PAX has a new convention called Unplugged at Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia! I find this good news, because...

I found OrcaCon to be a fun place to run and play games (here in Everett, WA), and Dragonflight here in Bellevue, WA. Other cons that have gaming as an add-on have been a serious "miss" for me. My games are empty more often than not. For those, I stick to board/card games. But tabletop focused cons? Those are where the RPGs can shine (IME).

So, what cons do you really like for tabletop (especially RPGs), what cons do you avoid because the gaming is a "miss"?

I will not miss a Dexposure event if I can help it, and the only reason I missed the last one was because of a complete mental breakdown.

But I'm better now

Quote from: Anon Adderlan;943598I will not miss a Dexposure event if I can help it, and the only reason I missed the last one was because of a complete mental breakdown.

But I'm better now

Good to hear!

Quote from: trechriron;943658Good to hear!

Thanks, but you miiight wanna to wait until you've seen the result

One more thing. The Dexposure events (Dexcon, Metatopia, Maelstrom, and Dreamation) are all very social justice focused, but in a way which works in practice. So I'm convinced at this point the internet is actually the problem, I just don't know how.

Quote from: Anon Adderlan;943725Thanks, but you miiight wanna to wait until you've seen the result

One more thing. The Dexposure events (Dexcon, Metatopia, Maelstrom, and Dreamation) are all very social justice focused, but in a way which works in practice. So I'm convinced at this point the internet is actually the problem, I just don't know how.

How do you focus a gaming convention on Social Justice?
How does that "in practice" work?

The internet is the problem because it allows everyone to engage with everything on earth in less than 10 seconds, which means no thought it actually put into anything.  It's all either...
1. Mindless Tribalism eliminating thought.
2. Mindless Drive-by Entertainment masquerading as Engagement.
3. Purposeful Trolling.

The only serious discussions you can have online are about trivial things, anything worth serious discussion is next to worthless to do via any form of social media.

Quote from: Anon Adderlan;943725Thanks, but you miiight wanna to wait until you've seen the result

One more thing. The Dexposure events (Dexcon, Metatopia, Maelstrom, and Dreamation) are all very social justice focused, [/I].

Why does a gamecon need to be social justice focused?  Why can't you just post up a big mess o' games and events and say "Hey, everyone's welcome, come play."

I know i live in the sandpeople part of Washington, but I've yet to meet a gamer or group that would exclude anyone because of their religion, color of skin, etc.

We reserve the right to exclude you for being a douche, but that's just good sense.

OrcaCon is focused on inclusivity. It's great to see people just being themselves. Even though people believe it doesn't need to be stated up front, it can help people who are often marginalized or mistreated to know for certain that the people they are hanging out with are a) cognizant of such things and b) are welcome to playing with anyone.

In practice, OrcaCon is a wonderful place to play and run games. The energy is fantastic and people are comfortable. I believe the focus on inclusivity is a big part of that.

Quote from: trechriron;943763OrcaCon is focused on inclusivity. It's great to see people just being themselves. Even though people believe it doesn't need to be stated up front, it can help people who are often marginalized or mistreated to know for certain that the people they are hanging out with are a) cognizant of such things and b) are welcome to playing with anyone.

In practice, OrcaCon is a wonderful place to play and run games. The energy is fantastic and people are comfortable. I believe the focus on inclusivity is a big part of that.

I guess I might not be envisioning how much the average human has devolved to troglodytehood, but what do you think happens in a Gaming Convention that doesn't declare "We're Inclusive?"

• Booth babes have to sit in Gor poses?
• Everyone wears shitkicker boots so they can stomp some LGTBQ?
• Myfarog T-Shirts given away for free?
• Women have to go through a Molest-Line to enter the building?
• Strange Fruit?
• People forcibly verified for Anal Circumference according to FATAL tables which is tattooed on their forearm?
• The movie theater shows Irreversible 24/7?

I mean you're in Washington for fuck's sake.  Non-Inclusive for you is SJW heaven for the rest of the earth.

Quote from: trechriron;943763Even though people believe it doesn't need to be stated up front, it can help people who are often marginalized or mistreated to know for certain that the people they are hanging out with are a) cognizant of such things and b) are welcome to playing with anyone.

I have no qualms with that being stated up front.  What I don't follow is why that has to be the focus?

First of all - of course people have to go through a "molest-line" to get in. Who would give up that opportunity?!?! (I kid, I kid)

Why does it have to be focus?

It's a matter of "seeking first to understand, then be understood". You have to put yourself in the shoes of someone who has been excluded, or tormented, or marginalized.

After enough of this treatment, you can become very "gun shy". Instead of taking a chance that the group of strangers you're going to socialize with turn out to be a bunch of wankers, you elect to stay home and play it safe.

You may never have experienced this or perhaps not at the scale some of our LBGTQ or minority fellow gamers have. It's so ingrained, so "default" to our behavior we hardly stop to analyze it.

By focusing on inclusivity we're making a broader social contract with people who might not otherwise feel safe hanging out. It says "don't worry, were not wankers, and we won't pick on you, hurt you, or put you in the corner. We just want to play games with everyone". It also sets a standard. If someone might be inclined to make off-color jokes about gay people or women, instead can help us accomplish this goal by not being a wanker. It invites people in while subtly suggesting to others to be cognizant of your language and behavior.

I don't look at it as some affront to my personal freedoms, but more as the possibility to connect with people who might otherwise have some anxiety in gaming with me (being a white male bearded grognard who is easily categorized as "one of those guys"...)

EDIT to ADD: Also, by focus I don't mean some weird parade of over-reaching back-slapping spotlighting or what-have-you, in practice, we're all just playing games. The "focus" IS really stating it in the description, the goals of the con. Setting up the code of conduct and calling out behaviors that make non-white male participants feel crapped on. Again, it's about YOU focusing on understanding people vs. indulging in typical "boy club" shenanigans that would otherwise put some off.

Fair enough explanation.

It seems as though being a white bearded male has it's own stigma now, too, however.

I think your heart is in the right place, but if someone decides they don't want to play with me because I'm white and male, they have a bias to confront as well.  I don't feel (like anyone else should have too, either) that I should have to apologize for the circumstances of my birth.

Back to the original point of your thread, I think unplugged PAX is a great idea, not much of a video gamer anymore, myself.

Sorry for the derail.

Quote from: Angry_Douchebag;943798It seems as though being a white bearded male has it's own stigma now, too, however.

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QuoteI think your heart is in the right place, but if someone decides they don't want to play with me because I'm white and male, they have a bias to confront as well.  I don't feel (like anyone else should have too, either) that I should have to apologize for the circumstances of my birth.

You seem to be projecting a bit much. There are certainly spaces where some lefty LGBTQ activists seem to go out of their way to ensure anyone they spotcheck as straight, etc are not made to feel welcome but I don't think you'd ever have to worry about that happening at an RPG con.

Whoops, just adding to the derail, oh well at least I was able to include a Simpson's reference.

Quote from: trechriron;943797First of all - of course people have to go through a "molest-line" to get in. Who would give up that opportunity?!?! (I kid, I kid)

Why does it have to be focus?

It's a matter of "seeking first to understand, then be understood". You have to put yourself in the shoes of someone who has been excluded, or tormented, or marginalized.

After enough of this treatment, you can become very "gun shy". Instead of taking a chance that the group of strangers you're going to socialize with turn out to be a bunch of wankers, you elect to stay home and play it safe.

You may never have experienced this or perhaps not at the scale some of our LBGTQ or minority fellow gamers have. It's so ingrained, so "default" to our behavior we hardly stop to analyze it.

By focusing on inclusivity we're making a broader social contract with people who might not otherwise feel safe hanging out. It says "don't worry, were not wankers, and we won't pick on you, hurt you, or put you in the corner. We just want to play games with everyone". It also sets a standard. If someone might be inclined to make off-color jokes about gay people or women, instead can help us accomplish this goal by not being a wanker. It invites people in while subtly suggesting to others to be cognizant of your language and behavior.

I don't look at it as some affront to my personal freedoms, but more as the possibility to connect with people who might otherwise have some anxiety in gaming with me (being a white male bearded grognard who is easily categorized as "one of those guys"...)

EDIT to ADD: Also, by focus I don't mean some weird parade of over-reaching back-slapping spotlighting or what-have-you, in practice, we're all just playing games. The "focus" IS really stating it in the description, the goals of the con. Setting up the code of conduct and calling out behaviors that make non-white male participants feel crapped on. Again, it's about YOU focusing on understanding people vs. indulging in typical "boy club" shenanigans that would otherwise put some off.

So what you're saying is Yes, you think gaming conventions where there isn't an INCLUSIVE sign over the front door will feature guys making vagina jokes, using racial epithets, and otherwise verbally raping and lynching the non-Privileged gamers.

Everyone agrees to think three times before any word comes out of their mouth so they don't damage anyone.  That's not a gaming convention, that's a Mass Therapy Session that should be sued for Malpractice.

Sorry man, someone literally can't handle sitting down at a table to game with white males, Republicans, Argentinian Gauchos or whoever the fuck without some implied chaperone via social rules...they need to learn to handle their own shit before they cripple themselves for life.

It's just idiotic Safe Space horseshit.

Quote from: trechriron;943797Why does it have to be focus?

It's a matter of "seeking first to understand, then be understood". You have to put yourself in the shoes of someone who has been excluded, or tormented, or marginalized.

Because, you know, people attracted to role-playing games have no concept of ever being in that kind of situation where they might be excluded, or tormented, or marginalized.  :rolleyes:

Quote from: trechriron;943797I don't look at it as some affront to my personal freedoms, but more as the possibility to connect with people who might otherwise have some anxiety in gaming with me (being a white male bearded grognard who is easily categorized as "one of those guys"...)

I would. If some snowflake can't get over the fact that I am a white bearded grognard who enjoys RPGs because I look like someone that was a bearded white male who was mean to them in the past, then why should I reach to them?

Quote from: trechriron;943797EDIT to ADD: Also, by focus I don't mean some weird parade of over-reaching back-slapping spotlighting or what-have-you, in practice, we're all just playing games. The "focus" IS really stating it in the description, the goals of the con. Setting up the code of conduct and calling out behaviors that make non-white male participants feel crapped on. Again, it's about YOU focusing on understanding people vs. indulging in typical "boy club" shenanigans that would otherwise put some off.

So, this is to make sure that white males are kept in their place for the con. Gotcha. Replace "white" and "male" with any other ethnicity or gender and see how fucking bullshit that is.