After a week of posting on MadCleric.com, I’ve started having some interesting interactions—and not just concerning my posts! I’ve gotten some interesting questions about what this site is actually supposed to be. What’s the point? In an email dialogue with one of my favorite new writers over on MadAdventurers.com, I finally managed to put the goal of this site into words:
I want to help gamers see their own potential.
I spend time with other gamers whose life is very different from mine in its outer trappings. Many are unhappy with their current lot in life, whether because of their status occupationally, relationally, financially, or otherwise. It doesn’t concern me that the lives of gamers are not perfect. Nobody’s life is perfect. Unhappiness and challenging situations happen in all of our lives.
Here’s what concerns me: I think many gamers have begun believing the lies that non-gamers believe about gamers. What do non-gamers say about us? How do we get stereotyped? They say that we’re ill-equipped to interact productively with the outside world. That we’re losers. That we have no future. That our games are a pointless waste of time and money. That romance and true productivity will always be out of reach for us.
But none of these things are true.
Did you read that and let it sink it? If not, I’ll type it again: none of those things are true. And I want to help you come to terms with that fact. You can achieve the occupation, relationship, finances, or whatever it is that you want. It may be really hard work to achieve it—but you can. It may require a different way of thinking about life—it will definitely require thinking differently about yourself! What we’re talking about here is hope. Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is being so sure of something that you’re willing to bet your life on it. And hope is rooted in faith—believing a story that gives meaning and purpose to your life and to your world.
So this site is not strictly a religious site, though it will touch on matters of faith. The point here is to give gamers a renewed sense of hope. Especially for those who feel stuck or aimless. What people have said for years about gamers—those things are untrue! You can break the cycle and be the person you really want to be. And I hope that you will join me in that process—that is, helping gamers win.
Give us your thoughts in the comments! What lies have you heard about gamers? How have you overcome them personally?
Outstanding!
What stereotypes and lies have you heard in your time as a gamer, Brent?
My husband used to run a weekly D and D game for our kids. I had to explain to moms how it helped them with collaboration skills and that our kids were at home not out partying but participating in a positive social activity
Wow! What a cool thing to do. RPGGamerDad over on MadAdventurers.com has been talking about that a good deal lately. How long did the campaign last? Did their friends get involved too?
He started with my older son (and friends)when he was in middle school and he kept going until they were old enough to run their own games. Then he did the same with my younger son, who is now 23. Younger son’s gaming group is still together.
That is so cool. My son is almost two, so we’re not there yet. But that sounds like such an awesome thing to share with your children. Good on you!
Worst one for me was an experience in high school. The principal heard that my friends and I played D&D, and we all got summoned to the office along with one of our teachers.. The principal was not too bright, and not a good communicator… He talked at us for ten minutes, going on about some incident in Texas and how that sort of thing was not going to happen here, and how we should all start playing sports.
Finally one of us asked what he was talking about, and the teacher clarified that “word had gotten out” that we played D&D and there were some concerns. We all just sat there in silence until we were allowed to leave. Sadly, one of my friends was a new player who had just joined the group. He was so freaked out that he never played with us again. 🙁
That’s a bummer, man. I hope to talk about some of this stuff in future posts, especially when it comes to the religious crowd. There’s a lot of misinformation still going around. And we’re decades after the eighties.