« Ages 8 and Up | Main | RPG.Net Thread of the Week: Fudging Rolls »
March 09, 2005
Roleplaying and Security Clearance
The IDF (Israel Defense Force) automatically downgrades the security clearance of incoming recruits who play roleplaying games. Saith the army, "They're detached from reality and susceptable to influence."
The article has the usual picture of LARPers as a representation of roleplaying, but someone who's read the original Hebrew article comments that "the Hebrew version mentions LARPing and RD&D specifically, with traditional D&D only mentioned as background on the game." He doesn't define RD&D, but from context I think he means another form of LARP.
As of the moment I wrote this post, the final comment in the thread purports to be from thor@asgard.net. I'm not sure that this really strengthens the case for D&D players, alas.
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/1995369
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Roleplaying and Security Clearance:
» Roleplaying and Security Clearance from RPG Portugal
Leiam esta que vale a pena! Parece que devia ter escrito que jogava RPGs na folha de recrutamento... se calhar tinha evitado perder aqueles meses na tropa!
Roleplaying and Security [Read More]
Tracked on Mar 10, 2005 2:59:18 AM
» Commonchero claims Tipperary feature from ?30,000 Galway
which went to Michael O'Brien's Commonchero, under a good ride from Andrew Lynch. [Read More]
Tracked on Jul 26, 2006 12:05:12 PM
» Light Cigarettes Just as Addictive as 'Full Flavored' from isbelief Persists
isbelief Persists That 'Lights' Are Healthier, Experts Say [Read More]
Tracked on Jul 26, 2006 4:25:18 PM
» ABN AMRO to Host Parlano Spring 2005 Customer Forum from BN AMRO to Host
BN AMRO to Host Parlano Spring 2005 MindAlign Customer Forum [Read More]
Tracked on Jul 31, 2006 10:05:48 PM
» Most obese people say they eat healthy from obese Americans
three-quarters of obese Americans say they have healthy eating habits, according to a survey [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 7, 2006 2:50:39 PM
» Judge Declares Lawyer Drunk in Court from Vegas Judge Declares
Vegas Judge Declares Mistrial in Kidnapping Case, Saying Lawyer Intoxicated [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 9, 2006 11:19:09 AM
» 48 Hours of Bugday from weekly Bugday
of triaging! For those of you not in New Brunswick (Canada, not New Jersey), [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 14, 2006 7:04:42 PM
» A Few Quick Link Building Tips from - Internet Marketing
plenty to write about or dont enjoy blogging, its just been a time management issue. Obviously [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 15, 2006 12:38:43 AM
Comments
I was going to post this if you hadn't beaten me to it.
If they fired all the guys who game (or do SCA) from the US armed forces, I'm not sure who'd be left to defend our country.
Posted by: Ginger Stampley at Mar 9, 2005 5:27:48 PM
I have, I'm sure, a romanticized notion of the kind of intense gaming that goes on aboard submarines. I'm told electronics of all kinds are strictly regulated -- no video games -- but plastic polyhedra are eminently acceptable.
Posted by: Jeff at Mar 9, 2005 6:44:39 PM
Well, I submitted this to the talkback, but I'll put it here as well. It's not clear to me what the army means by their classification. From the psychological studies I've seen, I haven't seen any such detachment. (cf. my page at http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/whatis/psychology.html ) On the other hand, the army may have different criteria than psychologists. The 1987 Simón study found a slight increase in Cattall factor Q1 ("Experimenting; liberal, freethinking"). A 1990 study found decreased sense of meaninglessness among role-players, and greater estrangement from mass culture. Most relevant for the military might be a 1998 study, which reported:
"Scores of 54 fantasy role-game players and 64 National Guardsman were compared on a neuroticism scale and demographic variables. While the Role-gamers reported daydreaming and sleeping more than the Guardsmen, the popular stereotype that game players are withdrawn, emotionally immature adolescents was not confirmed. The typical game player was male with as many close friends as the guardsmen. Mean neuroticism scores did not appear to differ between the two groups and were not high enough to be considered clinically significant."
Of these, I guess the most suspicious as far as military security would be the factor Q1. On the other hand, I highly suspect that the Israeli military isn't using particularly quantitative studies. But to be fair, they have to err on the safe side (i.e. anything which might possibly suggest security risks will tend to be ruled out even if it isn't proven.)
Incidentally, what conclusion are you drawing from an email address of "thor@asgard.net"? One of the mysterious things I find about role-players is that they can be just as negatively biased about each other. For example, in my experience, tabletop players tend to regard live-action players as crazy -- particularly if they play outdoors and get real exercise, or if they wear costumes.
Posted by: John Kim at Mar 9, 2005 10:26:50 PM
"RD&D" is what you call LARPs in Mediaeval fantasy settings which involve hitting each other with boffer weapons, in a country where TSR/WoTC doesn't actually have anyone to sue.
And Ginger, "firing" people from the US Armed Forces? Surely the union won't stand for it! Over here, the army legally 0wnz you from 18 to 40, unless you're ultraorthodox, an arab, a religious woman, or whatever. "Lower security clearance" doesn't grant a discharge; it just reduces the chances of a soldier getting into more responsible (and presumably interesting) duties or career paths.
Posted by: Dotan Dimet at Mar 10, 2005 5:29:48 AM
You know, most of the gamers I've ever known have been military. I have a buddy back in the States who was in the Navy, and during shore leaves he nd his group got the permission of their ship's commander to use the map room to play D&D. If you look in the lounges and dayrooms of my base and the ones nearby, on any given night, chances are you're find nearly a dozen games going on.
We're working on a WoD 2.0 LARP. Wish us luck.
Posted by: John at Mar 11, 2005 5:32:57 PM
Readers of this 'blog' who might have interest in security clearance obtaining matters should be interested in the following information. A recently constructed psychological-type 'test', the Personnel Security Standards Psychological Questionnaire (PSSPQ), has been shown, through repeated research, to be able to accurately predict success/failure to be eventually granted high-level security clearance status for those being processed (or planning to be processed) for same. The PSSPQ was developed by a seasoned psychologist who, several years ago, retired from federal service when being the Chief Research Psychologist in the USA's largest intelligence agency. Information about the PSSPQ (including the arrangements to be made in order to be administered the instrument) can be found at: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/psspq.html
Posted by: Dr. LeRoy A. Stone at Apr 12, 2005 9:24:13 AM
For those interested in security clearance obtaining, the following information may be of some value. There has been developed a psychological type 'test' that very accurately predicts success/failure to be eventually granted high-level security clearance status for persons who are being (or plan to be) processed/adjudicated by the federal government regarding potential granting of such status. The Personnel Security Standards Psychological Questionnaire (PSSPQ)was developed by a very senior psychologist while he was the Chief Research Psychologist in the USA's then largest intelligence agency. Information regarding the PSSPQ and how to make arrangements to 'take' it can be found at:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/psspq.html
Posted by: Dr. LeRoy A. Stone at Jul 16, 2006 10:43:47 PM
