This Day Moral Panics, D&D, Steam Tunnels and More (1979) [Archive Favorite]
Aug 14, 2025
In 1979, the mysterious disappearance of a college student sparked a moral panic linked to Dungeons & Dragons. The podcast delves into how media sensationalism distorted narratives around mental health and gaming, overshadowing the real struggles of troubled youth. It explores the dynamics of adolescence as a refuge through role-playing games and critiques the tendency to scapegoat fantasy interests during societal crises. The discussion highlights the chilling intersection of moral panic and the complexities of mental health, urging a deeper understanding of these issues.
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Egbert's Tunnel Disappearance
- James Dallas Egbert III, a college prodigy, disappeared into Michigan State's steam tunnels in 1979 after a suicide attempt.
- The media later framed his disappearance around his Dungeons & Dragons hobby instead of his mental health struggles.
Escapism Overblown As Cause
- Egbert was a teenage prodigy and early computer science student who used fantasy and games as escapism.
- His intense pressures and mental-health issues explain his retreat more than any game influence.
Why D&D Became A Scapegoat
- Moral panics mix parental fear with cultural anxieties about occult-like media.
- D&D's fantasy surface made it an easy scapegoat for fears about youth identity and deviance.