The Satanic Panic Files - NYT Coverage Vol. 1

Here is an excerpt from the New York Times, a piece that was originally published on August 22, 1985.  It's one of many pieces I've come across doing research for Dynasty of Blood, and it has a very specific quote that showcases how true-to-life Beverly Walsh, the mother in my story,  is behaving.

"'[Dungeons and Dragons] is another of Satan's ploys to pollute and destroy our children's minds,' said Kathy Dewey, one of nearly a dozen parents who Tuesday night urged the Board of Education to ban the playing of the game at Putnam High School." This is a real quote from a real parent. I don't showcase it to judge her or to make fun, simply as a way of demonstrating the ways in which the game was discussed then and now, and to help draw comparisons between our past and present day.

As you can see, the quote comes from meetings held at a school in the aftermath of a suicide. There are a LOT of nuances here, but one that was most definitely not covered well (or at all) by the media in the '70s and '80s is the desperate search for answers in a situation that seemingly or truly has none. "Blame" is powerful and can help us feel more in control, unfortunately.

The Satanic Panic was all about blame, as is plenty of what is happening in the world now. We want an enemy, a bad guy. Sometimes we'll just make one up if we have to. Although Dynasty of Blood is a somewhat comedic take on all of this, I take this specific topic very seriously.

I have experience with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and I know how desperate those situations can feel. If you need someone to talk to, trust me, there is someone out there to help. Visit https://save.org/find-help/ and you can connect with someone who will help.