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by Mary Van Tyne, Editor
Socially Unacceptable First, before I start this month, I'd like to say that the response I got from my article quite a few months ago was overwhelming. Thanks to all of you who responded, and thanks to all of you who read but didn't respond. That said, on with my subject. Most Magic players have been rejected from society at some point in their lives. That may have been the reason they started playing Magic in the first place; to "get away" from regular society and possible ridicule. Have you ever taken a good, long look at most Magic players? They tend to be somewhat.....geeky (NOTE: I am not saying that geeks are bad. I'm a geek. Back to the subject.). Unfortunately, society doesn't like geeks that much. Societal expectations have to do with image and the way you present yourself to the world. This constant pressure to look and to be perfect has driven, and continues to drive, many girls nearly insane with the desire to attain perfection in every way. Magic's image is made by the people who play the game; the so-called "geeks." These players have, and probably will continue to, perpetuate Magic's negative image. There is very little we can do to change this, however; unless, we all sell our Type I cards (if we have them) to pay for therapy, counselling, and makeovers for all the geeks who play this game. =) My school is entirely unique in this aspect, though. We have our own Magic-playing "society"; a group of us, united by a common interest. We have the basic types of players here; the guy no one will play because he always wins, the counterspell boy, the guy who no one will play because he always loses, the philosopher, and finally, the Magic hermit himself - he plays almost all other CCG's EXCEPT Magic. Then, there are the nondescript players and the somewhat cretinous freshmen who will do for a game if you're really desperate. I will admit, though, that a society as large as this one is an aberration; but, even in your town, isn't there something close to this? Maybe not as large, maybe not as accepted, but there must be a group of people who will play Magic with you and who all exhibit their own odd characteristics. Games are social in their very outset - it takes two to tango, socialize, and play almost every single game out there. The problem society may have is the fact that gaming challenges your mind, not your image. It's a lot easier to judge someone based on what they look like, rather than how they think. And, to find out how someone thinks, you have to get to know them and actually (ugh) talk to them. Heaven forbid a socialite should have to talk to anyone about anything other than Post-Modern Impressionist Art and whatever Calvin Klein is doing with velour these days. Gamers, in stark contrast to this, are some of the people who are least concerned about their image. Thus, regular society's idea of a gaming society, where you are judged on the way you think, is dismissed as foolish, and the people in the gaming society are rejected even further from regular people. There is no easy, quick, or real solution to this problem. I don't think there will ever be a solution. Once again, the problem lies in the hands of other people, not in ours. All feedback is welcome, appreciated, and if you reply early enough, even replied to. If I'm right on, have completely missed the target, am shooting fish in a barrel, or simply using too many bad cliches in this last paragraph, let me know. I remain,
Mary Van Tyne
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