Quote from: jhkim;1124953That doesn't mean that the X-card is the required answer, though. There are many other approaches -- like just speaking up and saying "Hey, this is too dark for me" and then informally talking to the GM about it. I would note that at Big Bad Con, the phrase "safety tool" can mean a number of approaches - including the simple "open door policy" - which just means that if you have a problem with the game, you're welcome to walk out.

Probably the best comment written about this subject yet. But an "open door policy" does not give SJWs the opportunity to inject their politics into everyone else's fun, which is the real goal.

Quote from: jhkim;1124953I would note that at Big Bad Con, the phrase "safety tool" can mean a number of approaches - including the simple "open door policy" - which just means that if you have a problem with the game, you're welcome to walk out.

Has there ever been an RPG in a public place where a participant wasn't welcome to get up and walk out? I would love to say that this is the norm in private venues too, but there are likely some weird outliers somewhere that I neither know of or really care to know.

Quote from: deadDMwalking;1124949The problem is not everyone agrees what a 'dark place' is.  Having 'don't drop the soap' jokes may seem lighthearted fun to some of the guys, and maybe Bruce Banner doesn't want to have to explain about his YMCA rape to explain why he doesn't think that's funny.  Tapping an x-card is less disruptive than Hulking out (or suffering a panic attack).

Which works if the person tapping the X-card actually says what bothers them. The supporters of it forget or conveniently that flaw of the X-card. So if the scene is a dark, dank cave with Spiders and the player taps the card which of those elements would I need to alter or change? The fact that the cave is dark or dank or full of Spiders. If no response is given than according to the rules of the X-card the game grinds to sudden halt. With the rest of the players and DM just looking at each other and wondering what is bothering the player who tapped the X-card.

I would probably use the X-card at my table with the stipulation that the player tapping it MUST tell me the issue bothering them, almost no exceptions and non-negotiable. If they want to keep it secret or pass me a note then it is acceptable. If any player thinks that they will come to my table and most other tables and tap an X-card, then expect the game to grind to a halt is going to be asked what is wrong and if no response is given shown the door. I have to worry about the enjoyment and everyone else at the table. I'm not going to spend 4-6 hours in silence staring at the other players or DM because player XYZ joined a Lolth  themed campaign who is afraid of Spiders. Then decides that every Spider encounter is going to be subject to an X-card and not tell us why he is tapping the card.

Quote from: jhkim;1124953There are many other approaches -- like just speaking up and saying "Hey, this is too dark for me" and then informally talking to the GM about it. I would note that at Big Bad Con, the phrase "safety tool" can mean a number of approaches - including the simple "open door policy" - which just means that if you have a problem with the game, you're welcome to walk out.

The problem as I see it anyway is that even saying something like "hey this is too dark for me" is too extreme and a personal attack by more extreme SJWs in the hobby. Most issues can be solved with just simply talking it out with everyone else. In some cases it does not come to a solution. Still imo better to talk it out then use an X-card.

The X-card is only going to work in practice if the table fudges how they use it.   In that way, it is similar to bad rules that people talk about being almost perfect, and then it turns out that it "works" for them because the GM simple fudges any roll using that rule if it goes against the group consensus of how things should happen.

Not that the pros and cons of fudge or imperfect rule or (even better) a GM adjudicating things is necessarily compromised by all that.  But the cognitive dissonance unthinkingly demonstrated by the combination of "This thing works fine" and "(because) We ignore it when it doesn't" is striking.

Quote from: Brendan;1123951Maybe we're thinking about this all wrong.  Maybe we should stop resisting the inevitable and get on the "right side" of history guys.  Time to stop whining and get with the program.  Gaming needs to be inclusive of EVERYONE'S feeling, regardless of their gender, beliefs, neuro-diversity OR social position.   I suggest we whole-heartedly adopt the  X card as a valuable tool in creating group consensus and a more inclusive gaming experience, BUT we can't leave out the GM can we?  That wouldn't be very inclusive.  

What we need therefore is a Z CARD.  The Z card is the sole possession of the GM/DM/Ref/Storyteller [sic].  It overrules all other cards, A through Y inclusive.  The Z card has text on it which states "My game, my rules."  Whenever a particularly insensitive deplorable player throws down a silly piece of paper with an "X" drawn on it, or tries to cite rules to argue with the GM, or is just being a whiny little bitch, the GM is encouraged to show him/her/zir the Z card.  It is polite to tell them to "Read Z-card" or if there is any concern they may be visually impaired to hold it up to their face while saying loudly (because they also may be hearing impaired) "SEE Z-CARD!"  The Z-card can be laminated, mounted on a metal structure, or engraved on a wooden surface, for reuse.  If the GM feels sufficiently threatened by multiple non-compling players, he/she/zir may then create a safe space by liberally swinging the Z-Card as needed.

Failure to heed Z-Card is grounds for immediate ejection from the game.

The gender one is easy since there are only two options, male and female. I've gamed with both genders over the years. Anything else is some form of mental illness that I choose not to encourage.

Quote from: Gagarth;1124774OK they (you know who you are)  said mandatory use of safety tools at conventions was just a conspiracy theory put out by Nazis.

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https://tabletop.events/conventions/friends-of-contessa-cyberspace-game-fest/pages/code-of-conduct27

What about the "harassment" rule? It applies to any interaction you might have with anyone(even people not at their "convention") in any social media platform.

QuoteOur policy applies to everyone at the convention, including, but not limited to: exhibitors, attendees, GMs, speakers, guests, staff, and volunteers. All members of the community are held to the same standards and disciplinary action.

Because this is an online convention, this applies to any social media interaction before, after, or during the event.

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Sorry shitlords you're banned from attending for wrongthink, even before the convention.