Here is a link to a recent article in Indianapolis Monthly regarding Gen Con.  It's started some buzz here in Indy among the gamer communities. 

http://indianapolismonthly.com/monthly/article.asp?articleID=3

Wow.... that is probably one of the most offensive pieces of print I've seen in awhile. 

Sigh. That I can say.

What do you expect from a Mag that has that horrible MIDI music playing the whole time...

*sigh*  Indy is nothing if not full of wanna-be yuppies.

Here's the response I gave on their "Contact Us" page.  I would encourage us all to write them.

"The Indianapolis Monthly's recent article regardling GenCon was offensive to attendees, poorly researched, and simply superficial.  As a returning attendee, I can say that your reporting on the convention missed on all counts.  Instead of looking beyond the costumes of some attendees and the juvenile attitudes of a single attender to see the range of games played, from the family classics of scrabble and risk, to role-playing games, to poker tournaments, to many others, you chose to focus on stereotypes and mockery.

It is a shame that the largest convention that Indy has, one which is outgrowing the current convention center, is treated in such a superficial and demaning way.  Perhaps with such reporting, Indianapolis Monthly sees that Indy has no need for the over 25,000 people and the millions of dollars spent on food, lodging and entertainment in your town.  Surely you can do better, especially if you wish to be seen as a national convention destination."

Ripley:

What do you expect from a Mag that has that horrible MIDI music playing the whole time...

*sigh*  Indy is nothing if not full of wanna-be yuppies.

Haha, now now!  I'm a yuppie from Cleveland!  I'm thinking this was probably written by some college kid.

*blinks*
Well, that will be the last time I buy that magazine.  Ever.

1) I make damn good money and have never lived in mom's basement.
2) I don't go and hook up for sex
3) I'm not an outcast, I have a lot of friends.

That article is just...absolutely offensive in so many ways.

Good lord, I don't know where to begin.

I kept my temper - NOT!

As you have undoubtedly learned by now, a simple link in the GenCon Forums to your feature article for this month has added hundreds of people to your list.  Not to your subscription list however; we have all joined the "I would never subscribe to a magazine that writes such slanted articles in my life" list.

 

All over America, gamers with active home lives, well paying jobs and a complete recognition of the difference between fantasy and reality are linking to your article, cringing at your jarring background jingle and thankfully signing off after the first two paragraphs as we find the usual poorly understood typical miscast piece of trash about gamers that is commonly written by people looking for tabloid style news rather than a well researched story.

 

But maybe I'm maligning your magazine; you didn't MISTAKENLY go for the tabloid sleaze angle, with an article by the name of Pool Boys also in the magazine, you were probably looking for it.

 

Cynthia Hart

Systems Analyst

Kenneth City, Florida

 

The author of this article definitely has a future with the National Enquirer.

 

xMidnightxEyesx:

 some college kid.

hey! I resemble that remark!

Go Green, Go White, Go MSU... lol

Wow, all that and NASCRAG still gets pimped.  Amazing.

Draven:

Wow, all that and NASCRAG still gets pimped.  Amazing.

Ticktack:

xMidnightxEyesx:

 some college kid.

hey! I resemble that remark!

Go Green, Go White, Go MSU... lol

I kinda thought that remark was going to catch some flak. 

I sent this:

Ok, I just finished reading the article Revenge of the Nerds by Tony Rehagen and I must say that I was thoroughly appalled.  Never have I read an article that was farther from the truth than this one.  The way he presents all the attendees is as if we're a bunch horny, fat, pimply, 20 something’s that don't have a life.  I can tell you as a 41 year old father of 2, who has served in the military, done the party scene and who loves sports, pro and college, that while there may be people like the guy in the article, the majority of us are just normal people who have an intense love for gaming, be it card, board, miniature or role-playing games.  I think Mr. Rehagen owes an apology to the attendees who bring in so much revenue for you city.  If the con is so bad, then why is the local Boy Scout Council having a special deal for scouts to attend and learn about the gaming industry as well as play some games?  Why do they have a Christian worship service for gamers that want to attend?  Why did the author of this article not speak to more than one group of people?  Sounds to me like Mr. Rehagen needs to go back to journalism school.  Earlier this year there had been rumors that Gen Con would be moving out of Indianapolis because the convention center would no longer support it, well I say if this is the kind of press that they are going to receive, then move.  I will be more than willing to go a little farther for a city that will not blast one of its best revenue makers.

Sincerely,
Ron Purvis

Folks,

I don't mean to dampen the banging of pitchforks, but this is probably the exact response the author desires so as to stir controversy and generate sales.

*sigh* This is very frustrating for a relatively new gamer like myself.  Some people my age (~30) have been gaming for 15 years, but for me it's only been just a couple of years.  And when I talk to my non-gamer friends about my new hobby, I know that the content of that ridiculously slanted article is what immediately pops in their mind.  But, like Jirel so eloquently put it, I have met numerous gamers (and many of them on these boards) who are normal people like me, with jobs and families and just happen to love gaming.  Articles like this just make my attempts to explain my love of gaming to others that much more difficult.  Bad form. 

But, the article does make me want to try NASCRAG this year. 

 

It’s never okay to make broad defamatory comments about any group of people.  If this article had been written in the same manner regarding Black Expo or NWBA event participants it would be obviously inappropriate. 

 

We have nothing to be ashamed of or apologize for.  That article wasn’t a flame directed at us.  It was a lighthearted piece in their eyes.  They don’t realize that it isn’t funny and that it is offensive. 

 

If we don’t let them know; they won’t know.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me this jerk is the guy who didn't make it to Rd. 3 of Nascrag!   They WON!

For the love of all things, they won. 

Now, everyone...deep breaths. Let's all realize that the author of the article is a laughable tool, and is, at the least, an equal opportunity basher. Read the part again where he describes the football players.

In fact, there isn't a positive description of a human being in the entire article...except *maybe* for the three girls, which makes me wonder whether the author got a bit excited himself by all the sexual content he decided to add to the article.

I rather liked, out of the entire article, the last two paragraphs.

(As a side note, I just contacted them about the article myself, and simply provided a link to this thread...not that I expect anyone to have what it takes to respond here.)

The Science:

*sigh* This is very frustrating for a relatively new gamer like myself.  Some people my age (~30) have been gaming for 15 years, but for me it's only been just a couple of years.  And when I talk to my non-gamer friends about my new hobby, I know that the content of that ridiculously slanted article is what immediately pops in their mind.  But, like Jirel so eloquently put it, I have met numerous gamers (and many of them on these boards) who are normal people like me, with jobs and families and just happen to love gaming.  Articles like this just make my attempts to explain my love of gaming to others that much more difficult.  Bad form. 

I think you should send that paragraph exactly as-is to Indianapolis Monthly.