"Wargamers who spout off about politics/religion?" Topic

How do you and your friends respond when someone begins to express their views about controversial topics (politics, religion, etc.) during a wargame?

(a) Tell him to shut up immediately.
(b) Ignore him and hope he quiets down after awhile.
(c) Engage one another in vigorous debate.
(d) It depends on the topic and whether anyone is interested.
(e) This situation never occurs in our group.
(f) ________

B

F! Engage, politely. One does need to interact with folk who aren't merely an echo-chamber for one's own views, and a shared hobby is a possible way to meet such.

E

d

There is a world of difference between interacting with someone who holds a different point of view and spending a whole game listening to someone rant.

LT

C and D

f. Usually there isn't a debate as most of us have similar political views. Not always, but almost always.

Usually (c) or (d) in our group … They are well informed enthusiasts with views worth listening to, more often than not (well, I enjoy people's points of view, anyway … and have been known to share my own from time to time ) …

It is all part of social interaction …

Phil

F-we usually break each others balls in the most politically incorrect way. Our catch phrase is 'Enough of Reality'.

B

Damon.

E. Nor do we discuss religion, wife swapping, the best brand of vegemite or Global Warming.

Some topics will only cause grief.

B

A.

BEFORE the game – D.

AFTER the game – D.

DURING the game – Shut the up and game!

I'm not sure you people read the question. And if you did you're much more tolerant than I am.

b

A – I've made it clear that politics and religion is verboten around the game table. Especially so since half the players are right wing and the other half left wing.

We often discuss politics and sometimes even religion during games. That's just what we do.

D

I take the other side almost every time. That seems to help change the subject nicely. And I always point out if your side was right your die would roll better for u.

On the wife swapping they always want to give you a wife in exchange. Now a nice 28mm nappy army for the old girl…

B. I game solo

C&D.

We had a tense moment tonight when the Payrioys were accused of cheating and I came to their defense. But other than that , no problem.

D. It's a social environment, and quite honestly, any topic can become a controversial hotbed with the right person working it.

D, mostly!

D)

Christopher

D.

Our group is surprisingly all of the same mind when it comes to politics so when it comes up it's preaching to the choir!

Agree with him if he's right otherwise leave it for the pub afterwards when I explain why he's wrong.

With strangers, remind them that we're here to game, not bicker about politics, though I've never actually had that happen.

With my friends, our conversation topics are the same whether we are gaming or not. It's just part of hanging out.
That being said, while gaming, most political talk is exaggerated caricatures for fun.

E – our group is "The Gentlemen Wargamers" after all.

We are somewhere between A and B. We have one old guy who loves to share his opinions about politics. In spite of a 'no politics while wargaming' rule, we usually let him prattle on until he's done. He doesn't get out of the house much to socialize, so we tolerate him, but otherwise try to stick to the game.

I tell them that I game to escape reality.

f. Eat a snickers, you really get weird when you are hungry