Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher and have teens of my own. There are some that are into it, but that is no different than any other year. I would not say it is mainstream cool with the majority of the kids.

That doesn't matter. Your kids found an common interest with others and that is great. Maybe it is more popular at some schools.

It might be more popular with quirky kids?

Maybe. I’m coming back here after a few days and reading all of the comments. People keep mentioning ADHD but it’s not just that. My 15 and 18 yo are very different kids and both have ADHD. They do not play this, have never mentioned it and I haven’t heard of it being played by kids at my school where I teach.

It sounds like it is popular in some schools and anytime a group of kids find others with common interests, it’s a good thing.

My 16 yr old younger son has been into D&D since 2020 when he was 11. Library started a virtual D&D club with COVID - he loved it and has been playing since. Most of his friend group plays D&D. His friend group is very diverse. Three are really into theater & music & the arts, 2 are total STEM / robotics kids, 2 are really into sports and are on several HS teams. His HS has a D&D club with multiple campaigns going on. I think it has like 30 students.
But if you ask my 19 yr old college freshman, he will say only the weird kids are into D&D. And to be honest, my younger son is a bit “weird” / neuro-spicy.
It’s ok to be different and like different things. D&D encourages creativity, imagination, and helps them think critically and gain strategic thinking skills. There’s far worse things for teens to be into.

It’s cool for the quirky kids and not a thing for the popular crowd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No

+1 it’s still for losers

This. My teen likes to get boba from a place inside of a comic book store where they play this, and you should see the dirty, smelly people playing.

Anderson Cooper, Dame Judi Dench, Joe Manganiello, James Franco, Stephen Colbert, Dwayne Johnson, Drew Barrymore ...

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/behind-hollywoods-closed-doors-a-912169/
Behind Hollywood’s Closed Doors, A-List Stars Are Playing Dungeons & Dragons

A large number of popular professional athletes play chess these days. It's still not "cool."

-A chess player with chess playing kids

No kidding. I love chess! I don’t play d&d - both for serious nerds

Okay.


New D&D Actual Play Stars Kansas City Chiefs NFL Players

In one of the most unusual collaborations in Dungeons & Dragons history, six NFL players from the Superbowl winning Kansas City Chiefs defensive line swapped strip sacks for saving throws in a new one shot D&D actual play entitled “Dungeons & Defense.“
https://dungeonsanddragonsfan.com/dnd-actual-play-kansas-city-chiefs/

RPGs in the NFL: How One Team Has Embraced Dungeons & Dragons

In Tuesday's Daily Cover story, Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt writes about one of the unique ways some NFL players try to unwind.

RPGs ... or role-playing games for those not in the gaming know. For Myles Garrett, Johnny Stanton and a few of their [Cleveland] Browns teammates, the RPG of choice is the classic Dungeons & Dragons.

The group first formed in September 2020 at Stanton’s behest; as the only one with any prior D&D experience, he served as dungeon master, or DM, and helped everyone choose characters.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/12/07/rpgs-nfl-one-star-embraces-dungeons-and-dragons

Yes, the classic trope of serious nerd NFL players.

Why did you ask if it was cool then if you’re already convinced it is? Get a grip. Not everyone agrees.

I'm not OP. I just came across the conversation.

It's fine. You don't have to agree it's cool, and it doesn't really matter in the great scheme of things. Opinions are opinions, and they always vary, and that is truly fine.

However, the truth of the matter is that it is also being openly played and discussed by, and promoted, by famous actors and comedians, by Super Bowl winning NFL players, and having live versions selling out Wembley Arena and Madison Square Garden, and serving as the backdrop to a popular series, and being covered in magazines like Rolling Stone, and all of that -- which may not make it cool, but is probably why there is more widespread interest.

If your framing for it is limited to "smelly people" who are simply nerds, you're probably due for an update. That's all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No

+1 it’s still for losers

This. My teen likes to get boba from a place inside of a comic book store where they play this, and you should see the dirty, smelly people playing.

Anderson Cooper, Dame Judi Dench, Joe Manganiello, James Franco, Stephen Colbert, Dwayne Johnson, Drew Barrymore ...

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/behind-hollywoods-closed-doors-a-912169/
Behind Hollywood’s Closed Doors, A-List Stars Are Playing Dungeons & Dragons

A large number of popular professional athletes play chess these days. It's still not "cool."

-A chess player with chess playing kids

No kidding. I love chess! I don’t play d&d - both for serious nerds

Okay.


New D&D Actual Play Stars Kansas City Chiefs NFL Players

In one of the most unusual collaborations in Dungeons & Dragons history, six NFL players from the Superbowl winning Kansas City Chiefs defensive line swapped strip sacks for saving throws in a new one shot D&D actual play entitled “Dungeons & Defense.“
https://dungeonsanddragonsfan.com/dnd-actual-play-kansas-city-chiefs/

RPGs in the NFL: How One Team Has Embraced Dungeons & Dragons

In Tuesday's Daily Cover story, Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt writes about one of the unique ways some NFL players try to unwind.

RPGs ... or role-playing games for those not in the gaming know. For Myles Garrett, Johnny Stanton and a few of their [Cleveland] Browns teammates, the RPG of choice is the classic Dungeons & Dragons.

The group first formed in September 2020 at Stanton’s behest; as the only one with any prior D&D experience, he served as dungeon master, or DM, and helped everyone choose characters.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/12/07/rpgs-nfl-one-star-embraces-dungeons-and-dragons

Yes, the classic trope of serious nerd NFL players.

Why did you ask if it was cool then if you’re already convinced it is? Get a grip. Not everyone agrees.

Early 1980s. There was even a Saturday morning cartoon. The kids in the cartoon showed up in the recent D&D movie.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No

+1 it’s still for losers

This. My teen likes to get boba from a place inside of a comic book store where they play this, and you should see the dirty, smelly people playing.

Anderson Cooper, Dame Judi Dench, Joe Manganiello, James Franco, Stephen Colbert, Dwayne Johnson, Drew Barrymore ...

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/behind-hollywoods-closed-doors-a-912169/
Behind Hollywood’s Closed Doors, A-List Stars Are Playing Dungeons & Dragons

A large number of popular professional athletes play chess these days. It's still not "cool."

-A chess player with chess playing kids

No kidding. I love chess! I don’t play d&d - both for serious nerds

Okay.


New D&D Actual Play Stars Kansas City Chiefs NFL Players

In one of the most unusual collaborations in Dungeons & Dragons history, six NFL players from the Superbowl winning Kansas City Chiefs defensive line swapped strip sacks for saving throws in a new one shot D&D actual play entitled “Dungeons & Defense.“
https://dungeonsanddragonsfan.com/dnd-actual-play-kansas-city-chiefs/

RPGs in the NFL: How One Team Has Embraced Dungeons & Dragons

In Tuesday's Daily Cover story, Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt writes about one of the unique ways some NFL players try to unwind.

RPGs ... or role-playing games for those not in the gaming know. For Myles Garrett, Johnny Stanton and a few of their [Cleveland] Browns teammates, the RPG of choice is the classic Dungeons & Dragons.

The group first formed in September 2020 at Stanton’s behest; as the only one with any prior D&D experience, he served as dungeon master, or DM, and helped everyone choose characters.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/12/07/rpgs-nfl-one-star-embraces-dungeons-and-dragons

Yes, the classic trope of serious nerd NFL players.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No

+1 it’s still for losers

This. My teen likes to get boba from a place inside of a comic book store where they play this, and you should see the dirty, smelly people playing.

Anderson Cooper, Dame Judi Dench, Joe Manganiello, James Franco, Stephen Colbert, Dwayne Johnson, Drew Barrymore ...

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/behind-hollywoods-closed-doors-a-912169/
Behind Hollywood’s Closed Doors, A-List Stars Are Playing Dungeons & Dragons

A large number of popular professional athletes play chess these days. It's still not "cool."

-A chess player with chess playing kids

No kidding. I love chess! I don’t play d&d - both for serious nerds

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No

+1 it’s still for losers

This. My teen likes to get boba from a place inside of a comic book store where they play this, and you should see the dirty, smelly people playing.

Anderson Cooper, Dame Judi Dench, Joe Manganiello, James Franco, Stephen Colbert, Dwayne Johnson, Drew Barrymore ...

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/behind-hollywoods-closed-doors-a-912169/
Behind Hollywood’s Closed Doors, A-List Stars Are Playing Dungeons & Dragons

This makes sense. It is a very creative unscripted game, great improv practice for comedians, voice actors, etc.

Yes, D&D is cool now. Social media changed what it can be.

Anonymous wrote:My young adult kid started playing in HS and continued in college. Now watches some YouTube version of others playing??

Yes, those are popular You Tube channels and podcasts too. My kids listen to them on long drives, and they are pretty funny. They are basically doing a radio show of a long campaign, somewhat like the D&D movie, but with funny commentary thrown in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's cool or not--my ADHD kid with lots of friends plays with a few other neurospicy kids--but it seems more widespread than ever before, and I've worked with kids for my whole career.

Wtf is a neurospicy kid?

It's a Gen Z term to suggest that being neurodiverse is cooler or less boring/vanilla as neurotypical.

They need to go to a residential school for “neurodiverse” kids to see the true meaning of neurodiverse. These GenZ kids just have poor social skills. And it has nothing to do with their choices of activities.

Stranger Things also popularized it quite a bit.

My DD is at an all-girls school and it’s the most popular middle school club. When she joined I was confused because I grew up in the Midwest in the 80s and it was so weird that even the weird kids didn’t play. I remember a kid moving from another state and trying to get people to get excited about it and being shunned by the outcast kids.

I’m glad that kids have less hang ups and can just enjoy things now, but I still find it surprising that it is mainstream, at least at DD’s school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No

+1 it’s still for losers

This. My teen likes to get boba from a place inside of a comic book store where they play this, and you should see the dirty, smelly people playing.

Anderson Cooper, Dame Judi Dench, Joe Manganiello, James Franco, Stephen Colbert, Dwayne Johnson, Drew Barrymore ...

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/behind-hollywoods-closed-doors-a-912169/
Behind Hollywood’s Closed Doors, A-List Stars Are Playing Dungeons & Dragons

A large number of popular professional athletes play chess these days. It's still not "cool."

-A chess player with chess playing kids

That wasn't the referent for the response.

This. My teen likes to get boba from a place inside of a comic book store where they play this, and you should see the dirty, smelly people playing.