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You're Wrong About
Dungeons & Dragons & The Satanic Panic with Adrian Daub
Aug 20, 2024
Adrian Daub, a Stanford professor and literary scholar, explores the 1980s satanic panic over Dungeons & Dragons. He shares the fascinating history of how parental fears and media sensationalism distorted perceptions of the game. They discuss the disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III and the cultural impact of role-playing games. Daub emphasizes the importance of imaginative play, challenging the misconceptions that fueled public hysteria and critiquing how societal norms shaped the narrative around D&D and its players.
01:10:20
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Quick takeaways
- The satanic panic of the 1980s linked Dungeons & Dragons to societal fears about youth behavior, driven by tragic events like Egbert's disappearance.
- Media figures, particularly Pat Pulling, fueled misconceptions about D&D, amplifying unfounded claims of its connection to violence and suicide.
Deep dives
The Origins of the Panic
The satanic panic of the 1980s was notably fueled by the beliefs surrounding Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), a role-playing game that gained immense popularity on college campuses. Central to this panic was the case of James Dallas Egbert III, a brilliant teenager who vanished under mysterious circumstances, leading to unfounded claims that his disappearance was connected to his involvement with D&D. Media coverage helped solidify the association between the game and societal fears about youth and morality, effectively linking Egbert's tragic suicide a year later to the game's influence. This highlighted a deep-seated need among adults to find scapegoats for complex issues regarding childhood behavior and mental health, turning innocuous pastimes into sources of fear.
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