Evidently I am a security risk because I may be detached from reality and susceptible to influence. Or at least the Israeli Defense Forces think so. On a tip from DefenseTech.com, this bizarre story that recruits joining the IDF are asked if they ever played Dungeons and Dragons. If they did, they automatically get a low security clearance.
A security official tells Ynetnews there are specific criteria for deciding the level of a soldier's security clearance.
"One of the tests we do, either by asking soldiers directly or through information provided us, is to ask whether they take part in the game," he says. "If a soldier answers in the affirmative, he is sent to a professional for an evaluation, usually a psychologist."
More than half of the soldiers sent for evaluation receive low security clearances, thus preventing them from serving in sensitive IDF positions, he says.
Igor says exposing soldiers who play the game could result in the soldiers being sent to a military psychologist or even being kicked out of the army.
By the Beard of Gimli, I will take my +5 longsword and skewer the fools. Player since 1976...
Now that is a hoot!
I have never played D&D, but I might just have to give it a shot now!
Posted by: AlwaysQuestion | 09 March 2005 at 06:36 PM
Yeah, that totally bemused me as well. The essential difference between D&D and any number of other war and strategy games seems purely aesthetic to me. (I've never really played either.) But I love how they found so many pictures of swordfights.
Posted by: Saheli | 09 March 2005 at 08:06 PM
To bring back some nostalgia...
Posted by: Younghusband | 10 March 2005 at 10:57 AM