HEY MIKE! I have a friend who has been acting weird lately. He’s dabbling with fantasy role-playing games, one of which is D&D (Dungeons and Dragons). When I was younger, I heard an “Odyssey” episode that warned that these games are dangerous. I’ve tried to tell him this, but I don’t know that much about it. I’m very concerned for him. Please give me some information on this subject!
—M.K. Sacramento, Calif.
Consider telling your friend this:
• A number of fantasy games—especially games like D&D—use images and terms that are rooted in the occult. Just as with Ouija boards and tarot cards, they can lead players into territory better left unexplored.
• According to psychologists, people tend to “act themselves into a way of thinking.” Let me explain: The more a person is involved in doing something, the more it affects his thinking. With this in mind, some fantasy role-playing games can be dangerous. If a guy plays a role long enough, he can end up having a hard time separating fantasy from reality.
• Some teens who have troubles at home or at school escape into a world of fantasy games. So, even when the real world is full of problems and feels out of control, he can find security and success in a make-believe world. This can become an unhealthy crutch if he continually avoids the problems of the real world.
• As with any hobby, it’s possible to become so preoccupied with a game, that the player neglects important stuff: God, family, friends, school. Balance is the key. 
