Israeli Army Says D&D Playing Recruits out of Touch with Reality

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According to Israel Defence Force, recruits playing D&D are out of touch with reality and easily susceptible to influence. They automatically get low security clearance and are unfit for elite unites. Here's a bit of what the article says:

Does the Israel Defense Forces believe incoming recruits and soldiers who play Dungeons and Dragons are unfit for elite units? Ynetnews has learned that 18-year-olds who tell recruiters they play the popular fantasy game are automatically given low security clearance.

“They're detached from reality and suscepitble to influence,” the army says.

Fans of the popular role-playing game had spoken of rumors of this strange policy by the IDF, but now the army has confirmed that it has a negative image of teens who play the game and labels them as problematic in regard to their draft status.

So if you like fantasy games, go see the military psychologist.

Dungeons and Dragons (also known as “D and D”) has been a popular role-playing game for decades and is based on a fantasy world.

Read the whole article at Yvetnews.

 

That's hilarious! If some army guy ever claimed that I was out of touch with reality, I'd Time-Stop him, then smash him with my magic sword. That'd show him!

 

Hey, how about convincing the army D&D players are totally unfit for military service? Then I would show them my collection...

 

That is quite funny actually. In my experience, at high school and university, the D&D players tended to be the students who were both above average in intelligence and more in touch with reality.

In reality they probably look down on the D&D players because they tend to be people who think about what they are doing instead of being cattle who just do what they are told.

 

If the IDF is really serious about this they should give all Jihad-fighting-palestines a D&D starterset which would make them too weak-minded to fight on

 

That's what character they forgot on Full Metal Jacket - the D&D playing 'out-of-touch-with-reality' pale white kid.

All you have to do is reveal your gaming choice once you've proceeded to the rank of Major or some other higher officer rank then credit your abilities in said profession BECAUSE of your D&D playing

 

I can actually see why they wouldnt give high security clearances by default, but its not because they think you're out of touch with reality. Its more likely because people with higher than average intelligence are also traditionally more open minded to new ideas, Ie Free thinkers. In other words more likely to question a questionable order which is what armies DONT want, so I can understand it.

What they're worried about is not that you'll come under somebody else's influence is that you wont be completely under their influence.
Hence the low default security clearance.

But that doesnt mean they'd make good infantry either as far as the army is concerned.
But this of course from their point of view is generalising at its worst, which is far easier than actually finding out what the new recruit is about and what reasons they have for being in the army.
Of course the israeli army still conscripts their citizens for a forced tour of duty, so they make everyone do it. So maybe all their saying is that they dont think you're a career army person so they wont give you security clearance for information you wont have any need knowing since you wont be here any longer than necessary.

Who knows

 

Well KOTOR isn't D&D based, so I guess waving lightsabers at droids or aliens in pyjamas & cloaks is OK

Goes to show how little these guys know about the genre

@Chaosprism
Welcome onboard Nice first post.

 

You mean D&D isn't real?

 

the Israeli army's view of reality is by definition different than the average d&d player's IMO. Therefore they are completely right to have the policy they have; yes JSBB they probably have higher than average intelligence; though if directed will they be as likely to fire at a group of Pally's ?
There is serious issues beneath the surface; I don't know how much friction between gaming and "real world" has been observed by posters over the last few years but it must be on the increase. There are going to be all sorts of problems coming for material plane regulators, society and behaviour is going to change; 20 -30 years ago when I was growing up kids still played outside; were in gangs, and aspired to emulate famous sportsmen etc. Now I imagine the kids spend their time indoors in intra-personal states and aspire to be a half-elf or a ranger - cleric in a world that "doesn't exist". (as the army may have it.) Perhaps this Israel news release is the tip of an iceberg of official realisation, perhaps you gamers are well aware of this topic and it is openly discussed at various levels, if so I'm sorry for being behind.(I've not been living a silicon based life so much until now ... now where's that charisma implant I need?)

[ March 15, 2005, 07:52: Message edited by: Ik ]