http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/26/dungeons-dragons-threatens-prison-security-court-rules/?test=latestnews


Well, at least it might become evil and dangerous again...so there's that.

I have a hard time feeling sorry for the inmates. At least a part of the assumption in getting jail time is that you are paying your debt to society for the crimes you committed. It shouldn't be a vacation. At the same time, there should be a rehabilitation program in place, so that the individual may reintegrate main stream society once said debt is paid. Role playing games could actually prove useful towards such a goal, as tool, rather than just entertainment.

So, forbidding inmates to play role playing games altogether is totally within the rights of the prison's administration, in my mind. It's kind of silly, however. Authorizing role playing games in some supervised activity specifically designed to help rehabilitate the inmates would make everyone happy. This is a missed opportunity, IMO.

Holy shit, is the tone of that article ever condescending.

Quote from: two_fishes;435565Holy shit, is the tone of that article ever condescending.

At the same time, I'm surprised they didn't go all apeshit on the subject. Come on... it's Fuck News, after all.

They can take all the D&D materials away from the inmates, but they can't really stop them from role-playing.  Randomizers can be made from anything.  

I'm with Benoist in that it's really a missed opportunity to make a positive change in the inmates lives.

That is a load of crap. I can think of no better punishment for inmates than forcing them to play D&D 4e.

:hatsoff:

Quote from: paladinca;435571that is a load of crap. I can think of no better punishment for inmates than forcing them to play d&d 4e.

:hatsoff:

zing!!!

force them to play exalted would be worse imo, heck just reading the rules and trying to make sense of them is bad enough

Zip over to the linked Geeks Are Sexy article.  One of the major complaints by the prison's administration is that the inmates would learn to seek resolution for disputes from other prisoners instead of the correctional staff.  You know, just like real people do every day.

Did no one actually read what they said? Gaming encourages the organization of gangs which is what they are trying to dissuade. It's also prison - they are being punished. D&D is a game, not some form of therapy.

Prisons in America are pretty much useless, poorly-run shit-holes that satiate immoral desires. This is more shit-holery from them.

Quote from: brettmb;435595Did no one actually read what they said? Gaming encourages the organization of gangs which is what they are trying to dissuade. It's also prison - they are being punished. D&D is a game, not some form of therapy.

I was totally unable to stay out of the gang lifestyle back in my heyday of playing during high school.

Something being missed here is when it's the Aryan Nation guys running a campaign, or the Mexican Mafia. I bet they aren't killing orcs when they play.

Quote from: brettmb;435595D&D is a game, not some form of therapy.

LEGOs are toys you play with. They can be used with therapeutic aims nonetheless.

Same thing with say, a card game.

Same thing with D&D.

Quote from: Benoist;435625LEGOs are toys you play with. They can be used with therapeutic aims nonetheless.

Same thing with say, a card game.

Same thing with D&D.

Maybe in therapy, but not in prison.