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Dungeons & Dragons and the Ethics of Imaginary Violence (hopesandfears.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Are people just naturally inclined to be destructive when there aren't any real consequences? Should we be worried about people who imagine such violence? Writer Clem Bastow spoke to D&D experts, psychologists and others to answer these questions. It turns out that playing out violent fantasies in D&D is not only healthy, but could even teach players how to be a better person. “Rather than playing an extension of who you or I are within the game, I see it more as playing a fantasy character who can do whatever they want, and who doesn’t feel inhibited by social anxiety or fear of punishment or rejection. It’s an exaggerated version of how [the player] would like to be, but can’t. The game is a safe way to be this other person,” says Clinical psychologist and games designer Dr. Owen Spear.

7 of 321 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Maybe they're playing a different RPG than I am by arth1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I had friends who wanted to rape, plunder and blow up the local town than face off the godforsaken monster in the dungeon. One of them went to prison for chasing his girlfriend with a shotgun.

    Shotguns are not allowed, except in the despised 3.5 expert edition.

  2. It does cause violence... by DogDude · · Score: 4, Funny

    D&D does cause violence. I want to punch people who play D&D.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
  3. Re:Maybe they're playing a different RPG than I am by Coren22 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The woosh was in the air.

    --
    APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  4. Re:Maybe they're playing a different RPG than I am by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Although I'm happily married, I always think of this Bill Murray quote when someone asks about marriage:

    "When someone is murdered, they always investigate the spouse first. And that pretty much tells you everything you need to know about marriage."

    Lol.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  5. Re:Maybe they're playing a different RPG than I am by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    She was trying to open up enough of a gap that she could stop & reload it. Doing it on the move would incur a -2 dexterity modifier.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  6. Re:Maybe they're playing a different RPG than I am by maiki · · Score: 1, Funny

    The shotgun and prison term was in real life.

    Ok, I figured the girlfriend was imaginary. Thanks for confirming.

  7. Re:Maybe they're playing a different RPG than I am by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Funny

    It amazes me how willing people are to sleep next to someone who could profit from their death.

    This is why I have no life insurance. My wife knows I am worth more alive than dead.