How Would I "know" if someone was a 'Leftist' while playing? Or a 'Trump supporter'?

If we leave contemporary politics out of the game sutuation - then there is no way to KNOW someone's political leanings.

- Ed C.

I did in the past, but could I do it with the new crop?  Highly unlikely, I have trouble playing with other humans let alone anyone that might fall into an extremist mind set.

Not only could I, I'd say 60-70% of the people I play with are outright leftists. Granted, I don't talk about my politics at the game table, so they don't know I'm conservative. I suspect if I actually voiced my opinions on political topics the way they seem compelled to do, they would quit the game.

If they are not suffering from major TDS, not making everything and anything about politics then yes.

If not no patience for " what do you mean all orcs are evil in your game or how dare you not include wheelchair ramps in all your adventures locales in game".

Sane goes for those on the right keep it out of game and we can get along.

I have a lefty in my group now. He's been playing with me off and on for about 20-years. I know outside our group, he's swamped by TDS-riddled freaks. But at my table? Dude is totally chill and pleasant.

On the flipside I also have a guy that is pretty far-right. As in "Pinochet did nothing wrong".

I DO notice my Lefty-player seems very open to a lot of non-lefty ideas, but still maintains his "left-status" and his mild-TDS doesn't interfere with reality.

We don't engage in a lot of political talk until after our sessions, or before while people are arriving.

The people that I have had issues with in recent years are almost *exclusively* millennials and all of them are avid 5e players or Pathfinder. I weed out ones with obvious signs when I do my sit-down dinner/lunch sniff-test. But those with the "signs" - the Danger Hair, the gauge earrings, piercings etc. (none of which I normally used to care about - but are now uniform for millennial slacktivists) within that millennial age-range almost invariably blow it. I *do* give them a chance to prove me they could fit... it rarely happens. They will make some casual utterance about concerns about violence or the inherent or implied racism in D&D as if because I'm Asian, and not white, they're earning some kind of points with me. All I can think about is "Oh you poor dumbfuck. Time to get the check."

I've had younger players and older - never had a problem with any of them.

Quote from: Abraxus on January 31, 2025, 08:32:29 AMIf they are not suffering from major TDS, not making everything and anything about politics then yes.

If not no patience for " what do you mean all orcs are evil in your game or how dare you not include wheelchair ramps in all your adventures locales in game".

Sane goes for those on the right keep it out of game and we can get along.

Agreed.

I'd play with anyone as long as they are not dicks at the table.

I could, just like I can train with or teach a leftist BJJ.  Now...if he wants to get loud about his thoughts about folks, well that is what the sparring time in class is for and I can still feel just fine about his thoughts and ideas I might not agree with even if they give my heart a flutter to hear them out loud.   Can not really work the tension out at a game table like that, but I can not see a person monologuing about it to me at a game table. Right or left politics.  I suppose it could happen, but I dont think I have the vibe that most people feel comfortable shitting their politics out around.

To me, the conflict is not so much about politics as it is about morality.  I can game with anyone of any politics (and pretty much have, from a monarchist to a communist).  What I won't game with is someone who is unrepentantly criminal/morally abhorrent.  It doesn't matter if you "keep it off the table" or not, if you are someone who molests kids or advocates for genocide, etc., then I'm not going to want to game with you, because I'm not going to want to associate with you at all.

And this explains the situation now with gaming.  Many on the right see their lefty friends as misguided or wrong (though there is a growing framing of some liberal positions in stark moral terms, like transitioning kids or radical abortion positions).  I can game with someone who is wrong, because we all are frequently wrong.  But the left is increasingly (because for many leftists, their politics have taken the place of their religion) of the mindset that conservatives/right wingers are intentionally morally evil.  And they don't want to be at a table with someone morally repulsive (which I can understand... if they were actually following a genuine morality).

This is why, overall, I think a right-winger is likely to be more accepting of a left in their group than the other way around.

Quote from: Eirikrautha on January 31, 2025, 04:46:37 PMTo me, the conflict is not so much about politics as it is about morality.  I can game with anyone of any politics (and pretty much have, from a monarchist to a communist).  What I won't game with is someone who is unrepentantly criminal/morally abhorrent.  It doesn't matter if you "keep it off the table" or not, if you are someone who molests kids or advocates for genocide, etc., then I'm not going to want to game with you, because I'm not going to want to associate with you at all.

And this explains the situation now with gaming.  Many on the right see their lefty friends as misguided or wrong (though there is a growing framing of some liberal positions in stark moral terms, like transitioning kids or radical abortion positions).  I can game with someone who is wrong, because we all are frequently wrong.  But the left is increasingly (because for many leftists, their politics have taken the place of their religion) of the mindset that conservatives/right wingers are intentionally morally evil.  And they don't want to be at a table with someone morally repulsive (which I can understand... if they were actually following a genuine morality).

This is why, overall, I think a right-winger is likely to be more accepting of a left in their group than the other way around.

Something your post made me think of is that my closest friend is a self-described "bomb throwing feminist liberal" and she and I get along great. Then again, there's a big difference between a liberal and a leftist.

This is all extraneous to the OP though, because she isn't into RPGs.

Quote from: Brad on January 30, 2025, 07:59:23 PMWatched the video...(well, listened to it running). A few years ago I gamed with a dude quite frequently who was literally head of the socialist party in the state. We never had any issues, but now? He has seemed to go off the deep end. TDS is real.

Similar situation. A friend I used to game with was an out and out communist, self proclaiming in the southern US, which is pretty bold.  We got along well, even if we strongly disagreed politically. It just didn't come up in gaming, or even mostly just hanging out. Then in 2016 he just broke. It was all politics all the time and I suddenly became hateful and distasteful.

So yes, I could and have. I would again provided they don't make it a big deal, or push the "silence is violence" crap.

I played chess regularly against a communist, and a circle of others.  I avoided the Russian players, though.  They were like level 20 magic users and we were level 3.  I never knew their political positions.

I'm left-leaning. My GM is conservative. We get along fine at the table. We just keep political topics minimal.

Quote from: Cathode Ray on January 31, 2025, 08:46:10 PMI played chess regularly against a communist, and a circle of others.  I avoided the Russian players, though.  They were like level 20 magic users and we were level 3.  I never knew their political positions.

Ha, I thought I was a half decent amateur until I met some 11-year-olds in Kathmandu. Holy crap can those Nepalis play chess.

Quote from: Koltar on January 31, 2025, 01:27:07 AMHow Would I "know" if someone was a 'Leftist' while playing? Or a 'Trump supporter'?

If we leave contemporary politics out of the game sutuation - then there is no way to KNOW someone's political leanings.

- Ed C.

Give them two cows in the game and see what they do with them