this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2024
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For anyone who isn't aware of the Satanic Panic, this was a pretty fun time to be a D&D player:
https://gizmodo.com/a-brief-history-of-satanic-panic-in-the-1980s-1679476373
https://gizmodo.com/how-we-won-the-war-on-dungeons-dragons-1550936588
I believe the culture war junk is part of distract and divide tactics. 'hey parents don't worry about all the bloodshed from neoliberal policies, your kids are summoning demons!'
You can't just mention D&D and Satanic Panic without sharing the Chick Tract.
:D I absolutely should have. I think I had at least a half dozen of these specific ones in physical form at one point back in the day.
Edit: Last time this came up I learned of this. 😀 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNYxu1LqkyT3Ihj7l2n2WSH0KlqOJaEio
I love that there's a reference to the Tom Hanks classic Mazes and Monsters in there.
Funny thing about the eighties. I was absolutely forbidden from playing dungeons and dragons but was totally allowed to play wizardry, Ultima, and bards tale.
Explain that parental logic.
I do feel I missed out. Never did get to play the real deal.
I think tabletop gaming and D&D are having a renaissance in recent years - I bet you could find folks to play with easier than you think.
I haven't played in decades myself, but my son does, and so does a good friend of mine (who is even older than me) and his kids, and seemingly half the people I know.
I would theoretically love to play, but I have other life circumstances that have required me to cut gaming time of any kind to 0 for awhile.
You should give it a shot if you can!
That's been on my rewatch list for awhile. I don't think I've seen it since it was new. One of these days... :)