jeffh@brl-sem.ARPA (the Shadow) (08/23/85)
Followup To: net.games
Distribution: net
I have tried to set the followup on this to net.games. If
anyone wants to discuss this further, please check to make
sure your responses are going to only one newsgroup. (Stamp
out net.clutter!!!)
I have been listening to this "D&D rots your mind" stuff for
some time. It often comes with (usually vague) references to
suicides and mental illness. Now I would like to investigate
the record and see if there is really any evidence to back up
these claims. Who knows? I may get a thesis out of it.
With that in mind, I am asking the net for some assistance.
Where would I look for suicide statistics for teenagers in the
last ten years? Anybody know the sales records for TSR? How
about actual instances of suicide or mental illness *clearly*
linked to D&D in particular or role-playing games in general.
(NOT "This person committed suicide and he also played D&D once
so that must have been the reason.") Any low-bias studies on
this sort of thing would also help.
Please send information (or pointers to information) to me via
e-mail. If there is reasonable interest, I will post my findings
to the net (probably in a month or so).
BTW, there are lot of strong opinions on this subject and I've
already heard most of them, so please just send me hard facts.
"If I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you."
the Shadow
ARPA: <jeffh@brl>
UUCP: {seismo,decvax,cbosgd}!brl!jeffh