revenge of the nerds.
A reading copy of the Allan Cumming memoir is sitting in my bag requiring my attention, but it's going to have to wait until I finish the book I currently have on my kindle about some D & D enthusiasts getting all "punish the warlock" on an unfortunately real guy and then ending up in prison, the way the major characters in these sorts of true crime opii tend to.
I'm enjoying this book. It ain't art (neither are any of the shocking photos in the middle) but it certainly isn't boring. It would be boring of me to insist that only unbalanced individuals would allow themselves to go all murdery over a game and it's all harmless and blah blah blah. Dungeons and Dragons is responsible for at least encouraging some social ills, like neck beards and tee shirts with wizards on them. It does not seem to retard sexual development as much as Star Trek or Church Youth groups. Many sided dice hurt when you unexpectedly step on them. So it's one of those beyond good and evil things, D & D. I'm not going to defend it because I do think it's uncool and dull, but I am irritated at the notion that 2 million big uns constitutes less of a motive than does the opportunity to just be Eeeeevil. I'm pleased that my friends who dig these games don't get accused of being Satanists anymore.The 80s weren't all fuchsia hair dye and synthesiser music, folks- I remember the occult hysteria that swarmed through even quite mainstream media, and that made my owning of a Cure record quite a daring thing for a Good Christian Girl. Sin can be fun, but labelling everything sin is just childish and pathetic. Just admit you don't understand something or don't like it, then leave it the fuck alone.
I'm enjoying this book. It ain't art (neither are any of the shocking photos in the middle) but it certainly isn't boring. It would be boring of me to insist that only unbalanced individuals would allow themselves to go all murdery over a game and it's all harmless and blah blah blah. Dungeons and Dragons is responsible for at least encouraging some social ills, like neck beards and tee shirts with wizards on them. It does not seem to retard sexual development as much as Star Trek or Church Youth groups. Many sided dice hurt when you unexpectedly step on them. So it's one of those beyond good and evil things, D & D. I'm not going to defend it because I do think it's uncool and dull, but I am irritated at the notion that 2 million big uns constitutes less of a motive than does the opportunity to just be Eeeeevil. I'm pleased that my friends who dig these games don't get accused of being Satanists anymore.The 80s weren't all fuchsia hair dye and synthesiser music, folks- I remember the occult hysteria that swarmed through even quite mainstream media, and that made my owning of a Cure record quite a daring thing for a Good Christian Girl. Sin can be fun, but labelling everything sin is just childish and pathetic. Just admit you don't understand something or don't like it, then leave it the fuck alone.