D&D and the Israeli Military? [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D and the Israeli Military? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
quintus
03-09-05, 11:10 AM So apparently, the Israeli Army doesn't think much of us D&D types. They claim D&D teenage enthusiasts tend to be "detached from reality" and "suceptible to influence."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles//0,7340,L-3052074,00.html

Aside from the fact that "suceptible to influence" seems like a trait the Army would be actively looking for, this seems odd to me. In my experience, I'd say that I've met very few D&D players who would fit into the "suceptible to influence" category. Perhaps a few are a bit "detached from reality," but not any more so than your average teenager.

What do you folks think?
The Club
03-09-05, 11:20 AM Aside from the fact that "suceptible to influence" seems like a trait the Army would be actively looking for, this seems odd to me.

I hope you didn't really mean this to be as insulting as it sounds.

Anyway, I have no experience with Israeli D&D geeks, so I don't know if they have the same kind we've had in America. I suspect, however, that someone has heard weird rumors and is basing his argument off of a bad premise. If it were widely understood that D&D is a glorified miniatures wargame, the attitude would probably be different by quite a ways.

The Club
quintus
03-09-05, 11:30 AM I hope you didn't really mean this to be as insulting as it sounds.Well -- historically, that's what military forces have been about. An unquestioning force of soldiers obeying orders that are against their personal best interests most of the time. In order to build a force like that, you really do need a lot of people who are "suceptible to influence."

However, I also realize that the military forces of the modern day are *not* like that. Modern forces expect soldiers to think on their feet, use good battlefield judgment, and stay alive. I've got plenty of friends in every branch of the military. Most of them are very strong willed and you'd never label them "suceptible to influence." Quite the opposite, in fact.

So in answer to your question... No -- it's a joke.
Razoreface
03-09-05, 12:49 PM Know what I hate? Stupid newsies.

In the more active version of D&D, players leave the table and go out, dressed as the characters they assume for the game, along with the requisite equipment of swords (not real) to play outside

D&D LARPing is pretty rare.

Plus whoever wrote that article said "teh." ynetnews may be a crappy site, but it's not IRC. Don't say teh.

But I do know.. knew, a woman who moved to Canada after she was released from the IDF, and wouldn't talk to me after I invited her to a D&D game.
simen_88
03-09-05, 01:19 PM This gave me a good idea. You see, in Norway, we have this silly little thing called the draft. At least I think it's silly. Do I need to say anything else?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
quintus 03-09-05, 11:10 AM	So apparently, the Israeli Army doesn't think much of us D&D types. They claim D&D teenage enthusiasts tend to be "detached from reality" and "suceptible to influence." http://www.ynetnews.com/articles//0,7340,L-3052074,00.html Aside from the fact that "suceptible to influence" seems like a trait the Army would be actively looking for, this seems odd to me. In my experience, I'd say that I've met very few D&D players who would fit into the "suceptible to influence" category. Perhaps a few are a bit "detached from reality," but not any more so than your average teenager. What do you folks think?
The Club 03-09-05, 11:20 AM	Aside from the fact that "suceptible to influence" seems like a trait the Army would be actively looking for, this seems odd to me. I hope you didn't really mean this to be as insulting as it sounds. Anyway, I have no experience with Israeli D&D geeks, so I don't know if they have the same kind we've had in America. I suspect, however, that someone has heard weird rumors and is basing his argument off of a bad premise. If it were widely understood that D&D is a glorified miniatures wargame, the attitude would probably be different by quite a ways. The Club
quintus 03-09-05, 11:30 AM	I hope you didn't really mean this to be as insulting as it sounds.Well -- historically, that's what military forces have been about. An unquestioning force of soldiers obeying orders that are against their personal best interests most of the time. In order to build a force like that, you really do need a lot of people who are "suceptible to influence." However, I also realize that the military forces of the modern day are not like that. Modern forces expect soldiers to think on their feet, use good battlefield judgment, and stay alive. I've got plenty of friends in every branch of the military. Most of them are very strong willed and you'd never label them "suceptible to influence." Quite the opposite, in fact. So in answer to your question... No -- it's a joke.
Razoreface 03-09-05, 12:49 PM	Know what I hate? Stupid newsies. In the more active version of D&D, players leave the table and go out, dressed as the characters they assume for the game, along with the requisite equipment of swords (not real) to play outside D&D LARPing is pretty rare. Plus whoever wrote that article said "teh." ynetnews may be a crappy site, but it's not IRC. Don't say teh. But I do know.. knew, a woman who moved to Canada after she was released from the IDF, and wouldn't talk to me after I invited her to a D&D game.
simen_88 03-09-05, 01:19 PM	This gave me a good idea. You see, in Norway, we have this silly little thing called the draft. At least I think it's silly. Do I need to say anything else?