[Cerek the Barbaric]

Just out of curiousity, Garnet, which D&D god(s) did this person claim to worship?

Since "Lady Luck" is a commonly accepted concept in American society, I can see how someone might blur that with worshipping Tymora (I think she's the goddes of thieves and luck).

Larry, learning Tolkien elvish is no different than a "Trekkie" learning the Klingon or Romulan language. As Garnet pointed out, it's a great way to "talk in code" with someone else who understands the language. (BTW, Garnet, I think the idea of you and your HS boyfriend writing to each other in Hobbit is just tooooo cool).

Saz, I knew immediately who you were referring to as the "religious lunatic fringe". I was soooooo tempted to begin this thread with a "tongue-in-cheek" response from a "mad-as-hell, Bible-thumping Southern Baptist"....but that would triviliaze how truly unfortunate this entire situation is.

I'm saddened for the person in question because of his apparantly delusional state of mind...and I'm saddened for gamers because - as you pointed out - it is EXACTLY this type of occurrance that "fans the flames" of AD&D being labeled a social taboo.

It's ironic that...when Gygax first came out with the game...it was considered a revolutionary product and several schools actually incorporated it into their Advanced Curriculums because of the creativeness and imagination it inspired.