I wrote an open letter to gaming conventions regarding conservative attendance...

https://vengersatanis.blogspot.com/2021/07/open-letter-to-gaming-conventions.html

Copy/paste...

QuoteOpen Letter To Gaming Conventions


I've been tasked as the spokesman for a plurality of traditional and OSR gamers to ask conventions a very important question in light of Gencon and Origins banning the new TSR over Ernie Gygax Jr.'s interview.  Maybe you aren't aware of it, but it's been all over social media lately. 

I have to ask if your convention will be accepting of non-woke, non-SJW gamers, gamers who reject that particular ideology, who are openly conservative, who are sick and tired of being harassed by the radical-left and labeled racists, bigots, nazis, whatever phobes and ists, white supremacists, etc. just because we don't subscribe to recent, reality-warping theories of gender identity, critical race theory, and anything having to do with cultural Marxism.

As an example, if you'd allow someone to wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt, but not a MAGA hat... that's a serious problem. Similarly, if individuals such as Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson would not be allowed to attend, that speaks volumes about the egregious levels of gatekeeping in the gaming community.

If politically moderate, old-school liberal, libertarian, right-leaning gamers and just normal people who want to game without politics (including leftist politics) aren't welcome, then there's no reason for my continued presence at your gaming convention until mainstream, middle-America values are tolerated once again.

Hundreds of us (soon thousands, I hope) are sick and tired of being excluded from our beloved hobby by those championing (in name only) inclusion, diversity, and equity.  The culture of RPGs has always been welcoming, decent, and law-abiding, but our past seems to be continually altered by revisionists to make it seem like everyone in Lake Geneva, WI circa 1974 owned slaves! 

I'm sure you have been around long enough to know our hobby was pretty darn great back in the good old days, even though there have always been and will always be exceptions.  Now... well, we're not so sure.

Sincerely,

Venger As'Nas Satanis
High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing

QuoteI've been tasked as the spokesman for a plurality of traditional and OSR gamers to ask conventions a very important question in light of Gencon and Origins banning the new TSR over Ernie Gygax Jr.'s interview.  Maybe you aren't aware of it, but it's been all over social media lately.

By whom, if I might ask? Sorry, I get twitchy when someone declares they are a 'spokesman'.

That being said:

QuoteI have to ask if your convention will be accepting of non-woke, non-SJW gamers, gamers who reject that particular ideology, who are openly conservative, who are sick and tired of being harassed by the radical-left and labeled racists, bigots, nazis, whatever phobes and ists, white supremacists, etc. just because we don't subscribe to recent, reality-warping theories of gender identity, critical race theory, and anything having to do with cultural Marxism.

As an example, if you'd allow someone to wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt, but not a MAGA hat... that's a serious problem. Similarly, if individuals such as Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson would not be allowed to attend, that speaks volumes about the egregious levels of gatekeeping in the gaming community.

If politically moderate, old-school liberal, libertarian, right-leaning gamers and just normal people who want to game without politics (including leftist politics) aren't welcome, then there's no reason for my continued presence at your gaming convention until mainstream, middle-America values are tolerated once again.

Hundreds of us (soon thousands, I hope) are sick and tired of being excluded from our beloved hobby by those championing (in name only) inclusion, diversity, and equity.  The culture of RPGs has always been welcoming, decent, and law-abiding, but our past seems to be continually altered by revisionists to make it seem like everyone in Lake Geneva, WI circa 1974 owned slaves!

I agree with this completely. Enough is enough.

QuoteI'm sure you have been around long enough to know our hobby was pretty darn great back in the good old days, even though there have always been and will always be exceptions.  Now... well, we're not so sure.

This ties into my repeated, angry complaint about these johnny-come-latelies who want to paint everything prior to Year Zero as evilracistsexistbigotetcetc.

So yeah, other than my kvetch about who are you speaking for, I agree unreservedly.

Quote from: Ghostmaker on July 02, 2021, 11:36:01 AM

QuoteI've been tasked as the spokesman for a plurality of traditional and OSR gamers to ask conventions a very important question in light of Gencon and Origins banning the new TSR over Ernie Gygax Jr.'s interview.  Maybe you aren't aware of it, but it's been all over social media lately.

By whom, if I might ask? Sorry, I get twitchy when someone declares they are a 'spokesman'.

The power of the OSR compelled him?   

Quote from: dkabq on July 02, 2021, 12:49:39 PM

Quote from: Ghostmaker on July 02, 2021, 11:36:01 AM

QuoteI've been tasked as the spokesman for a plurality of traditional and OSR gamers to ask conventions a very important question in light of Gencon and Origins banning the new TSR over Ernie Gygax Jr.'s interview.  Maybe you aren't aware of it, but it's been all over social media lately.

By whom, if I might ask? Sorry, I get twitchy when someone declares they are a 'spokesman'.

The power of the OSR compelled him?   

No, he's on a mission from God.  He's been chosen to kill the vampires.

That stuff needed to be said.  Go get "em tiger!!!

Quote from: Mistwell on July 01, 2021, 04:51:10 PM

Quote from: ScytheSong on July 01, 2021, 04:33:15 PM
One more point of information that may or may not help: I just found out Ernie's partner, LaNasa, is the same LaNasa who ran for office in North Carolina and lost because there was video evidence that he used the "Two girls and a tub of grits" method of choosing who got a promotion.

Yes. Ernie's business partner is the same Justin LaNassa who posted to Youtube a video of him narrating a wrestling match in a tub of grits between two of his female employees to see who would get a promotion. You can read more about it here.

That's hilarious!!!

Quote from: DocJones on July 01, 2021, 09:07:38 PM

Quote from: Mistwell on July 01, 2021, 04:51:10 PM
Yes. Ernie's business partner is the same Justin LaNassa who posted to Youtube a video of him narrating a wrestling match in a tub of grits between two of his female employees to see who would get a promotion. You can read more about it here.

Hopefully this experience translates into good grappling rules.

No.  Good grappling rules are evidently, unobtainable.

As much as I like VS's sentiment, the reality is he is preaching blasphemy to the Anointed.

These institutions on a corporate level have made their bet. They will not relent in their positions until they're shown their calculus is off. That means them losing money, and on the fringes of niche-hobbies like TTRPG's that might mean going out of business.

This weird fetishizing over "D&D" and anything related to the seemingly magical name of Gygax or what people believe are his legacy need to understand that the OSR has already made its claim on that legacy. The *name* of D&D is owned by a moronic corporation staffed by ideological zealots - but the spirit of D&D is with us, the players. You don't *need* them to claim your legitimacy. You already have it. The OSR IS. And so too with any of those that don't feed the beast.

WHY is there this incessant beggar-mentality of trying to claim a place in these institutions and their circus-tents they've stolen from us where they proclaim with every breath, with every cancellation and social media post: "WE DO NOT WANT YOU!"... and yet post after post are the laments of the weepers that bemoan the sad state of their corpse not realizing they're dead.

Since we're talking about religion - I say cast Raise Dead on yourselves, and go play and build your own kingdoms while they burn theirs down. The more attention you give them - the longer this flagellation continues. GM's need to woo people away with *better* games (even if that means using other systems).

Who gives a fuck about GenCon, WotC, TSR, the name Gygax? St. Gary is dead, carry his memory, not his baggage.

Quote from: VengerSatanis on July 02, 2021, 11:20:01 AM
I wrote an open letter to gaming conventions regarding conservative attendance...

https://vengersatanis.blogspot.com/2021/07/open-letter-to-gaming-conventions.html

Copy/paste...

QuoteOpen Letter To Gaming Conventions


I've been tasked as the spokesman for a plurality of traditional and OSR gamers to ask conventions a very important question in light of Gencon and Origins banning the new TSR over Ernie Gygax Jr.'s interview.  Maybe you aren't aware of it, but it's been all over social media lately. 

I have to ask if your convention will be accepting of non-woke, non-SJW gamers, gamers who reject that particular ideology, who are openly conservative, who are sick and tired of being harassed by the radical-left and labeled racists, bigots, nazis, whatever phobes and ists, white supremacists, etc. just because we don't subscribe to recent, reality-warping theories of gender identity, critical race theory, and anything having to do with cultural Marxism.

As an example, if you'd allow someone to wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt, but not a MAGA hat... that's a serious problem. Similarly, if individuals such as Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson would not be allowed to attend, that speaks volumes about the egregious levels of gatekeeping in the gaming community.

If politically moderate, old-school liberal, libertarian, right-leaning gamers and just normal people who want to game without politics (including leftist politics) aren't welcome, then there's no reason for my continued presence at your gaming convention until mainstream, middle-America values are tolerated once again.

Hundreds of us (soon thousands, I hope) are sick and tired of being excluded from our beloved hobby by those championing (in name only) inclusion, diversity, and equity.  The culture of RPGs has always been welcoming, decent, and law-abiding, but our past seems to be continually altered by revisionists to make it seem like everyone in Lake Geneva, WI circa 1974 owned slaves! 

I'm sure you have been around long enough to know our hobby was pretty darn great back in the good old days, even though there have always been and will always be exceptions.  Now... well, we're not so sure.

Sincerely,

Venger As'Nas Satanis
High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing

What makes you assume that being conservative or Republican is in general acceptable?

Go resurrect the 605K+ dead due to idiotic "conservative" hatred of the most basic pandemic prevention procedures and then I may concede that your political ideology is not completely monstrous and should be criminalized let alone tolerated at a gaming convention. 

Quote from: Rhedyn on July 02, 2021, 02:19:30 PM
What makes you assume that being conservative or Republican is in general acceptable?

Go resurrect the 605K+ dead due to idiotic "conservative" hatred of the most basic pandemic prevention procedures and then I may concede that your political ideology is not completely monstrous and should be criminalized let alone tolerated at a gaming convention. 

I lol'd.

Quote from: Rhedyn on July 02, 2021, 02:19:30 PM

Quote from: VengerSatanis on July 02, 2021, 11:20:01 AM
I wrote an open letter to gaming conventions regarding conservative attendance...

https://vengersatanis.blogspot.com/2021/07/open-letter-to-gaming-conventions.html

Copy/paste...

QuoteOpen Letter To Gaming Conventions


I've been tasked as the spokesman for a plurality of traditional and OSR gamers to ask conventions a very important question in light of Gencon and Origins banning the new TSR over Ernie Gygax Jr.'s interview.  Maybe you aren't aware of it, but it's been all over social media lately. 

I have to ask if your convention will be accepting of non-woke, non-SJW gamers, gamers who reject that particular ideology, who are openly conservative, who are sick and tired of being harassed by the radical-left and labeled racists, bigots, nazis, whatever phobes and ists, white supremacists, etc. just because we don't subscribe to recent, reality-warping theories of gender identity, critical race theory, and anything having to do with cultural Marxism.

As an example, if you'd allow someone to wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt, but not a MAGA hat... that's a serious problem. Similarly, if individuals such as Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson would not be allowed to attend, that speaks volumes about the egregious levels of gatekeeping in the gaming community.

If politically moderate, old-school liberal, libertarian, right-leaning gamers and just normal people who want to game without politics (including leftist politics) aren't welcome, then there's no reason for my continued presence at your gaming convention until mainstream, middle-America values are tolerated once again.

Hundreds of us (soon thousands, I hope) are sick and tired of being excluded from our beloved hobby by those championing (in name only) inclusion, diversity, and equity.  The culture of RPGs has always been welcoming, decent, and law-abiding, but our past seems to be continually altered by revisionists to make it seem like everyone in Lake Geneva, WI circa 1974 owned slaves! 

I'm sure you have been around long enough to know our hobby was pretty darn great back in the good old days, even though there have always been and will always be exceptions.  Now... well, we're not so sure.

Sincerely,

Venger As'Nas Satanis
High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing

What makes you assume that being conservative or Republican is in general acceptable?

Go resurrect the 605K+ dead due to idiotic "conservative" hatred of the most basic pandemic prevention procedures and then I may concede that your political ideology is not completely monstrous and should be criminalized let alone tolerated at a gaming convention.

What make you think it's not? 

Quote from: Zelen on July 02, 2021, 02:32:29 PM

Quote from: Rhedyn on July 02, 2021, 02:19:30 PM
What makes you assume that being conservative or Republican is in general acceptable?

Go resurrect the 605K+ dead due to idiotic "conservative" hatred of the most basic pandemic prevention procedures and then I may concede that your political ideology is not completely monstrous and should be criminalized let alone tolerated at a gaming convention. 

I lol'd.

I can't decide if he's just trying to be ironic, trollish, or if he really is that stupid.

Quote from: VengerSatanis on July 02, 2021, 11:20:01 AM
As an example, if you'd allow someone to wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt, but not a MAGA hat... that's a serious problem. Similarly, if individuals such as Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson would not be allowed to attend, that speaks volumes about the egregious levels of gatekeeping in the gaming community.

If politically moderate, old-school liberal, libertarian, right-leaning gamers and just normal people who want to game without politics (including leftist politics) aren't welcome, then there's no reason for my continued presence at your gaming convention until mainstream, middle-America values are tolerated once again.

There's a big disconnect if you're saying that people who wear MAGA hats to a game convention are people who want to game without politics. It's a campaign slogan for a politician - so it's explicitly political. The same goes for people who wear Biden shirts, of course. The more direct parallel for a Black Lives Matter shirt would be Blue Lives Matter or All Lives Matter, which are not explicitly for a particular politician, but they are still openly ideological. I think people wearing any of these to a game convention aren't trying to game without politics.

As a practical matter, in today's culture, I don't think it's workable to have MAGA-hat-wearing players and BLM-shirt-wearing players happily mixed at the same convention. Even if they are technically allowed by the organizers, I think they just won't be comfortable gaming together. They're within their rights to express their politics, but it's tilting at windmills to get them to game together.

And that's OK. Not everyone has to go to the same game conventions. They're privately-organized events, not public services. I don't think all conventions need to be the same. If you don't like the organizers at your local convention, go to a different one, or organize your own.

Quote from: Ghostmaker on July 02, 2021, 02:34:44 PM

Quote from: Zelen on July 02, 2021, 02:32:29 PM

Quote from: Rhedyn on July 02, 2021, 02:19:30 PM
What makes you assume that being conservative or Republican is in general acceptable?

Go resurrect the 605K+ dead due to idiotic "conservative" hatred of the most basic pandemic prevention procedures and then I may concede that your political ideology is not completely monstrous and should be criminalized let alone tolerated at a gaming convention. 

I lol'd.

I can't decide if he's just trying to be ironic, trollish, or if he really is that stupid.

I'm going with Stupid for $ 1000 Alex

Quote from: Ghostmaker on July 02, 2021, 11:36:01 AM

QuoteI've been tasked as the spokesman for a plurality of traditional and OSR gamers to ask conventions a very important question in light of Gencon and Origins banning the new TSR over Ernie Gygax Jr.'s interview.  Maybe you aren't aware of it, but it's been all over social media lately.

By whom, if I might ask? Sorry, I get twitchy when someone declares they are a 'spokesman'.

That being said:

QuoteI have to ask if your convention will be accepting of non-woke, non-SJW gamers, gamers who reject that particular ideology, who are openly conservative, who are sick and tired of being harassed by the radical-left and labeled racists, bigots, nazis, whatever phobes and ists, white supremacists, etc. just because we don't subscribe to recent, reality-warping theories of gender identity, critical race theory, and anything having to do with cultural Marxism.

As an example, if you'd allow someone to wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt, but not a MAGA hat... that's a serious problem. Similarly, if individuals such as Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson would not be allowed to attend, that speaks volumes about the egregious levels of gatekeeping in the gaming community.

If politically moderate, old-school liberal, libertarian, right-leaning gamers and just normal people who want to game without politics (including leftist politics) aren't welcome, then there's no reason for my continued presence at your gaming convention until mainstream, middle-America values are tolerated once again.

Hundreds of us (soon thousands, I hope) are sick and tired of being excluded from our beloved hobby by those championing (in name only) inclusion, diversity, and equity.  The culture of RPGs has always been welcoming, decent, and law-abiding, but our past seems to be continually altered by revisionists to make it seem like everyone in Lake Geneva, WI circa 1974 owned slaves!

I agree with this completely. Enough is enough.

QuoteI'm sure you have been around long enough to know our hobby was pretty darn great back in the good old days, even though there have always been and will always be exceptions.  Now... well, we're not so sure.

This ties into my repeated, angry complaint about these johnny-come-latelies who want to paint everything prior to Year Zero as evilracistsexistbigotetcetc.

So yeah, other than my kvetch about who are you speaking for, I agree unreservedly.

Several gamers on various social media platforms (FB, Twitter, YouTube, reddit, MeWe, etc.) said "Yes" when I asked them if they'd like me to reach out to gaming conventions on their behalf.  We don't have an actual organization yet, outside of internet groups, but one might be coalescing...

Thanks for your support!

Quote from: tenbones on July 02, 2021, 01:49:51 PM
As much as I like VS's sentiment, the reality is he is preaching blasphemy to the Anointed.

These institutions on a corporate level have made their bet. They will not relent in their positions until they're shown their calculus is off. That means them losing money, and on the fringes of niche-hobbies like TTRPG's that might mean going out of business.

This weird fetishizing over "D&D" and anything related to the seemingly magical name of Gygax or what people believe are his legacy need to understand that the OSR has already made its claim on that legacy. The *name* of D&D is owned by a moronic corporation staffed by ideological zealots - but the spirit of D&D is with us, the players. You don't *need* them to claim your legitimacy. You already have it. The OSR IS. And so too with any of those that don't feed the beast.

WHY is there this incessant beggar-mentality of trying to claim a place in these institutions and their circus-tents they've stolen from us where they proclaim with every breath, with every cancellation and social media post: "WE DO NOT WANT YOU!"... and yet post after post are the laments of the weepers that bemoan the sad state of their corpse not realizing they're dead.

Since we're talking about religion - I say cast Raise Dead on yourselves, and go play and build your own kingdoms while they burn theirs down. The more attention you give them - the longer this flagellation continues. GM's need to woo people away with *better* games (even if that means using other systems).

Who gives a fuck about GenCon, WotC, TSR, the name Gygax? St. Gary is dead, carry his memory, not his baggage.

What you said makes a lot of sense, and I encourage people to do exactly that... but I also want to fight back against their woke tyranny!