Prison says D&D a threat to security

[BTM]

So, apparently some guys were playing D&D in prison, and another prisoner complained that the GM was building a "gang" around D&D, so all his stuff was confiscated and now there's a lawsuit going on over this.  Anyway, the seventh circuit of appeals upheld the ban, giving all kinds of interesting quotes.

"...D&D can "foster an inmate's obsession with escaping from the real life, correctional environment, fostering hostility, violence and escape behavior," which in turn "can compromise not only the inmate's rehabilitation and effects of positive programming but also endanger the public and jeopardize the safety and security of the institution.":

I think my brain just exploded.

With all the other crazy stuff that reportedly goes on at prisons, these guys are worried about some dudes playing with dice and paper?

I can't even think of anything witty to say, I'm so stymied. 


Links below.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110128/02572112876/court-says-playing-dungeons-dragons-prisons-represents-gang-behavior.shtml
http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2011/01/25/dungeons-dragons-a-threat-to-prison-security/
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/26/dungeons-dragons-threatens-prison-security-court-rules/?test=latestnews

[Flick James]

So, apparently some guys were playing D&D in prison, and another prisoner complained that the GM was building a "gang" around D&D, so all his stuff was confiscated and now there's a lawsuit going on over this.  Anyway, the seventh circuit of appeals upheld the ban, giving all kinds of interesting quotes.

"...D&D can "foster an inmate's obsession with escaping from the real life, correctional environment, fostering hostility, violence and escape behavior," which in turn "can compromise not only the inmate's rehabilitation and effects of positive programming but also endanger the public and jeopardize the safety and security of the institution.":

I think my brain just exploded.

With all the other crazy stuff that reportedly goes on at prisons, these guys are worried about some dudes playing with dice and paper?

I can't even think of anything witty to say, I'm so stymied. 


Links below.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110128/02572112876/court-says-playing-dungeons-dragons-prisons-represents-gang-behavior.shtml
http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2011/01/25/dungeons-dragons-a-threat-to-prison-security/
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/26/dungeons-dragons-threatens-prison-security-court-rules/?test=latestnews

Hmmm. Interactive dice and paper RPG's, it's been proven, encourage literacy, imagination, and intelligence. I guess that's what the prison culture wants to discourage. I used to play RPG's before the responsibilities of adulthood and parenthood superceded those endeavors. I always enjoyed them and found them to be highly stimulating. I just don't see how such a thing could jeopardize the safety and security of a prison. Hey, maybe go after the drugs that seem to find their way into the prisons instead.

Jackasses.