The abandoneds army
I’ve just skimmed through a pretty funny book. Or a very sad and depressing book, depending on how you see it. It’s called De övergivnas arme, wich translated to english becomes The abandoneds army. It was released in 1997, and it’s supposed to be a critical wiew on the dangers of RPGs and LARPs.
If you are at all interested in the subject and have ever spoke with people who actually have this hobby you will quickly notice that the whole book is pretty much bullshit. It has a few valid points, such as: adults, talk to your children and let them know you love them. And: most people interested in RPGs are verbal, social and intelligent.
I promise all of you out there: those of us who play RPGs will not form an army and take over the world.
Yes, there are some RPGers that are depressed. Some are outcasts in their schools and some are a danger to themselfes and others. But there are also very successfull buissnessmen- and -women. There are happy mothers, good students and even fil.dr amongst us. We do not want the dangerous ones with a weak sense of reality amongst us. But I seriously doubt that RPGing is any more dangerous then acting on a stage in a play. I’ve had more upsetting experiences during acting classes then during RPGing.
I did some research online a moment ago, and I found one of the authors’ blog. Aparantly she still gets TONS of mail pointing out the wrongs of this book.
She also wonders why the swedish LARPs and RPGs are so filled with violence. Can’t we be more like a japanese cosplay meeting at a cafe in Tokyo she heard about where everybody dressed up in colorful suits and was happy and played for a while? It’s obvious that she either found some kind of kitten play-cosplay event or has no idea what she talks about AGAIN. Most of the characters people dress up like comes from anime series and manga. Most of wich are very violent. Even the very cute Kore ga watashi no goshujin sama!? (He is my master!?) has very violent fistfights, air soft-battles and a very high level of soft core porn.
Perhaps she would be happier at a furry/plushie-convention.
In the 11 years since the book came out it has not been re-edited. No information has been withdrawn or added. Yet she still lives on that book and that old -incorrect- information. She has as late as june this year published excerps from the book in her blog.
The only expertise she can claim in this area is that she is a drama teacher. I’m sure she’s a good teacher and a decent person. And it makes me sad that -after this blog-entry- I probably won’t have more energy to put on her. Wich means I won’t have the energy to contact and discuss with her. Also, I don’t feel like an elite RPGer, one of wich she wants to get in touch with. Also, I honestly doubt that it would make any difference if I so had a phd on the subject.
Well. Time to go to bed. It’s getting late, and I feel my mood sinking more and more. I just hope I get to sleep without nightmares and anxiety attacs tonight.
