by Suzanne Wesley

Created on: April 05, 2007   Last Updated: June 04, 2011

Misconceptions About Role-Playing

GAMERS HAVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Role-playing gamers are not really anti-social. In fact, depending on the group, role-playing can be a very social function requiring you to speak or act out some very normal social situations (OK some can be not-so-normal, but they still require social interaction to participate).

The stereotypical wall-flower might not even like role-playing because it requires too much interactivity for him or her. You might be surprised - that very popular guy at the office party may belong to a gaming group on Tuesday nights or he may go home every night and play a game on-line for an hour or two to unwind. It's only part of his life and he has other things he does. Which leads to my next point.

YOU HAVE TO BE A GEEK TO BE A GAMER

Television producers are quick to include geeky characters in the midst of a Dungeons & Dragons game at some point. I won't deny that there are some geeks in the gaming crowd, but aren't there geeks in almost every crowd?

Some of the best examples of gamer stereotyping I can think of on the spot are the Lone Gunman from the X-files and the strange three-some in the Buffy series... Both groups were portrayed playing D&D and/or video gaming at some point in both television series'... Many of the gamers I know live completely normal lives. They have wives, kids and some are even managers or supervisors at their businesses.

Unless they bring up something about their gaming no one would stereotype them to fit the mold as seen on T.V. (It hasn't happened yet, but I'm guessing the foursome on CBS's new show "The Big Bang will also be portrayed playing D&D in some future episode - we've already seen the Halo 3 addiction portrayed there.)

GAMING IS SATANIC

Though you can play an evil character, you can also play one that is angelic, righteous and pure. It could be used for a bad purpose...but no more than anything else in this world. In fact, many of the members of my past gaming groups have been devout Christians that have invited their groups to go to church with them. It became an outreach tool that has brought some non-Christian friends to Christ.

Many Game Masters I've known will not tolerate bad behavior or swearing among the group and expect participants to treat each other with respect or they will be asked to leave. There is no worshiping the devil involved; most of the time, the characters would be trying to slay any demons they find.

GAMERS HAVE NO GRIP ON REALITY

O.K. there is an occasional gamer that REALLY enjoys pretending to be his character a little too much, but for the most part it is as harmless as dressing up for Halloween or a school play on the wrong day. They usually know their real name and are just having fun pretending. I would say this crowd is actually a minority of the gaming crowd at large.

Video gamers do tend to lose track of time. Anyone around them is very familiar with phrases like 'I just have to finish this level' or 'I just have to get past this puzzle'... It isn't so for every gamer and there is a cure for it. Buying a timer has worked at our house. If you can't finish it in the time you've set, then you need to quit for the day. I have the same problem with reading books and other things I like to do - like scrapbooking, for instance.

Most people who have the above misconceptions about gaming have either learned them from the media or another second-hand method. If you stumble upon the right role-playing game or group you may just discover that you are a gamer too - and that it didn't instantly make you a social nerd.

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