TOPIC: Indianapolis Monthly Article

*blink blink*<br />Wait a minute. . . . you mean there are people  . . . who don't go in costume???<br />*Feels faint*

I have 3-4 I am bringing...one for each "job" I will have...HOOT

I'm bringing lots of costume pieces. . . . and a couple are even for me! *little laugh*

Thanks for posting that article, Lovest. I found it interesting that he must really have studied the convention to post so many facts about the various games and even the own game he played but yet paint such a negative view of the people who played the games. I think he must have been wanting to go for the shock value of some of the statements he wrote about.<br />David (S.)

Thank you for posting the article and Widseth, thank you for the excellent post.<br /><br />There are many different people in the world and even more ways to spend ones free time.  I remember a time when using computers was only for nerds, when the internet was only for geeks.  With time, most things change.  However, mass media probably won't.<br /><br />This article was written for shock value.  An article about the REAL and normal attendees of GenCon would be boring, it wouldn't sell.  It would confuse people, it would seem false because people believe in stereotypes and they market them.<br /><br />I can only hope that with the response from gamers and non-gamers alike, that in the future, the author will exercise greater due diligence before irresponsibly portraying what is clearly an inaccurate stereotype.<br />

I guess what took me aback was not the unprofessional onesided prose writing style but the fact that the article appeared in Indianapolis Monthly, what I consider to be a fairly sedate mag.  If this article would have appeared in Nuvo or IMM (Indy Men's Magazine) which both have a fairly sharp edged sarcastic tone, I would have not been as confused by the blatant negligence in presenting a very small demographic of the "typical" gamer.  The fact we as a gaming community have been labeled with a stereotype of what actually is a very small segment of the overall population, I guess is not that shocking in truth, because as we all know we are mostly teenage boys who still live in our parent's basements, right?<br /><br />While the goth/vampire RPGs have brought a whole new generation to the gaming world (good thing) they also seem to have a very destructive side in that they create communities where independent thought is discouraged, and people behave like cattle waiting for a leader to tell them what to do.  (Fantasy life spilling into reality in the creation of clans, slaves, etc.)  While I know it seems to be a societal instinct to be told what to do in many cases, I am hopeful that demographic will eventually grow out of that mode but retain the love of gaming and join what I feel it the majority of the gaming community, made up of independent thinkers who are regarded as one of the nicest demographics of convention goers by the city of Indianapolis.  <br /><br />All of the businesses I have talked to in regard to GenCon week say the same thing, that the attendees of GenCon are the most polite, well behaved, down to earth people they encounter.  They prefer our convention week to all others due to the way we treat their employees and the low level of troubling incidents during that time.  Kinda makes you wonder who has the right life view after all, is it the sports watching drunk, or fun loving gamer who dresses weird a few times a year and just surprisingly turns out to be one of your employees or in some cases your manager or the owner of the company.<br /><br />Sorry for the soapbox folks, <br /><br />Dave

Well stated Douglas and Dave.  As a vender on the convention floor, I couldn't agree more on the polite and intelligent nature of the clientelle.  I have had great discussions above and beyond selling my books.  Selling books is really a sidelight to me because I will never recover what it costs for a booth at GenCon.  The people draw me to GenCon.  It is so fun and interesting to chat.  I've had people come back to my booth three or four days in a row just to talk for a few minutes.  A lot of them are younger kids.  Sadly, some of them are just looking for an adult to talk with.  I take them all seriously and treat their opinions seriously.  Some of their thoughts and questions about their lives become kernals that I file away to use in my books.  Some of them want to write; some have already written and don't know what to do next; and others just want to make some sort of difference in the world.<br /><br />I don't know if the author of this article wanted any kind of an accurate picture of GenCon.  Like Douglas said the article is geared to shock value.  I hope my message gets to him, and he has the courage to look me up Wednesday night.  I invite any of you to join me for a few minutes, if he shows up, to share with him the vision of imagination.  But quite frankly, I'm not going to spend a lot of time babysitting him even if he shows up.  There are a lot of important things to do Wednesday night in the TD tavern--wenches to hit on, brawls to start, trades to make, adventurers to pity as they come out of the dungeon dead and bruised--you know--the usual.<br /><br /><br />Widseth

I received a reply:<br /><br /><br />Subject: Gen Con article <br />From: "Tony Rehagen" <TRehagen@indymonthly.emmis.com>  <br />To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. <br />    <br />Dennis,<br /><br />   Thanks for the feedback regarding the Gen Con article. I'm sorry if it<br />offended you. As a writer, huge LOTR geek and mass consumer of<br />fantasy-sci-fi lit myself, I assure you I have the utmost respect for <br />the creative minds behind these games and events.<br /><br />  I really appreciate your taking the time to respond to the article.<br /><br />Take care,<br />Tony<br /><br />PS My biggest regret from last year was signing up for True Dungeon. <br />The guys I knew that went said it was a blast.<br /><br /><br />       <br /><br />I think his biggest regret was not signing up for True Dungeon.  I didn't see him take my offer to talk, but we will see.<br /><br />Widseth

Very well stated in your email to author.  Too bad he did not even mention your offer.<br /><br />I will be there Wednesday night in costume.  if he shows up, point him out to me please.  He might be surprised to meet a me, a female engineer.  <br /><br />I have a different costume for every shift!.<br /><br />Marinda

I don't know Marinda.  It is a little intimidating for me to approach you.  I get all nervous you know 'cause girls aren't suppose to be gaming.  And...and...it just isn't natural.  'scuse me, I gotta go back to my room.  They guys are all there and we're playing a game and there's a sign on the door that says no girls allowed so you can't come in.<br /><br /><br />Widseth<br /><br />(jus' funnin' ya--come on in)

Don't you mean you gotta go back to the basement.

  Now you see it don't you, guys.  They always remember everything exactly and that is why they are intimidating-- <br /><br /><br />Widseth