But I think you’re right that most folks just don’t care…UNLESS it somehow affects THEM. Personally. As in, “oh, Bob does this gaming-thing on Sunday afternoons….THAT’S why he is never available for playing ball. Damn, and I thought it was something *important*, like going to church…” Then they feel devalued or dissed. But they don’t ‘get it:’ Bob might game ‘religiously,’ but John might blow off a game to play ball once in a while. We all value gaming at different levels. And as long as it doesn;t become an addiction, that’s ok. Or it should be, at least to the RPGers themselves. Screw what others think.

Uh, sorry this kinda rambled. I guess I don’t want to jump right on and completely agree, but I do see your point. However, some folks are just more concerned with how other view them, and they are just a person who has to make a choice: game like you wanna game & to hell with how the non-gamers see you, or quit/become a casual gamer and deal.

(BTW, I think it’s a sense of PRIDE: “I’m geekier than thou.”)

FYI, role playing is not limited to ‘geeky’ games. Actors (who I’m sure make FAR more money than you do) role play for a living. Even my wife, who has about as much interest in games as you do, does some ‘role playing’ of her own from time to time. Role playing is about having fun with your imagination and getting away from the drudgeries of the real world for a while. It, in itself is no different than quilting (as you mentioned) or any other hobby.

Geeks have a tenancy to seem arrogant when confronted by the average person, especially when it concerns something complex like role playing. This is simply because most of them know that the average person wouldn’t understand or relate to what they’re doing, let alone enjoy it. Geeks aren’t trying to seem superior, they just don’t like what you like.

Is that OK with you?

Well said, sir. Allons-y!

Joshua is right regarding the feigning polite interest amongst work colleagues though I have found a tinge of negativity and suspicion, I think born from unfamiliarity and historical views on roleplaying. But after some initial skepticism and views aired at work that roleplaying was weird many of my work colleagues have come to realise that it is just as social as having a few drinks with friends but adds a nice creative element. It only took polite pointing out that it was not as widely socially acceptable as getting drunk but far more socially responsible to shift the general opinion from negative to ambivalent.

OK, let’s all discsuss discussing geekiness!

Then let’s discuss that!

No, wait, let’s do something else.

Moreover, I suspect that those same folks who ridiculed gaming when they were 14, if presented it by a colleague at work in a straightforward manner, would probably end up feigning polite interest — and not mention that they mocked their schoolmates for it years ago. If they can grow up, why can’t gamers? =P