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Pangur Ban · 07-22-2002, 03:18 AM

In the 80's I was founding member & president of what grew to become our state's largest independent RPG club. ( The Wizards' Council ) We had over 100 members, aged from 2 to 55. We took part in conventions, did displays, went away on D&D holidays, and a great time was held by all. We held meetings once a month in a local community hall.

We often ran into the D&D=Satanic protesters. After one big media "tub thump" about the evils of D&D, "concerned" local residents tried to throw us out of the hall. To our surprise and delight, the hall management actually stood up for us, saying we were the only group who used the hall that actually cleaned up afterwards !!

After this incident, I was approached by some of our members asking what we were going to do about this. I replied by saying that those who were convinced that D&D is evil/Satanic/occult were not going to change their opinions, regardless of what anyone else, especially D&D players might say, and that our time was better spent playing D&D rather than arguing with others about it.

And now, for your amusement and entertainment, here are two of the more *ahem* interesting claims made, and broadcast by Australian media.

Claim 1) D&D caused a male in Tasmania to dress up as a woman and go and commit murder.
( must have failed a saving throw .. )

Claim 2) D&D players often were known to levitate out of their chairs while playing ...
( This became our favourite joke just before a D&D session. "Has everyone nailed themself down? We'll have no levitating here, today !! )

D&D was banned in public schools in Queensland for some years because of claim 2) and some other equally absurd claims.

A final comment: It was probably lucky for the anti D&D people that we *weren't* capable of some of the things they accused us of !!

Pang [img]graemlins/cat3.gif[/img]

07-22-2002, 03:18 AM	#45
Pangur Ban Avatar Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 65 Posts: 569	In the 80's I was founding member & president of what grew to become our state's largest independent RPG club. ( The Wizards' Council ) We had over 100 members, aged from 2 to 55. We took part in conventions, did displays, went away on D&D holidays, and a great time was held by all. We held meetings once a month in a local community hall. We often ran into the D&D=Satanic protesters. After one big media "tub thump" about the evils of D&D, "concerned" local residents tried to throw us out of the hall. To our surprise and delight, the hall management actually stood up for us, saying we were the only group who used the hall that actually cleaned up afterwards !! After this incident, I was approached by some of our members asking what we were going to do about this. I replied by saying that those who were convinced that D&D is evil/Satanic/occult were not going to change their opinions, regardless of what anyone else, especially D&D players might say, and that our time was better spent playing D&D rather than arguing with others about it. And now, for your amusement and entertainment, here are two of the more ahem interesting claims made, and broadcast by Australian media. Claim 1) D&D caused a male in Tasmania to dress up as a woman and go and commit murder. ( must have failed a saving throw .. ) Claim 2) D&D players often were known to levitate out of their chairs while playing ... ( This became our favourite joke just before a D&D session. "Has everyone nailed themself down? We'll have no levitating here, today !! ) D&D was banned in public schools in Queensland for some years because of claim 2) and some other equally absurd claims. A final comment: It was probably lucky for the anti D&D people that we weren't capable of some of the things they accused us of !! Pang [img]graemlins/cat3.gif[/img] __________________ Not enough time to care ....