I've just had a thought about X-Cards - are they a middle class phenomenon?

It seems to me that the idea that the world will change shape to suit you is the result of overindulgence as a child, getting what you want and being protected from things you don't like.

Is the rejection of them a function of a working class background?

Knowing that the world doesn't change shape to suit what you want and sometimes you have to live with things you don't like.

Or maybe a lack of adversity while growing up - people have nothing to measure unpleasant things against and so have no sense of proportion.

The quote (from the purple place) "I used a deck of playing cards with images from the television show The Walking Dead for a Savage Worlds campaign until one of my players expressed discomfort over the images." If this was an adult I can imagine my aged mother taking the piss thusly "Awwww, did the nasty pictures scare the little man, there there, all gone".

Or am I wrong?

Your right people are too sensitive and easily triggered nowadays. Are their subjects, topics and issues that should should offend someone yes to be sure. Pictures of Zombies on cards is not really one of them. Funny how they are not outraged at the treatment of gay people and women in the Middle East with such righteous intensity. I don't use them, will never use them and never play or run at at a table that does. To be honest I don't like or care for the concept of a X-card.  They are a means for players to avoid being responsible and communicating with the DM on what they can or want in a campaign. If players have issues with the material they act responsibly like a grown adult should and tell me at session Zero. Where I may or may not agree to change what is bothering them in a campaign. Though I'm sure the Regressive Purple place would have a fit because I'm not bending over backwards to accommodate a player desires.

Quote from: Altheus;1060278I've just had a thought about X-Cards - are they a middle class phenomenon?

RPGs in general are a sheltered middle class phenomenon.  (I kid, I kid.  Sorta'.)

Quote from: Altheus;1060278Knowing that the world doesn't change shape to suit what you want and sometimes you have to live with things you don't like.

Or maybe a lack of adversity while growing up - people have nothing to measure unpleasant things against and so have no sense of proportion.

A gaming group could do worse than to say "I don't want to play a game about people who gain power from pedophilia, which uses lolicon cards to help 'get in the mood'," while brainstorming what to play next.  Everybody's comfort level is disrupted sooner or later, and establishing that in advance rather than assuming things isn't necessarily a bad idea.  That said, if you have a bunch of folks who are jaded with life and fazed by nothing short of auto-cannibalism, a person who doesn't want violent games is likely just a bad fit for that group.  And accepting "it's not them but you" is a hard thing for some folks to accept.

Honestly, it's all about the hypotheticals in these situations.  If you know who you play with vs. if you don't know who you play with.  Stable groups just don't have these problems; at least not to the levels to justify how people keep talking about them.  It's not like book clubs or softball teams or theater troupes spend this much energy on hypothetical members' feels.  Personally, I figure if someone can't find a stable group, and stay in a stable group, for whatever reason, they need a different hobby.

Quote from: Altheus;1060278I've just had a thought about X-Cards - are they a middle class phenomenon?

It seems to me that the idea that the world will change shape to suit you is the result of overindulgence as a child, getting what you want and being protected from things you don't like.

Is the rejection of them a function of a working class background?

Knowing that the world doesn't change shape to suit what you want and sometimes you have to live with things you don't like.

I'm not an advocate for the use of the X-card, but this hypothesis seems stupid to me.

These are make-believe games I play for fun. I know goddamn well that I have to live with things I don't like in real life. In my games, I want all the players to have fun - not teach them life lessons. Like if we're going out to dinner after the game, and I know that David hates Thai food, then I'm going to suggest we go some place that everyone likes - not go out to Thai food and tell David "Toughen up - you've go to learn to live with things you don't like". That's not being working class, that's being an asshole.

I'm not convinced that the X-card is a better approach for everyone to have fun, but I do subscribe to the bigger principle of taking everyone's preferences into account, and trying to make sure everyone has fun.

Quote from: jhkim;1060305These are make-believe games I play for fun. I know goddamn well that I have to live with things I don't like in real life. In my games, I want all the players to have fun - not teach them life lessons. Like if we're going out to dinner after the game, and I know that David hates Thai food, then I'm going to suggest we go some place that everyone likes - not go out to Thai food and tell David "Toughen up - you've go to learn to live with things you don't like". That's not being working class, that's being an asshole.

Yep.

But the difference between a dinner and a TTRPG is there aren't any groups of people who accept random walk-ups to go out with for dinner.  No "we need two more people to come with us and try this new Indian place" sort of meet up for organized eating.  But at this point it all breaks down in to "how do we attract and keep a hypothetical player" and I think all the talk of X-cards and such avoids the bigger issue of just communicating between people beforehand, and how some players and some groups simply aren't a good fit.

I bring a picnic basket of puppies & kittens, along with crayons & coloring books, to my RPG campaigns. We resolve in-game conflicts with cats' cradle and the best compliments about the veggie tray. Sometimes we draw baby carrots to break ties (hint: we really don't ever break ties! we're all winners together during ties!).

You know, after a few offensive game sessions you can take all the X-cards and collect them into an X-file...

Quote from: Alderaan Crumbs;1060369You know, after a few offensive game sessions you can take all the X-cards and collect them into an X-file...

The truth the regressive rpgers desire is hopefully not out there.

Quote from: Opaopajr;1060311I bring a picnic basket of puppies & kittens, along with crayons & coloring books, to my RPG campaigns. We resolve in-game conflicts with cats' cradle and the best compliments about the veggie tray. Sometimes we draw baby carrots to break ties (hint: we really don't ever break ties! we're all winners together during ties!).

Imagining your table made me feel warm and happy. Like napping on a fresh-baked muffin while angels sing songs about raindrops and hugging and where all the dice roll "20" and are made of cotton candy.

Quote from: sureshot;1060371The truth the regressive rpgers desire is hopefully not out there.

It's in the hands of NPCs.

'Shit writes itself, yo.

Quote from: jhkim;1060305I'm not an advocate for the use of the X-card, but this hypothesis seems stupid to me.

These are make-believe games I play for fun. I know goddamn well that I have to live with things I don't like in real life. In my games, I want all the players to have fun - not teach them life lessons. Like if we're going out to dinner after the game, and I know that David hates Thai food, then I'm going to suggest we go some place that everyone likes - not go out to Thai food and tell David "Toughen up - you've go to learn to live with things you don't like". That's not being working class, that's being an asshole.

I'm not convinced that the X-card is a better approach for everyone to have fun, but I do subscribe to the bigger principle of taking everyone's preferences into account, and trying to make sure everyone has fun.

So much this.

I think though there is a big difference between someone stating a reasonable "that makes me uncomfortable..." and "I'd rather not have that theme present." with "I demand you remove anything that even slightly offends my delicate sensibilities!" and "Oh gawwwwd! Take it away! Momeeeee! sob-sob!" hysteronics.

I have on many occasions told a player "I'd rather not have that theme present." or been told much the same and we worked around that. I have had a rare few sessions where a subject got introduced out of the blue and it put me off playing. Usually I have a talk with the player about it after and explain why. If they get belligerent about it then ta-ta. You need me, not the other way round.

I have twice had prospective players get belligerent and tell me there will be NO xyz in a session when there was no such mention of these things or its even something I noted I dont like. And I've told them to either stand down and chill out or take a walk. But overall people have been pretty reasonable and are just voicing a dislike that may not feel quite ok with. Or alot not ok with.

Theres been enough threads here where members have commented on things they dont want in a session.

This whole conversation is so American.

What a fucking embarrassment for this hobby.

Quote from: Altheus;1060278I've just had a thought about X-Cards - are they a middle class phenomenon?

It seems to me that the idea that the world will change shape to suit you is the result of overindulgence as a child, getting what you want and being protected from things you don't like.

Is the rejection of them a function of a working class background?

Knowing that the world doesn't change shape to suit what you want and sometimes you have to live with things you don't like.

Or maybe a lack of adversity while growing up - people have nothing to measure unpleasant things against and so have no sense of proportion.

The quote (from the purple place) "I used a deck of playing cards with images from the television show The Walking Dead for a Savage Worlds campaign until one of my players expressed discomfort over the images." If this was an adult I can imagine my aged mother taking the piss thusly "Awwww, did the nasty pictures scare the little man, there there, all gone".

Or am I wrong?

You've a theory.  How would you go about testing it and ensuring confirmation bias is not a confounding influence?