Back in 2013, when the Gauntlet was getting its start, we had a member who I had to chase out of the group. Back then, I wasn’t the leader of The Gauntlet, and so the main tools I had at my disposal were just straight up social antagonism. The reason this person had to go? They were wildly toxic from a political standpoint. They regularly demonized Muslims, regularly demonized liberals, told me to my face that my family would not be wrong to disown me for being gay, and more.
Now, at the time, this cat had a lot of sympathizers within the group (some of them are active in The Gauntlet to this day). They didn’t believe in his politics, but they thought it was wrong for me to hound him out. So, it was less a criticism of the substance of what I was saying, and more a criticism of my tactics.
Is this starting to sound familiar yet?
I continued to follow this person on social media, and they became more and more unhinged. Everything was a deep state conspiracy, President Obama was getting ready to take your guns, Hillary was a puppet of the Russians (ha!) and so forth. I didn’t pay attention long enough to see where he came down on Trump, but I have no doubt he is a red hat-wearing MAGA fuckface. I know he eventually moved to Israel because he wanted to get away from the tyranny of the Obama administration.
Anyway, whatever happened to that creep is unimportant. My point is this: today The Gauntlet is awesome, quite possibly one of the best online communities anywhere. I like to think my unwillingness to be accommodating to that dude’s proto-MAGA bullshit is part of the reason why. There were others, too. I weeded them all out, one by one, and then took a firm stand on our values as a community. As a result of this, I am very, very unpopular in the Houston gaming scene. There are a lot of people who have been nursing their wounds for years now, and to them, I am the fucking devil.
But I do not give a fuck.
I’m not here to make people feel better about their malignant, amoral politics. I’m here to help create a gaming space organized around principles of kindness, camaraderie, and mutual affection. And that is just all there is to it. Point blank. End of story.
The reason I’m putting all this out here today is I think about how awful our current political circumstances are–the absolute and utter debasement we have suffered the last couple of years–and I wish some of the people who criticized me back then for taking a hard position on right-wing fuckery had chosen to instead take the same position in different areas of their lives. (Note: This regret goes all the way back to 2010, when a lot of my liberal friends were softpedaling the Tea Party.)
As a fun aside, some of those same creeps who were so angry at how they had been treated by me in The Gauntlet ended up forming their own Houston-based RPG group. I encourage you to check it out: https://plus.google.com/communities/100733634801755782287
Well done.
Well done.
Leading by example. Thanks!
Leading by example. Thanks!
💖
💖
Wow, they sure are thriving⸮
Wow, they sure are thriving⸮
Sorry man. Love you.
I know one of those guys. Douchebag for sure.
Sorry man. Love you.
I know one of those guys. Douchebag for sure.
I think the fact that you do this is something I take for granted sometimes, so thank you!
I think the fact that you do this is something I take for granted sometimes, so thank you!
You did the absolute right thing. Everyone should act like that on every social circle they can (if they feel secure enough for that, of course).
I’m sorry you had to deal with that, though. I’m always shocked by how much people still have to fight for the most basic things, like being treated as a human being.
You should be proud. The Gauntlet is an amazing community!
You did the absolute right thing. Everyone should act like that on every social circle they can (if they feel secure enough for that, of course).
I’m sorry you had to deal with that, though. I’m always shocked by how much people still have to fight for the most basic things, like being treated as a human being.
You should be proud. The Gauntlet is an amazing community!
There shouldn’t be any politics, right or left, in a group based on gaming. We all have our opinions, not all of us are going to agree on it and the climate for politics lately is so toxic that people of opposite persuasions really can’t even talk about their differences. Best to just weed out all political talk altogether.
There shouldn’t be any politics, right or left, in a group based on gaming. We all have our opinions, not all of us are going to agree on it and the climate for politics lately is so toxic that people of opposite persuasions really can’t even talk about their differences. Best to just weed out all political talk altogether.
Scott Morgan – If your politics is silence, that’s still politics. I’m not inclined to ignore a fascist takeover of my country. At no point in my day can I do that. At no point should I.
Scott Morgan – If your politics is silence, that’s still politics. I’m not inclined to ignore a fascist takeover of my country. At no point in my day can I do that. At no point should I.
Scott Morgan I understand the temptation to have a “No politics” policy when it comes to social groups. We were that way for a time, but mostly because I was tired of fighting with right-wingers and needed a break. In fact, saying politics shouldn’t be discussed in social groups or clubs is itself a form of political expression, one that favors the status quo. It just so happens that one side of the political equation in the U.S. (conservatives) have given themselves over to utter madness and cruelty, and are no longer worthy of being taken seriously, or even treated kindly, by the rest of us. As such, almost by default, the politics of The Gauntlet are going to be progressive in nature, because the other side has chosen a dark path. In any case, they don’t get to spread their nonsense within these walls.
Scott Morgan I understand the temptation to have a “No politics” policy when it comes to social groups. We were that way for a time, but mostly because I was tired of fighting with right-wingers and needed a break. In fact, saying politics shouldn’t be discussed in social groups or clubs is itself a form of political expression, one that favors the status quo. It just so happens that one side of the political equation in the U.S. (conservatives) have given themselves over to utter madness and cruelty, and are no longer worthy of being taken seriously, or even treated kindly, by the rest of us. As such, almost by default, the politics of The Gauntlet are going to be progressive in nature, because the other side has chosen a dark path. In any case, they don’t get to spread their nonsense within these walls.
Progressive as fuck here, and I’ll tolerate stuff up to the Popper Paradox of Tolerance level in my own social circles. My RL DW table has two nonbinary peeps (who happen to be playing nonbinary constructs, thanks Inverse World! :D) –and no one minds one damn bit. Anyhoo, our table, just by existing, is political.
Progressive as fuck here, and I’ll tolerate stuff up to the Popper Paradox of Tolerance level in my own social circles. My RL DW table has two nonbinary peeps (who happen to be playing nonbinary constructs, thanks Inverse World! :D) –and no one minds one damn bit. Anyhoo, our table, just by existing, is political.
Thank you for sharing all this very personal stuff with us. It gave me a bit of insight on several comments you made here or on your podcasts in the last years.
We are not a small group anymore, so it makes sense to have our own political stance now since we have the numbers to pull traction and be heard.
Being a member of the Gauntlet as slowly made me change my way of thinking over the years. I used to be that guy that never takes sides in arguments. NOT ANYMORE.
People are people no matter what. If you treat me or others with respect, Ill offer you the same. If not, I will defend my values.
Lets continue doing what we do best. Being different in the greatest way possible. If we do so, Im convinced more inclusive and tolerant minds from across the globe will continue to flock here in the years to come.
Thank you for sharing all this very personal stuff with us. It gave me a bit of insight on several comments you made here or on your podcasts in the last years.
We are not a small group anymore, so it makes sense to have our own political stance now since we have the numbers to pull traction and be heard.
Being a member of the Gauntlet as slowly made me change my way of thinking over the years. I used to be that guy that never takes sides in arguments. NOT ANYMORE.
People are people no matter what. If you treat me or others with respect, Ill offer you the same. If not, I will defend my values.
Lets continue doing what we do best. Being different in the greatest way possible. If we do so, Im convinced more inclusive and tolerant minds from across the globe will continue to flock here in the years to come.
It makes me wish I had stood up more. My local comic shop is/was run by a shitty homophobic verbally abusive individual and I told the store I didn’t want to engage with him. I ended being banned from the store after complaining to a private group of friends about his shittiness.
If I knew it would’ve ended the same, I would’ve been more vocal about pointing out his bullshit. At least then it may have been worth it.
It makes me wish I had stood up more. My local comic shop is/was run by a shitty homophobic verbally abusive individual and I told the store I didn’t want to engage with him. I ended being banned from the store after complaining to a private group of friends about his shittiness.
If I knew it would’ve ended the same, I would’ve been more vocal about pointing out his bullshit. At least then it may have been worth it.
Never goin’ back to the Roll20 forums and DnD Encounter meetups. Never.
Never goin’ back to the Roll20 forums and DnD Encounter meetups. Never.
My opinion, that it’s taken me a long time to get to:
“No politics” is a standpoint of privilege. When women, LGBTQ+, brown people’s bodies and lives stop being damaged and destroyed due to identity alone – then maybe we can have “no politics”. But as long as white supremacy hetero patriarchy that centers cis-male euro-ness is a default “no politics” position; give me politics of inclusion instead of “no politics” of marginalization every day.
This applies to all aspects of my life, including the entertainment I choose to consume and engage in. And as a hetero cis male, I acknowledge my own privilege to be able to make that choice.
(All of above only refers to USica, can’t speak to other countries)
My opinion, that it’s taken me a long time to get to:
“No politics” is a standpoint of privilege. When women, LGBTQ+, brown people’s bodies and lives stop being damaged and destroyed due to identity alone – then maybe we can have “no politics”. But as long as white supremacy hetero patriarchy that centers cis-male euro-ness is a default “no politics” position; give me politics of inclusion instead of “no politics” of marginalization every day.
This applies to all aspects of my life, including the entertainment I choose to consume and engage in. And as a hetero cis male, I acknowledge my own privilege to be able to make that choice.
(All of above only refers to USica, can’t speak to other countries)
So to be clear, the Gauntlet is a “progressive” only group?
So to be clear, the Gauntlet is a “progressive” only group?
I sure hope so! Given the only other options are acquiescence to or worship of bigotry, misogyny, and evil.
I sure hope so! Given the only other options are acquiescence to or worship of bigotry, misogyny, and evil.
Scott Morgan No, but we’re not going out of our way to accommodate people’s noxious views.
Scott Morgan No, but we’re not going out of our way to accommodate people’s noxious views.
you’ll never know my politics (even those of you who think you are psionic and can interpret them by my silence) and I would never treat anybody they way the asshole in your OP treated you, even if I didn’t like them. I just don’t want to be counted on for any political statements by virtue of membership in the group. I’m learning about DW and playing a lot of it and enjoying your podcasts, and that’s why I joined the Gauntlet, for indie RPG’s.
you’ll never know my politics (even those of you who think you are psionic and can interpret them by my silence) and I would never treat anybody they way the asshole in your OP treated you, even if I didn’t like them. I just don’t want to be counted on for any political statements by virtue of membership in the group. I’m learning about DW and playing a lot of it and enjoying your podcasts, and that’s why I joined the Gauntlet, for indie RPG’s.
The American right wing, who are so extreme they barely fit the designation ‘conservative’ in other Western democracies, are particularly toxic, paranoid and dogmatic. The idea of ‘no politics’ is often predicated on the notion of a basic shared values when it comes to human decency and civility in the deeper sense that is now completely missing in US politics and society. It is a scary time for the US, I hope you all pull through somehow.
The American right wing, who are so extreme they barely fit the designation ‘conservative’ in other Western democracies, are particularly toxic, paranoid and dogmatic. The idea of ‘no politics’ is often predicated on the notion of a basic shared values when it comes to human decency and civility in the deeper sense that is now completely missing in US politics and society. It is a scary time for the US, I hope you all pull through somehow.
this is why, despite my relative absence as of late, the gauntlet is my favorite place online, and my respect for jason has no bounds
this is why, despite my relative absence as of late, the gauntlet is my favorite place online, and my respect for jason has no bounds
Hells yeah.
Hells yeah.
Scott Morgan I think one of the reasons I have to be a little more strident about stuff like this is that The Gauntlet has always been a community first. Unlike other podcast networks, such as One Shot or MM, we have a huge gaming calendar that we manage. Anyone can enjoy our podcasts, but our community spaces are different. We have to live with each other in those spaces.
Scott Morgan I think one of the reasons I have to be a little more strident about stuff like this is that The Gauntlet has always been a community first. Unlike other podcast networks, such as One Shot or MM, we have a huge gaming calendar that we manage. Anyone can enjoy our podcasts, but our community spaces are different. We have to live with each other in those spaces.
You did well, Jason Cordova. Such discourse cannot be tolerated, and silence from a position of privilege is as much a political statement as anything else. I was once offered a good job position in the US; it took me less than a second to say “not interested”. Hope you guys/gals pull through these dark times.
You did well, Jason Cordova. Such discourse cannot be tolerated, and silence from a position of privilege is as much a political statement as anything else. I was once offered a good job position in the US; it took me less than a second to say “not interested”. Hope you guys/gals pull through these dark times.
Chris Shorb Randy Gelling here in Brazil it’s no different (and I believe most of South America is similar in this aspect).
The right wing is so offensive in their ideology and so aggressive in their discourse and action that no dialogue is even possible anymore. I would love to be able to sit down and have a healthy discussion with conservatives or just be friends with them, but it’s not an option at all, since all their beliefs are centered on hating people who are not like them, who have a different moral standpoint. They won’t respect us in the most basic level and treat us like people. The possibility of a dialogue is broken by their side, by refusing to properly engage with us without being offensive and violent. The right wing is so extreme now that they’re not willing to accept the most basic values of democracy and societal coexistence. (In Brazil this is absolutely clear: the right has been openly asking for the military to take over the country and install a dictatorship. No kidding, they say it loud and clear and in these words.)
Scott Morgan
A “no politics” stance is an illusion. Everything is political in a way, everything reinforces some powers and makes use of some power structure. Politics is not just in old men arguing in suits. Politics is in everyday life, in every choice we make, in everything we do (whether we want it or not, whether we recognize it or not), and especially in who we invite to sit with us. One of the people who play games with me is my fiancee, who’s a descendent of Africans and native Brazilians (“indians”). If I’d welcome a white supremacist at my table, I would be stating that she is not welcome, that all the violence her family and herself have endured, historically and up to this day, is justified, that it’s ok to defend racist and violent ideas.
The climate of politics is toxic because there are toxic ideas around, pretending to be all ok and acceptable in their violence against non-whites, non-cis-hetero people, non-conforming bodies and minds, immigrants, women, people of different religious views etc–not because we refuse to pretend that it’s possible to do anything without involving politics.
Chris Shorb Randy Gelling here in Brazil it’s no different (and I believe most of South America is similar in this aspect).
The right wing is so offensive in their ideology and so aggressive in their discourse and action that no dialogue is even possible anymore. I would love to be able to sit down and have a healthy discussion with conservatives or just be friends with them, but it’s not an option at all, since all their beliefs are centered on hating people who are not like them, who have a different moral standpoint. They won’t respect us in the most basic level and treat us like people. The possibility of a dialogue is broken by their side, by refusing to properly engage with us without being offensive and violent. The right wing is so extreme now that they’re not willing to accept the most basic values of democracy and societal coexistence. (In Brazil this is absolutely clear: the right has been openly asking for the military to take over the country and install a dictatorship. No kidding, they say it loud and clear and in these words.)
Scott Morgan
A “no politics” stance is an illusion. Everything is political in a way, everything reinforces some powers and makes use of some power structure. Politics is not just in old men arguing in suits. Politics is in everyday life, in every choice we make, in everything we do (whether we want it or not, whether we recognize it or not), and especially in who we invite to sit with us. One of the people who play games with me is my fiancee, who’s a descendent of Africans and native Brazilians (“indians”). If I’d welcome a white supremacist at my table, I would be stating that she is not welcome, that all the violence her family and herself have endured, historically and up to this day, is justified, that it’s ok to defend racist and violent ideas.
The climate of politics is toxic because there are toxic ideas around, pretending to be all ok and acceptable in their violence against non-whites, non-cis-hetero people, non-conforming bodies and minds, immigrants, women, people of different religious views etc–not because we refuse to pretend that it’s possible to do anything without involving politics.
Scott Morgan Your quip about “psionics” is disrespectful and dismissive. People took the time to respond thoughtfully to your comment. No one claimed to read your mind. They were simply stating that the failure to take positive action against the bigotry spouted by the Trump-led Republican Party has the EFFECT of tacitly endorsing that hatred. If you truly didn’t understand that point, then you should ask clarifying questions, NOT mischarcterize other people’s words in absurd ways.
To address your statement that “politics” don’t belong in a gaming community: Trump has made bigotry an official plank of the Republican Party’s platform. Under these conditions, it is a political act to love and respect black and brown people, LGBTQ+ people, etc. So yes, I bring these political beliefs into my games. And yes, I don’t want to play games with someone who doesn’t share these progressive values. (I as a white hetero man will dialogue with conservatives in other contexts, but I will not subject marginalized players to this conversation — they have enough to deal with in their daily lives as it is!)
Scott Morgan Your quip about “psionics” is disrespectful and dismissive. People took the time to respond thoughtfully to your comment. No one claimed to read your mind. They were simply stating that the failure to take positive action against the bigotry spouted by the Trump-led Republican Party has the EFFECT of tacitly endorsing that hatred. If you truly didn’t understand that point, then you should ask clarifying questions, NOT mischarcterize other people’s words in absurd ways.
To address your statement that “politics” don’t belong in a gaming community: Trump has made bigotry an official plank of the Republican Party’s platform. Under these conditions, it is a political act to love and respect black and brown people, LGBTQ+ people, etc. So yes, I bring these political beliefs into my games. And yes, I don’t want to play games with someone who doesn’t share these progressive values. (I as a white hetero man will dialogue with conservatives in other contexts, but I will not subject marginalized players to this conversation — they have enough to deal with in their daily lives as it is!)
This is what I was afraid of; a person is NOT allowed NOT to be a progressive in this group. My political stance is none of your business; I am not silent on politics, but I choose to be silent on it in gaming groups b/c I expect to be in mixed company and respect other peoples views and don’t wish to argue with them about it. But people like the above make that impossible. Jason, you’ve proven my point; progressives aren’t capable of being friends with people who don’t agree with their politics. The noxious views of the alt left Antifa crowd are spoiling even something as great as RPG’s. RPG’s are supposed to be an escape from reality, not steeped in it, and especially not steeped in one narrow view point. I joined this group to learn more about Dungeon World and other indie RPG’s and not to be preached at. I’ll show myself the door.
This is what I was afraid of; a person is NOT allowed NOT to be a progressive in this group. My political stance is none of your business; I am not silent on politics, but I choose to be silent on it in gaming groups b/c I expect to be in mixed company and respect other peoples views and don’t wish to argue with them about it. But people like the above make that impossible. Jason, you’ve proven my point; progressives aren’t capable of being friends with people who don’t agree with their politics. The noxious views of the alt left Antifa crowd are spoiling even something as great as RPG’s. RPG’s are supposed to be an escape from reality, not steeped in it, and especially not steeped in one narrow view point. I joined this group to learn more about Dungeon World and other indie RPG’s and not to be preached at. I’ll show myself the door.
As many people have said in more elegant terms, it is impossible to separate a community from politics. Especially if those politics are literally putting human lives in danger. Full stop. “Geek culture” has always been political in nature, and anyone who says otherwise is just trying to shield themselves from facing that truth.
Psionics is not needed to figure out that the reason you’re uncomfortable is because you don’t agree with our politics. Good thing you can recognize your discomfort and act upon it, Scott Morgan
As many people have said in more elegant terms, it is impossible to separate a community from politics. Especially if those politics are literally putting human lives in danger. Full stop. “Geek culture” has always been political in nature, and anyone who says otherwise is just trying to shield themselves from facing that truth.
Psionics is not needed to figure out that the reason you’re uncomfortable is because you don’t agree with our politics. Good thing you can recognize your discomfort and act upon it, Scott Morgan
I’m going to close this thread because we’re getting past the point of it being productive. Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. If anyone here wants to chat with me privately, I’m available on Hangouts or Slack.
I’m going to close this thread because we’re getting past the point of it being productive. Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. If anyone here wants to chat with me privately, I’m available on Hangouts or Slack.