Before the internet boom, games tended to be local phenomena, with their own play culture grown from whoever could be bothered to read the manual, or what they learned word of mouth from peers. The idea there ever was one monoculture of TTRPG cultures is just a lie. It's always just been tables.

When I interviewed Lee Gold for the backmatter of DIE, one of the things which struck me was her arguing that they played things they considered roleplaying games PRIOR to D&D. So one could argue Theatre Kids have been incredibly patient with everyone else who colonised their hobby.

D&D was founded by barely socially functioning wargamers, adopted by society's outcast teenagers, molded by frustrated fantasy writers, and visualized by marginalized artists.

"theater kids colonized the hobby"

friendo, you have so little idea of what you're talking about, you're speaking pakled

Like I'm sorry but I do actually think that people shouldn't have to maintain constant unflagging hypervigilance that their elected officials, including the nominal "opposition party," aren't about to fuck them over yet again. Wanting that isn't apathy

Performing one's civic duty as part of something that at least pretends to be a democracy shouldn't have the constant feel of begging someone not to shoot you, I think

Kids wanna know where the bad guys keep the weapons but also where they chill and have snacks