The Great Smart Phone Plague

I remember when I first signed up for email. Yes, I am that old. At first I thought that it was the greatest thing ever. I could send and receive letters to some of my most remote friends in hours instead of days. It was awesome! But then several decided they wanted to copy me on what were nothing more than electronic chain letters. I really don’t want emails full of baby animal pictures that are supposed to give me good luck if I pass them on, or sappy poems about friendship that I am supposed to email back to the person that sent it and all my friends. At the time, I thought nothing would be more annoying than those damn chain letters.

Now I am a gamer and I know what is more annoying than getting those by email – getting them at the game table, or the equivalent thereof. Most of us have smart phones now, which some gamers use as a weapon to show you the latest video of kitties sleeping or a five minute clip from Robot Chicken or whatever. Ok, I don’t care 99.9% of the time, but I will look at it… UNLESS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME!! I don’t want to have a handful of dice, be trying to figure out which of my combat cards will best annihilate the 15 enemies that I am about to be killed by only to have someone stick philosoraptor in my face, or read the captions aloud to the group. I’m trying to kill elves people! (Not that I have anything against elves, but in Dark Sun, they are often jerks…)

Also, smart phone use is rude when you are keeping it to yourself, but checking emails, text messaging, and watching videos even on silent at the game table when we are actively playing. Even if it is not your character’s moment in the spotlight, pay attention to what everyone else does. It will make you better able to act in a few seconds when it is your turn.

I think we all can get distracted by our lives. Still, gaming is the time to get away from our real lives and slip into another world where you can be someone else. In real life, I am NOT the 6’1” exotic Mul former Gladiator Champion ass kicker I play in Dark Sun. That’s what makes it fun. Let the real world wait while you share that experience with your group, even the video of Ninja Kitten.