Cultural Idiosyncrasies - and Bullheaded Players

[tesral]

"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. [...] As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew." - Same feller.

And your point? One does not disagree with the other. Some people are not of the listening kind.

I've often said that Science Fiction and/or Fantasy tells you more about the time it was written than the subject it was written about. I've never been one to hold to dogmas.

[Sascha]

And your point? One does not disagree with the other. Some people are not of the listening kind.

Let's assume all pronouns are general.

Sometimes, you're Abe Lincoln. Sometimes, you're the pig. In either case, you find yourself unable to contribute.

As Abe Lincoln, trying to teach the pig isn't productive. Reverse the roles - stop trying to teach, and *listen* to the other person. Ask questions in good faith. You just might find yourself able to contribute, after all.

As the pig, having things about which you will not learn isn't productive. Turtling up and avoiding anything with cultural contexts with which you are unfamiliar only serves to keep you insular, isolated and unable to contribute to further discussions. You have the ability to change this, even if you don't like or agree with what's being asked. You just might find yourself able to contribute, after all.

Framing the situation as unresolvable (ie. Lincoln and the pig) does nothing to change this. It only serves to reinforce the fragmentation of the hobby, as a whole.

I've often said that Science Fiction and/or Fantasy tells you more about the time it was written than the subject it was written about.

That was metaphor for this hobby we all share.

[nijineko]

hmmmm. points taken, various and sundry.

personally, i've often taken the proposed question of how can i make "x" character from "y" source in d&d as a potential rules challenge. it can be a fun thought exercise to figure out just how it can be done, much like i once figured out how to qualify for druid-only prestige classes without ever once taking a level in druid. (3e)

of course, unless i happen to have seen the comic, or manga, animation, anime, tv show, movie, book, or whatever the character is from i'm likely to have to ask a bunch of questions just to even have a thought on what might be done. more often than do all that research, i just wait till a few other people post, and get an idea of what they are trying to accomplish and make suggestions from that.

be it ninja, pirates, catgirls, amazons, space explorers, or an unholy amalgamation of them all (i refuse to be the one to post that link...), it can be a trifle tiresome to hear the same basic theme repeated over and over again with little variation.

[Mfrankly]

There's no such thing as wasted mental masturbation.

It might not hurt to leave a little room in the setting for the players to contribute material.