Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Cruel and unusual: 7th Circuit Upholds Prison Rule Forbidding Inmates to Play Dungeons and Dragons
...I should perhaps mention that the court also cited statements by a "gang expert" who argued that playing D&D might stimulate gang activity because Dungeons and Dragons has a structure similar to a gang:
The sole evidence the prison officials have submitted on this point [the connection between D&D and gangs] is the affidavit of Captain Muraski, the gang specialist. Muraski testified that Waupun's prohibition on role-playing and fantasy games was intended to serve two purposes. The first aim Muraski cited was the maintenanceof prison security. He explained that the policy was intended to promote prison security because cooperative 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.
This argument is, I think, too weak to bother refuting -- even if it is just barely compelling enough to pass muster under the rational basis test. By this "reasoning," you could ban the "cooperative game" of football because "during football games, one player is denoted the 'quarterback.' The quarterback is tasked with giving directions to other players."
It seems a bit silly not to give the prisoners what amounts to a peaceful cooperative distraction. I'm reminded of the various satanic conspiracies of the 80's that revolved around role-playing generally.
We can't let convicted felons play D&D in jail. It could make them display horribly antisocial behavior when they get out of prison for armed robbery or rape. We can't ignore the danger it could lead to jaywalking!
This way rule makes perfect sense in a world where a pre-schooler gets suspended for long hair, a kindergartener for an innocent drawing that includes a 4th-grade boy for bringing in his handy-dandy Cub-Scout tool that includes a spoon, a fork and a butter-knife. -- A knife! In school!
Maybe that's where Nappy went wrong -- too much Mumblety-peg in the school-yard during recess.
Don'cha just love braindead hacks mindly enforcing ridiculous zero-tolerance policies?
Maybe the third time is the charm. #2's OK as far as it goes, but this got left out.
Ten years ago at work, Nappy quickly learned to not bother co-workers with any project-related issues between 3 & 4 in the afternoon. Those hackers, all young pups, were too busy with D&D. It was the beginning of the end for them. Most graduated to buying houses in the 'burbs, paying mortgages and raising kids. Now they drive mini-vans. How the mighty are fallen.
Who you gonna believe -- me or your lying eyes. This is #2. The one that calls itself #2 is really #3. In yet another Senior Moment, Nappy forgot to click the Fitna button while previewing the previous draft of #2.
We can't let convicted felons play D&D in jail. It could make them display horribly antisocial behavior when they get out of prison for armed robbery or rape. We just can't ignore the danger it could lead to jaywalking!
This wacky rule makes perfect sense in a world where a pre-schooler gets suspended for long hair, a kindergartener for an innocent drawing that includes a depiction of a gun or a 4th-grade boy for bringing in his handy-dandy Cub-Scout tool that includes a spoon, a fork and a butter-knife -- a knife! In school!
Maybe that's where Nappy went wrong -- too much Mumblety-peg in the schoolyard during recess.
Don'cha just love braindead hacks mindly enforcing ridiculous zero-tolerance policies?