[Note: You may also want to check the Frequently Asked Questions page for some common concerns and our responses to them.]
In a perfect world, no-one would attack role-playing games without a good reason, and perfect or not, we've yet to see a good reason. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world.
In an almost-perfect world, any attacks or questions could be referred to the defender with the best combination of local connections, credentials, defense experience, and access to relevant research and other documentation, generally a CAR-PGa officer. Unfortunately, the world isn't almost-perfect, either. (We do suggest that you try this first when you can, though; see the Officers page.)
In the real world, there are going to be times when you are the only one whom an attacker will listen to or you cannot reasonably avoid commenting on a matter. Sometimes the media just wants to talk to you, not somebody hundreds of miles away. The following is a brief guide to what to do and say at those times.
Note: The following material is excerpted and adapted from the CAR-PGa Members' Manual. That document goes into greater detail about preventive measures, preparedness, rallying your fellow gamers, and other advocacy concerns. If you have any interest in such issues, including being prepared for next time, we strongly suggest that you join CAR-PGa. We charge no monetary dues, and membership makes it easier to keep up with what sorts of attacks to expect and what sorts of resources are available to counter them. It also lets us know that there's someone friendly in your area should we have a research question or need someone to respond to an attack there, and it gives you access to other CAR-PGa members around the world for the same purposes.
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Do your research. This is both because people attacking or asking questions about RPGs so often have bad data or no data at all and because an argument without facts to back it up is unlikely to convince anyone.
Your first points of inquiry should be CAR-PGa's Frequently Asked Questions page and Literature List for anything relating to the general subject of the attack or question. If this doesn't have what you're looking for or enough of it, contact the Chair (e-mail: chair @ this domain) and ask what else we have on the subject. This should provide you with a reasonable background for both refuting general attacks and making general counterarguments.
Your second point of inquiry should be to track down the truth behind anything specific referred to by an attack or question:
RPGs don't cause antisocial behavior and aren't evil, so as long as you fight for truth and verifiable facts, you're on the right track.
Finally, if you don't know something, admit it! However, don't just let it stay there. Offer to get the information or refer the attackers or questioners to CAR-PGa's nearest State or Provincial Coordinator, Regional Director, or to the Chair. (see the Officers page)
All CAR-PGa material beyond simple housekeeping notices and official CAR-PGa papers are by-lined. In all these dealings with whatever audience, remember that no one, including the Chair, speaks for CAR-PGa. The author is totally responsible for what is said.
We have several audiences for our work, and each of them has different needs. As a result, the best approach will vary based on whom you're dealing with.
Much of our work is directly aimed at the general public and ultimately all of it is. However, contact is on a personal level (face-to-face talking, game demonstrations, etc.) or is indirectly through the mass media.
The vast majority of the public is really apathetic about gaining: They have no personal interest in it, but they don't believe the anti-gamers and are quite willing to let gamers have their fun. The main approach to this group is one of general rights. The denial of rights to anyone endangers the rights of everyone. Therefore, they have a vested interest in supporting gaming against these attacks even if they have no interest in playing themselves. The minority portions of the general public are so identifiable as to constitute specific audiences themselves.
The mass media is really two audiences. The publishers/broadcasters are interested only in making money and they do this by selling readers or audiences to advertisers. Few of them really care what is published as long as it gets this income. Most of the printed media--it is questionable who is in the majority in the electronic forms--consider this attitude a little obvious and therefore ultimately self-defeating and so try to be a bit subtler.
The reporter is the second audience in the mass media. The reporters are the ones you will deal with directly, but they are restricted by the policies dictated by the first group and while their personal sympathies are more likely to be with us, their course of action is greatly restricted. Therefore, when dealing with the mass media, one must remember this mindset. We must walk a tight line between the requirements to be honest, not to try to "put one over on them," and not to betray our beliefs on the one hand, and on the other the need not to come across as a fringe group or, worse, a threat to the world they consider to be real.
In dress, deportment, vocabulary, etc. we must be as unthreatening to this view as possible without surrendering our beliefs. The anti-gamers have been working since the early 1980s to portray youth culture as criminal. As a result, role-playing games are considered youth culture and get lumped with video games, rock music, horror movies, and even drugs. Therefore, our image must call this attitude into question. On TV this means suits (unless they came to you at a game convention), no smoking under any circumstances, and a tendency to resemble the characters on a 1950s sit-com.
These can be supporting or a total pain. Try to be calm. Explain the reality of things (with a demonstration, if possible). Don't burn any bridges. You will get too old for parental interference soon enough, no matter how long it may seem now, but family ties are difficult to repair once damaged.
This does not refer to Channel 13 on TV, but rather the channel through which you reach your intended audience. Like the message, the audience will determine the channel used.
The general public will be most easily reached through the mass media or by public demonstrations (of games, not picket lines and rallies!). Shopping malls may be interested in the latter, especially if there is a game store there to sponsor your demo.
The mass media will sometimes come to you. If not, you can use a press release if anything of note comes up. If you are not given coverage, try a letter to the editor. Even some TV stations have these on a once-per-week basis following the nightly newscast.
If there is a major event, such as a con, a press kit giving background information should be provided. These should be kept brief. The full Chamber of Commerce packet is useful only for major cons, which generally have their own PR staff anyway.