RPG Censorship in the United States

From: Denise L Calaway <acdlc_at_utxdp.dp.utexas.edu>
Date: Thursday, 6 Mar 97 13:00:47 CST


Recently I was trying to find more information on the Neleomi Sea area for a huge campaign write up I've been working on for some time now. I wrote to this list requesting any information on the subject. Several folks wrote back (both privately and in the digest) with Web sites to visit. Due to the fact that I can't afford a computer and my computer at work does not have web access I've been going to the Public Library where they recently installed computers for the public to use. But when I attempted to look up the sites I suddenly got "Cyber Patrol - Access Denied" message.. on the sites suggested to me as well as ones I had previously visited via the library. I found out that our city's manager had been pressured to put in software that would block material deemed harmful/immoral to minors. I got a hold of the man responsible for choosing which subject to block. I didn't tell him specifics but told him I was trying to do research on games. His response nearly floored me - he said that he had to block games due to games such as D & D and their Satanic content I told him that he is misinformed about RPGs and to do some more research into what a RPG is and isn't. That was last week. He has not contacted me since then although I have left messages for him. I am going to write to our city manager, our local newspaper etc about this issue. And I am contemplating getting a hold of TSR - I am sure they will be interested to know that they were mentioned by name. I have been in contact with another local game company head who is very much interested in seeing this pursued. I will do my best. To be honest I am not sure how an article in a newspaper will come out sounding - - I am a level headed individual (with a touch of Babs Gor when needed!) but an adult playing a "child's" game can be misperceived. I know plenty of people misinformed on this topic. Has there been anything published - a pamphlet - that informs people about the true nature of RPG's?? If so let me know.
You see misunderstanding/misinformation and censorship occur everywhere in the world.But I still have hope that truth/justice will prevail. Denise Calaway

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