The idea that a game is anything more than a game: You know, there are people who are basically unbalanced who are going to misuse a game and have bad results. If a golfer who insists on playing during a lightning storm gets hit by a stroke of lightning and is killed nobody says, 'There's golfers dying by the droves being hit by lightning!' You can overdo what you really like, and if you're unbalanced you go overboard.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Gygax argues that games are just games and that bad outcomes are usually the fault of the user, not the game itself.
- In plain terms
- Games are not dangerous; if someone gets hurt, it is because they overdid it like playing in a storm.
- What can you take from it?
- Don't blame the tool when a person uses it recklessly.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is the medium ever responsible for misuse?
- Where do you draw the line on hobbies?
Another view
Some games may have genuinely harmful mechanics for vulnerable people.
More from Gary Gygax
Games give you a chance to excel, and if you're playing in good company you don't even mind if you lose because you had the enjoyment of the company during the…
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Permalink to quote #6 One more thing: don't spend too much time merely reading. The best part of this work is the play, so play and enjoy!
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