So, Guy posted this statement over at Story Games in a conversation someone pointed me to. I'm smirking a bit because Rich Forest's response to the statement sounds to me like an argument that certain individuals becoming offended about "Gamers are Brain Damaged" isn't so stupid or nonsense a behavior after all.

Tied up in this, Matt Wilson goes on to ask a rather pertinent question that deserves consideration:

Who has the right to decide when it's "blown out of proportion?"

The answer to the question seems to me: it's a case-by-case situation per individual. So, YOU have the right to decide something has been blown out of proportion by another individual. Every single one of you. You have to as a part of life.

But let's litmus test the whole idea that claims of overreaction are really just a way to shut down conversation:

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So, what then is the solution to making claims of overreaction? Can you or can't you? Is it bad or is it reasonable?

This is a complex situation, not nearly as black and white as some would have it. Consider: maybe me dismissing something as overreaction doesn't mean I'm trying to shut down conversation at all, maybe it means I'm sick and tired of your personal hang-ups being pushed on me. That I don't have the energy or desire to crucify and martyr myself so you can feel better, by defending myself from your ghosts.

Or maybe it does. Maybe I am trying to shut down the conversation, and maybe that is all about my personal hang ups, instead, and it has nothing to do with you trying to shut down judgement of your behavior or discussion of your errors.

But the answer can't be found in pat monochrome truisms.

Recently, I was thinking about some unnecessarily snarky commentary I deleted from some forum posting somewhere of mine that went like this: "Learn to Read." Just that. I didn't say it because, hey, that's insulting, right? It isn't functionally true, obviously, if they are reading it, they CAN read, so saying it is just going to alienate the recipient.

But as I was lying in bed this morning with things tumbling around, jumping, connecting and combining and so forth, as they usually do, I realized that's NOT true. Most people in our society do not understand HOW to read, even well-read ones who read daily, even many writers!

How is that?

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