers). I wound up running a 36 hour gaming session where people picked up and left off when they got tired, or had to go to work. It helped pass the time immensely, and gaming made my two weeks in jail go a lot faster than it would have otherwise.
Don't get me wrong, it was still a terrible experience, and I wouldn't want to go back (and I haven't!). But banning things like D&D isn't going to solve anything.
The Employer is tasked with giving directions to employees, which Muraski testified mimics the organization of a gang.
The Teacher is tasked with giving directions to students, which Muraski testified mimics the organization of a gang.
The Emergency Broadcast System is tasked with giving directions to the public during an emergency, which Muraski testified mimics the organization of a gang.
Really? When you have criteria for gang behavior that is that loose, anything can be classified and banned.
The Warden is tasked with giving directions to prisoners, which Muraski testified mimics the organization of a gang.
...religious services banned in prisons.
They mimic gang activity, there is a "priest" or "sheik" or "prophet" that tells the other participants how to interpret and act on religious texts
but that the game encourages players to become obsessed with mentally escaping the restrictions of prison life
Because surely it NEVER occurred to inmates to attempt to mentally escape the restrictions of prison life until the DM told them to
"A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit weighed in Wednesday [that's yesterday]."
So how is this story "at least a year old"? RTFA!
Oh and I can't help noticing the description about D&D is reminiscent of ANY organization. A Master ordering people what to do? Sounds like the President of my country or the CEO of my company.
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
Oh and I can't help noticing the description about D&D is reminiscent of ANY organization. A Master ordering people what to do? Sounds like the President of my country or the CEO of my company.
Did you also notice how it's wrong with relation to D&D?
The Dungeon Master doesn't tell players what to do, he's asks them what they are going to do, and the DM just tells them the consequences.
The enemies of Democracy are
The Dungeon Master doesn't tell players what to do, he's asks them what they are going to do, and the DM just tells them the consequences.
Yeah, this is nothing like a gang! More like the mob...
"Thats an awfully nice D12 you got there...be a real shame if you didn't roll higher then a 5 on it..."
I was gangsta way back in 81'. Suck on it bitches, the druid's in da house!
"Ones and zeros were everywhere. I even think I saw a two!" - Bender
Did you also notice how it's wrong with relation to D&D?
The Dungeon Master doesn't tell players what to do, he's asks them what they are going to do, and the DM just tells them the consequences.
"You are standing in a steamy prison shower, about 15x24' with twelve shower heads lining the walls. Five of them are being used by what appear to be orcish gang members. Make a dexterity check, at minus two due to its slipperiness, to maintain your grip on your soap."
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
I actually watched the oral argument for this case, and the appointed counsel did a really hideous job ... one of the judges (based on the testimony of the correctional officer at trial) was talking about "escapism" being a problem that was promoted by dungeons and dragons, as in it would actually lead to the players escaping from the jail. The attorney completely missed this, didn't even familiarize himself with the material that was being discussed, and generally did a half-assed job of informing the court, which also admitted they had no idea how the game worked or what its implications were. I only partially blame the judges -- after all, part of your job is to inform the court of your arguments and interpretations of facts. That's what an oral argument is for.
So yes, "escapism" is a real problem. I expect the next things to be banned in the seventh circuit to be books, closely followed by looking out the window, closely followed by thinking.
Anyway, the judges have betrayed two things:
1. They have never been in a gang, because gang heirarchy doesn't work that way.
2. They have never played Dungeons & Dragons, because they think people actually listen to the DM.
What it found is that this prisoner didn't provide any relevant evidence that it doesn't encourage gang-like behavior.
So he failed to prove a negative. No surprise there.
The inmate could have gone out and...
Let's first be clear on the definition of "prison".
Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
Jesus saves, Everyone else takes full damage...