Judge Bans D&D in Prison!

[Tawmis]

http://blastr.com/2011/01/judge-bans-dd ... havior.php


Judge bans D&D in prison, rules it 'could lead to gang behavior'
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If you're reading this, chances are you've played Dungeons & Dragons: a game that involves creativity, quick thinking and a tendency to eat too many potato chips in one sitting.

Anyone can play D&D who can get his hands on a rules book and a set of dice—except for Kevin T. Singer, a prisoner in Wisconsin's Waupun Correctional Institution, who in 2004 had his D&D materials confiscated.

Singer, imprisoned for bludgeoning his sister's boyfriend to death with a sledgehammer, has sued the facility for violating his First Amendment rights. But on Jan. 25, 2010, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ban ... because Waupun believes D&D promotes gang-related activity.

According to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, when Captain Muraski, the prison's gang specialist, testified:

He explained that the policy was intended to promote prison security because co-operative games can mimic the organization of gangs and lead to the actual development thereof. Muraski elaborated that during D&D games, one player is denoted the "Dungeon Master." The Dungeon Master is tasked with giving directions to other players, which Muraski testified mimics the organization of a gang.

In this fascinating article from Above the Law - Elie Mystal says it best:

Look, I know the title "dungeon master" sounds scary and important. But don't let the words confuse you. We're talking about a guy who sits around all day drawing maps and debating whether a cloak of anti-venom can protect you from a fictional rat bite. (Note: It can't, rats have diseases, anti-venom contemplates poisons, those are two completely different things. Please don't tell my wife about this.)

If you were around in the 1980s, you would recall the public's fear that D&D led to mass criminal activities and/or psychiatric disorders. As with heavy metal music, comic books and videogames, these fears did not come to fruition. But it seems that these prejudices still exist, despite the fact that many of these former D&Ders went on to become happy, productive members of society; and others even created our current technology revolution.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals quoted cases in which extreme escapism fostered by D&D led to murder or suicide and resulted in the offenders' imprisonment. However, none of these cases dealt with current inmates trying to rehabilitate. Singer, on the other hand, brought in Paul Cardwell, chair and archivist of the Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games, who testified that "there are numerous scholarly works establishing that role-playing games can have positive rehabilitative effects on prisoners."

Ultimately, the Seventh Circuit ruled in favor of upholding the ban because none of Singer's witnesses could prove that D&D didn't ultimately lead to forming gangs. And if you follow the news, you'd know that gangs are extremely dangerous organizations that are detrimental to prison security and to rehabilitation.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals also writes:

D&D can "foster an inmate's obsession with escaping from the real life, correctional environment, fostering hostility, violence and escape behavior," which in turn "can compromise not only the inmate's rehabilitation and effects of positive programming but also endanger the public and jeopardize the safety and security of the institution."

Yes, D&D is about escapism. It can provide a nice mental break from the stresses of life, especially if that life is one without parole. D&D has been proven over time not to lead to violence, and it does not incur extra cost to the taxpayers. So why is it being withheld from Singer and his group?

Mystal again says it best.

What this is all about is punishment. It's not about rehabilitation, it's not about security, it's about old-school vengeance carried out by state actors. He killed somebody, and we as a society found something else he liked that we can take away. So we're going to take it away. It's Christopher Lloyd playing a Klingon in Star Trek 3 telling Kirk he won't beam up Spock "because you wish it."

I guess that is our right. I guess there is no compelling interest in making the life imprisonment of a murderer a little less horrible. But vengeance, even when legal, is still ugly. The Seventh Circuit just made a Lawful Evil decision here.

To see what really happens when one is exposed to D&D, click here.

[BBP]

I used to watch D&D, and I agree: it causes violence. I still wonder why I kept on to the read-along-book I have of it.

You WERE talking about the cartoons, weren't you?

[Tawmis]

I used to watch D&D, and I agree: it causes violence. I still wonder why I kept on to the read-along-book I have of it.

You WERE talking about the cartoons, weren't you?

Hey! The cartoons were awesome! I have the entire series on DVD!

[AndreaDraco]

I'm speechless.

[MusicallyInspired]

Stupid.

[DeadPoolX]

It seems to me that if letting prisoners play D&D keeps them from acting out, it's a good thing. Let's face it: these guys are in prison. They're not there because they're nice people or "misunderstood" and could possibly get "corrupted by D&D." I'd say that happened -- with or without D&D -- a long time ago.

I used to watch D&D, and I agree: it causes violence. I still wonder why I kept on to the read-along-book I have of it.

You WERE talking about the cartoons, weren't you?

Causes violence? Huh? D&D is even more benign than video games!

The cartoon was silly, but definitely not something that'd instigate violence. They never even used their weaponry offensively!

I used to watch D&D, and I agree: it causes violence. I still wonder why I kept on to the read-along-book I have of it.

You WERE talking about the cartoons, weren't you?

Hey! The cartoons were awesome! I have the entire series on DVD!

Maia and I have that too. Looking back, we probably shouldn't have bought it. Childhood memories are best left alone. I found that out the hard way when I re-watched the original animated Transformers: The Movie from 1986.

[Tawmis]

Maia and I have that too. Looking back, we probably shouldn't have bought it. Childhood memories are best left alone. I found that out the hard way when I re-watched the original animated Transformers: The Movie from 1986.

See, I like the D&D Cartoon still. It's campy, yes. But I find I still enjoy it. I even enjoy the Transformers (animated) movie still. I have Season 1 of Transformers on DVD, which I still like. I have all the He-Man on DVD, which I still like (despite being SUPER campy). One thing that I did like as a kid, and sadly don't care for much is THUNDERCATS. (And I have them ALL on DVD). I just can't get past SNARF's annoyance level. Far worse than Cringer from Thundercats. Probably because Cringer didn't talk TOO much, where as SNARF seems to ALWAYS be talking.

[DeadPoolX]

Maia and I have that too. Looking back, we probably shouldn't have bought it. Childhood memories are best left alone. I found that out the hard way when I re-watched the original animated Transformers: The Movie from 1986.

See, I like the D&D Cartoon still. It's campy, yes. But I find I still enjoy it. I even enjoy the Transformers (animated) movie still. I have Season 1 of Transformers on DVD, which I still like. I have all the He-Man on DVD, which I still like (despite being SUPER campy). One thing that I did like as a kid, and sadly don't care for much is THUNDERCATS. (And I have them ALL on DVD). I just can't get past SNARF's annoyance level. Far worse than Cringer from Thundercats. Probably because Cringer didn't talk TOO much, where as SNARF seems to ALWAYS be talking.

Funny you should mention He-Man. Maia has our DVR set to record He-Man and She-Ra every Sunday. Although most of the dialogue is campy, sometimes He-Man says things that're pretty damn funny or at least his delivery is good.

ThunderCats has some of the worst voice acting I've ever heard. The voice acting in shows like He-Man and She-Ra sound almost BioWare quality in comparison.

Even as a kid, I hated Snarf. He was even worse than Orko (which says a lot). Although I think Slimer was more annoying than those two combined.

At least Snarf and Orko could actually help. Sure, they messed up a lot, but they were useful sometimes. All Slimer ever did was eat everything in sight or screw up.

At my Dad's house, I have a laserdisc of He-Man episodes. I have no idea which episodes or if it contained a story arc of some kind, but it's there nonetheless. I wonder if it'd be worth anything.

[Tawmis]

Funny you should mention He-Man. Maia has our DVR set to record He-Man and She-Ra every Sunday. Although most of the dialogue is campy, sometimes He-Man says things that're pretty damn funny or at least his delivery is good.

See, that's what I'm sayin'!

ThunderCats has some of the worst voice acting I've ever heard. The voice acting in shows like He-Man and She-Ra sound almost BioWare quality in comparison.

I agree. I wish I wouldn't have purchased EVERY Season on DVD before watching them again and realizing this.

They may end up on eBay...

Even as a kid, I hated Snarf. He was even worse than Orko (which says a lot). Although I think Slimer was more annoying than those two combined.

From Ghostbusters? Wow. I can barely remember that cartoon...

[DeadPoolX]

Teletoon Retro shows almost all of those cartoons every day. Some shows, like He-Man and She-Ra, only appear on the weekend. But if I want to watch ThunderCats, Transformers and then GI JOE, I can do so easily.

And yeah... Slimer from Ghostbusters. As a kid I thought Venkman was being "too hard" on the ghost. When I watch the show now, I'm in complete agreement with him.

[BBP]

I was just kidding about the D&D cartoond although I do still have that listen along book... As a kid I liked it but the Dutch voice overs were not all that good.

[Rath Darkblade]

Back on topic... judge = stupid. Then again, it is Wisconsin. Consider:

1. Wisconsin has more country music festivals than any other state;
2. The Wisconsin Tavern League is a strong political force and the state legislature has been reluctant to lower a DUI offense from BAC 0.10 to 0.08 (only through Federal government influence) and raise the alcoholic beverage tax;
3. Wisconsin is represented by major league teams in three sports: football, baseball, and basketball.

So there is a culture of country music, drinking beer and major league football/baseball/basketball. Do you really think that D&D stands a chance in such an environment?

Maybe if the judge wants to allow the inmates some cultural influence, he could let them attend Bratwurst Day in Sheboygan, or Cheese Day in Monroe. Then again, that sounds like a punishment.

[DeadPoolX]

Back on topic... judge = stupid. Then again, it is Wisconsin. Consider:

1. Wisconsin has more country music festivals than any other state;
2. The Wisconsin Tavern League is a strong political force and the state legislature has been reluctant to lower a DUI offense from BAC 0.10 to 0.08 (only through Federal government influence) and raise the alcoholic beverage tax;
3. Wisconsin is represented by major league teams in three sports: football, baseball, and basketball.

So there is a culture of country music, drinking beer and major league football/baseball/basketball. Do you really think that D&D stands a chance in such an environment?

Maybe if the judge wants to allow the inmates some cultural influence, he could let them attend Bratwurst Day in Sheboygan, or Cheese Day in Monroe. Then again, that sounds like a punishment.

I really don't see what any of that has to do with ONE judge's decision. Blaming any state or country for the actions of one individual or group is moronic. Especially when you use stupid criteria like sports.

Really, what do sports teams have to do with anything? Is someone an idiot for liking football? And you claim Wisconsin is represented... well, which city? No one state is represented by one team of each sport.

Hey. wait a minute... I'm from Texas. Some people there, usually in small towns, like country music festivals. Oh and some people like drinking beer! But -- and this is the really damning part -- there are tons of sports teams. Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, etc. Not just professional, but on a collegiate level as well.

Oh and as someone from Houston (which has a team in every major sport) I guess that puts me in the same category as "someone" from Wisconsin because I happen to like baseball.

Rath, I expected better from you than this. I guess I was wrong. Then again... you are Australian.

[AndreaDraco]

DPX, do you even wear a cowboy hat?

Anyway, while I'm sure Rath was joking, I can understand why this kind of geographical generalization hurts. I'm Italian, right? So I guess that means pizza, mafia and mandoline.

Well, let's just say that I like pizza

[DeadPoolX]

DPX, do you even wear a cowboy hat?

Anyway, while I'm sure Rath was joking, I can understand why this kind of geographical generalization hurts. I'm Italian, right? So I guess that means pizza, mafia and mandoline.

Well, let's just say that I like pizza

Of course I don't wear a cowboy hat. Very few Texans (at least those in major cities) do.

If he's joking, he needs to make that very clear. The emote icons he uses makes his post look genuinely serious.

One of the so-called reasons he gives for ONE judge in Wisconsin banning D&D is that they like sports. That doesn't even make sense!