Comments on: The Panic Over Dungeons & Dragons (in 1985)

By: Forest the D&D Preacher

Forest the D&D Preacher — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:56:49 +0000

I started played D&D back in 1974 and had no problems until about 1982 when the school counselor and one of the teachers came to My home. they started ragging on My Dad at which point he grabbed up the counselor and tossed her out the door. The teacher accompanying her threatened My dad with his kung fu. Dad responded with his .45 automatic Pistol. Mom called the lawyer and then the cops, it was nice to see the school employees hauled away.

By: Kirth Gersen

Kirth Gersen — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:32:16 +0000

In the early ’80′s, my friends & I heard that if we listened to Black Sabbath, we would kill our parents and commit suicide. Within a week we had all bought the album and knew all the lyrics to “Iron Man,” but there were no dead parents nor friends in sight. Then we heard that Dungeons & Dragons would make us go insane and kill ourselves. We immediately hatched a bold plan — what would happen if we played Dungeons & Dragons WHILE LISTENING TO BLACK SABBATH?!

It was a valuable early experience in the disillusionment of false advertising. It’s been 30 years, and still not one of us has killed our parents, nor committed suicide.

By: dagnabbit

dagnabbit — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:08:07 +0000

This just goes to show that even America’s most respected “News Magazine” is not above yellow journalism and sensationalist scare tactics.

By: Eden

Eden — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:38:10 +0000

I use to play VTM. We would go out at night in full vampire costume and play out the scenes. (I was 19 and 20 at the time…LOL)That sure makes people think you’re nuts, I have to tell you!

D&D itself I didn’t get into much, but I do remember the hype. I also remember my dad saying what a bunch of lunatics these parents and people were. He looked at me after we watched one of these stories one night, I was 10 at the time of all this, and said that we probably shouldn’t play RISK any more cause I might get the urge to find a cannon and go on a killing spree. (Ahhh, love my dad and his sarcasm :D ) I just looked at him and asked where I would find such a thing, straight-faced. That totally cracked him up :D

By: Ken Zieger

Ken Zieger — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:02:53 +0000

I was there and lived through it. The harassment got so bad that I stopped playing D & D for awhile. Played Villains & Vigilantes instead.

Recaptcha phrase makes perfect sense in this case: washroom people. The type who write and belief whatever is written on the bathroom walls.

By: Anna Tramell

Anna Tramell — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:45:52 +0000

A somewhat related incident happened, but not for D&D.

For anime fans – specifically those of Death Note – there was a news story about a supposed hit list this kid wrote about classmates. Death Note – the story – is about a notebook where you just write the name down, and the person dies. It’s definitely distasteful to actually write names, but probably relieved the kid’s stres. Anywho, it blew out of proportions and the kid got in huge trouble – thinking he was going to off each of them.

Also, thank you for the article! I love learning the history of these sorts of things – since I’m fairly new to D&D and other awesomely nerdy things.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:44:28 +0000

My brother played D&D for a short period of time in the early 80â€™s, when he was around 13 yrs old. He started hearing that kids playing D&D were getting possessed by Satan and he got really freaked out. So, one day when my parents were gone, he gathered up all of his D&D stuff and burnt everything in the fireplace. I was a gullible little kid, so I believed what he said. I also remember my brother playing the Queen song â€œAnother One Bites The Dustâ€ backwards because he heard there was a message from Satan on the record. Silly stuff.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:43:45 +0000

I’m 18 y.o girl who got introduced to D&D this year by some college friends of mine. Love it-I’m in two campaigns right now. My mom found my dice and immediately sat me down to talk, questioning me on what I was doing and why. She told me that it was a involved in cults and that people killed themselves, I shouldn’t play, and why don’t I hang out with more with girls my age and go to a party instead? I have to admit I laughed. I never thought I would hear the day when my parents were encouraging me to go out to parties, full of booze and strange guys, instead of hanging out with friends I know and trust.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:39:31 +0000

I was in the 4th grade in 1985. My teacher’s pre-teen sons played D&D, and they invited me to play along. My parents had no problem with it, because they taught me early on that there was a difference between fantasy and reality. If there is a foundation of dysfunction, anything you heap on top of it will bring tragedy, be it D&D, Beavis and Butthead or Warcraft.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:18:49 +0000

I’m an avid player of the game. I recently posted an ad looking for folks to join our campaign, and was harassed by crazy Christian types. They were apparently worried about my soul. Fairly standard stuff, it seems.

I do have to question Hurricane’s statement that these kids died because they were nerdy and “couldn’t get laid.” It seems assinine to assume that because you play D&D you are a)male, b) hopelessly socially awkward c) depressed or d) doomed to never have a relationship.

Come on, boys. Give us girls some credit. I’ve played in all female groups, and we’re a good looking bunch. We all have friends outside of D&D and are well adjusted. So watch who you’re insulting or dismissing.