"To People Who Call Wargaming Silly, You Say..." Topic

You were asked – TMP link

Do people call your wargaming "silly"? What do you say to them, if anything?

13% of the votes: "I don't concern myself with them."

10% (tie) said "Well, it makes me happy." OR "Who cares?"

9% (tie) said "I am old enough to do what I want." OR "It keeps me off the streets."

I don't build strawmen to blow down.

I am reminded of Peter Lorre's statement to Bogart in Casablanca "You despise me, don't you?" to which Rick replied,"If I ever gave a thought about it, I probably would."

Most folks dont even give us a thought.

"How's your "fantasy football" team doing?"

Usually does the trick, silly is as silly does.

Only person who thought it was silly, "Children's Games" was the term, was my father. I told him any kid could play basketball but not any kid could play ASL and he stopped.

Given what some of my friends do/collect, toy soldiers are main-stream

I have a brother-in-law who scrapbooks. I dont trash his hobby, he doesn't trash mine.

I would say:
"Yes, yes it is."
We all need a bit of silly now and again.

After seeing my job performance after hiring me, the managers now use "plays D&D" as a qualifier for employment.

I drink very little Booze and have not been drunk in decades. I do not play the ponies or gamble (OK – when lottery gets over 100 meg I buy a ticket).

Would rather watch the History Channel showing the rebuilding of a Mark V Panther then a Baseball/Football/Basketball game.

If my hobby is a vice and silly at least I have something to show for it after I am done painting.

Depends on how they ask.

My civil response is "it keeps me numerate, literate, off the streets and is a sociable activity."

My less civil response is"better than being a couch potato"

My angry response is" Outside, now"

Most people say it behind my back, so I don't really know.

I like the Bogart answer.

Glangarry5 has the right response. Of course I've been known to refer to our hobby as an excuse for grown men to play with toy soldiers.

Right, just like unsolicited opinions.

Something along the lines of "hell yes, could you imagine being so far up yourself you actually care what other people think?"

Well, since the Army also wargames, it's probably not as silly as they think. Then there is the research and organization, the model making, painting, and building aspects of the hobby. Those things all take quite a bit of skill.

Expand your limited mind and you may view history different.

I've never actually heard anyone call wargaming silly. Anyone who did so within my hearing would obviously not be a wargamer and, like all those who express opinions on things about which they know nothing, would not merit a response.

I would rather play a game than sit on my as… rear and watch others play. I find it more satisfying, but one must make some intellectual effort.

"Have I shown you my mini of Snoopy flying his dog house?"
Then pull up the photo on my phone and give a thrilling blow by blow account of Snoopy's last decisive victory over his nemesis, the Red Baron, complete with vocalized machine gun sounds, barks, growls, and bad mock-German puns.

When asked a silly question, obliterate the enemy with a silly response.

Growing old is mandatory, growing up, is optional.