Wisconsin Prison Bans Dungeons and Dragons

[Socialist Tera]

I’m a role-playing game enthusiast to say the least. I love playing such games. I think it’s ridiculous that those in power think playing the game might encourage escape fantasies among the inmates. I imagine the escape fantasies are already on their mind. A fellow named Kevin T. Singer is incarcerated at that institution and had a regular Dungeons and Dragons game with fellow inmates.

Let’s cut to the chase. Prison officials do not believe that playing Dungeons and Dragons constitutes an escape or violence risk. They just wanted to make life more difficult for Singer. They found a ridiculous rational for doing so, implemented it, and laughed as they took away his books and homemade material. Ha, they said, we’re in charge and we get to tell you what to do.

The courts agreed. Even though there is no evidence that such games cause troubles in prisons (because they don’t), the court sided with the prison.

Sadly, I agree with the courts. The removal of role-playing games is something the prison can enforce. The inmates have been duly convicted of a crime. A particularly brutal murder in this case. The authorities run the prison and unless they are taking away a Constitutionally guaranteed right, they can do as they will.

My message today is for the prison officials. You are not making Wisconsin or this nation any safer. By using your power to bully and punish a prisoner, for the simple reason that you can, you actually increase the chance said prisoner will learn to hate authority figures all the more. The prison should run the damned game, if you’ll pardon my choice language. They should encourage inmates to work as a team and learn to appreciate those in authority don’t have to be jackbooted thugs. That they can actually be interested in the well-being of their charges.

Being in a position of authority is a tremendous responsibility. You can influence people in a good way and make this world a better place or you satisfy your sadistic urges to hurt and demean people.

I’m certainly not saying Singer is a wonderful person. The fact remains that he and other prisoners may someday return to society. Isn’t it in our best interest to make sure they return better than they went in, not worse?

Tom Liberman

Source: http://www.tomliberman.com/law-2/wiscon ... nd-dragons
Do you think Prisons should ban Dungeons and Dragons in prison? I don't think so. It promotes a way that prisoners can read, write and do maths in a peaceful fun environment. It promotes a good sense of community in a positive attitude. Most people who are into Dungeons and Dragons would likely be white collar workers and unlikely to commit crimes there is now way that Dungeons and Dragons could possibly be lead to crime offenses the idea is absurd. Mods, if the intro is not long enough I can expand on it by explaning what Dungeons and Dragons is, what an rpg is and the philosophy behind the game and how to play it.

[Risottia]

Most people who are into Dungeons and Dragons would likely be white collar workers atheist liberal satanist commie nerds who listen to Death Metal while burning a star-striped church with their black magic lasers and killing unborn babies while doing drugs

Eh.

No, seriously, just make a prison-friendly version called Dungeons and Detention Officers.

[Galloism]

Most people who are into Dungeons and Dragons would likely be white collar workers atheist liberal satanist commie nerds who listen to Death Metal while burning a star-striped church with their black magic lasers and killing unborn babies while doing drugs

Eh.

No, seriously, just make a prison-friendly version called Dungeons and Detention Officers.

Have I ever mentioned that I want to ram my ovipositor down your throat and lay my eggs in your chest?

[Myrensis]

But if they allow inmates to have a harmless diversion that encourages literacy, math and cooperation skills, those inmates could potentially be less likely to re-offend, and if they don't end up back in prison, the state might cut prison budgets.


Why do you want the innocent children of prison workers to starve, Socialist Tera? WHY?

[Uxupox]

The possibility of one these inmates becoming a grand lord of evil necromancy is too great. Of course we shouldn't allow inmates to become such a powerful being with unstoppable power.

[Risottia]

Eh.

No, seriously, just make a prison-friendly version called Dungeons and Detention Officers.

Have I ever mentioned that I want to ram my ovipositor down your throat and lay my eggs in your chest?

What, again? I thought you were satisfied with last week's four times.

[Geilinor]

The possibility of one these inmates becoming a grand lord of evil necromancy is too great. Of course we shouldn't allow inmates to become such a powerful being with unstoppable power.

I agree.

[Dooom35796821595]

This is America, the land where slavery is still legal, as long as you're convicted of a crime.
So why not ban stuff, slaves are property.

[Socialist Tera]

The possibility of one these inmates becoming a grand lord of evil necromancy is too great. Of course we shouldn't allow inmates to become such a powerful being with unstoppable power.

Something worse might happen, one of the prisoners might become Old Man Henderson.
https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Old_Man_Henderson

[Godular]

If the inmate knows his stuff, he can still run D&D without the books. Soon, D&D will become the symbol of defiance against authority. The anarchist symbol shall be replaced with a d20 showing a middle finger. Instead of molotovs, protesters will throw nerf balls while screaming 'FIREBALL!' The Grand Wizard of the Order will actually be a wizard!

RISE WITH ROLEPLAYING REVOLUTION!

[Khadgar]

I'd be more concerned about someone putting a d100 in a sock and beating people to death with it.

[Freefall11111]

Of all the petty bans I've heard of, this one comes close to being the one that makes the least sense.

[Risottia]

I'd be more concerned about someone putting a d100 in a sock and beating people to death with it.

The real killer dice are the old d8, with their sharp edges.

[Khadgar]

I'd be more concerned about someone putting a d100 in a sock and beating people to death with it.

The real killer dice are the old d8, with their sharp edges.

A decent dice set has a fair bit of heft to it even without the big d100. I could see a safety argument.

[Drayxaso]

If the inmate knows his stuff, he can still run D&D without the books. Soon, D&D will become the symbol of defiance against authority. The anarchist symbol shall be replaced with a d20 showing a middle finger. Instead of molotovs, protesters will throw nerf balls while screaming 'FIREBALL!' The Grand Wizard of the Order will actually be a wizard!

RISE WITH ROLEPLAYING REVOLUTION!

This needs to happen.

[Socialist Tera]

I'd be more concerned about someone putting a d100 in a sock and beating people to death with it.

I dunno, D4 could poke someone's eyes out or make them have a sore but!

The real killer dice are the old d8, with their sharp edges.

A decent dice set has a fair bit of heft to it even without the big d100. I could see a safety argument.

The dice are fairly light, just don't allow metal ones.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Makes sense, with all those damn mages and paladins they have locked up, have to prevent them from gaining more XP so they can use their divine powers to smash through the walls and escape.

[Giovenith]

Well if I've learned anything from shady Chick Tracts, it's that D&D gives people totally-for-real-not-bullshit magic powers and they could use it to escape their cages!!

[Mad hatters in jeans]

About time Wisconsin hit hard on the real problems in society.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

If the inmate knows his stuff, he can still run D&D without the books. Soon, D&D will become the symbol of defiance against authority. The anarchist symbol shall be replaced with a d20 showing a middle finger. Instead of molotovs, protesters will throw nerf balls while screaming 'FIREBALL!' The Grand Wizard of the Order will actually be a wizard!

RISE WITH ROLEPLAYING REVOLUTION!

Fuckin roleplayers man, bunch of anarchists and would be escape artists if ever there were some.

[Commonwealth of Hank the Cat]

About time Wisconsin hit hard on the real problems in society.

They should crack down on all those other problems too: You know, those damn homeless people, those damn un-American things like flowers that aren't painted red white and blue, those are the real problems.

[Conserative Morality]

Fuckin roleplayers man, bunch of anarchists and would be escape artists if ever there were some.

Always put points into Escape Artist. Never know when it could come in handy.

[Socialist Tera]

Fuckin roleplayers man, bunch of anarchists and would be escape artists if ever there were some.

Always put points into Escape Artist. Never know when it could come in handy.

Points in disguise, deception and hand to hands, maybe even sleight of hand would be better.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Since the link in the blog post about the story is broken, I searched for the original story. It dates to 2010, so I'm not really sure why the blogger brings it up now.

The judge's ruling doesn't strike me as unreasonable:

The appeals court said the prison's policy was reasonable and did not violate Singer's rights.

"After all, punishment is a fundamental aspect of imprisonment, and prisons may choose to punish inmates by preventing them from participating in some of their favorite recreations," the court said.

Are the prison officials being difficult? Sure. Do I really care? Nope. Maybe avid RPers should try to keep their murdering IC if they want to stay free IRL.

[Xadufell]

This is quite clearly Magephobic and Dragonphobic. As a magic using dragon this is highly discriminatory and infringing upon my rights. If the prisoners wish to be all powerful necromancers or even bridge-guarding trolls that is purely up to them. Surely I can have my own pursuit of happiness, even if I turn a few people into frogs and occasionally incinerate a few buildings.