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Author Topic: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?  (Read 9392 times)

Trond

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When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« on: September 08, 2021, 11:09:52 AM »
For myself, I remember a discussion on RPG.net about sex differences and abilities around 2010-2011. I was just pointing out basic biology but of course it went to shit. The reaction of some people was so perplexing to me that I still remember who it was: primarily David Prokopetz, Logicninja and to a less degree Argent, were sort of "guarding" the thread and making sure nobody stepped out of line with the "poor womenz". :D

So, when did you notice that something had "snapped" among the RPG social justice crowd?

Ratman_tf

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2021, 10:58:11 PM »
I started to pay attention after Elevatorgate.
I think the tipping point for TBP was when Cessna stated that rpg.net was not going to become a "safe space". And then, of course, it did.

2010-2011 seems to track in multiple communities. For whatever reasons, the number and influence of SJW types seems to have reached some kind of critical mass at that time.
The notion of an exclusionary and hostile RPG community is a fever dream of zealots who view all social dynamics through a narrow keyhole of structural oppression.
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jhkim

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2021, 03:11:56 AM »
When I first joined this forum in 2006, one of the recurring topics was Pundit ranting against the Blue Rose RPG. I'd been in a bunch of contentious RPG discussion online, but that was the first big one that felt political.

From my point of view, gaming arguments previously were most often between story-game vs simulationist, which wasn't considered political at the time. Even Pundit's early rants against "The Swine" and story games seemed more over esthetics than politics. But the criticism of Blue Rose seemed more political, as it centered on the supposed collectivist philosophy.

Over the next decade, it seems like a slow slide that politics became more and more central.

oggsmash

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2021, 09:14:23 AM »
  I really didnt ever notice it, most of the people who I would see hanging out all the time at the LFGS seemed to be to the left of center.   Honestly I was left on most issues as well, but then around 2010 it sort of started to be just one or two issues would solidly plant you in the right or left.   I noticed more and more calls for video games to have more "representation" with no regard as to good or bad.  I probably didnt notice it much at all until I got thread blocked years and years ago over at the big purple for having the audacity to ask how exactly Gary Gygax was a horrible sexist for implying that men are stronger than women.   The responses, and the tone of them made me scratch my head a bit.   

    So around 2014ish I noticed a ramp up of sorts, or at least that was where TBP seemed to get a bit more overt in the political, and of course 2016 it went bonkers over there.  I have a feeling the majority of people in table top rpg games likely skew left.   I know when I was younger (a teen in the 80's) I was the only jock involved in any table top RPGs at all, and the majority of people playing certainly were left, but honestly, I did not care then at all.   Maybe being the people who got pushed into lockers is where the SJW stuff come from?   I do not know.  I still do not much care, and I am willing to tolerate an artist having a left worldview, up to a point.  When that view starts telling me how I MUST think, act, and feel, we start having trouble.

Trond

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2021, 12:02:06 PM »
  I really didnt ever notice it, most of the people who I would see hanging out all the time at the LFGS seemed to be to the left of center.   Honestly I was left on most issues as well, but then around 2010 it sort of started to be just one or two issues would solidly plant you in the right or left.   I noticed more and more calls for video games to have more "representation" with no regard as to good or bad.  I probably didnt notice it much at all until I got thread blocked years and years ago over at the big purple for having the audacity to ask how exactly Gary Gygax was a horrible sexist for implying that men are stronger than women.   The responses, and the tone of them made me scratch my head a bit.   
Oh yes, they really hate pointing out obvious differences between men and women.
   
So around 2014ish I noticed a ramp up of sorts, or at least that was where TBP seemed to get a bit more overt in the political, and of course 2016 it went bonkers over there.  I have a feeling the majority of people in table top rpg games likely skew left.   I know when I was younger (a teen in the 80's) I was the only jock involved in any table top RPGs at all, and the majority of people playing certainly were left, but honestly, I did not care then at all.   Maybe being the people who got pushed into lockers is where the SJW stuff come from?   I do not know. 
Perhaps. Remember the "tough guys for Trump" thing, and many SJWs HATE "tough guys" with a passion. I think this might be part of the reason for the visceral and irrational reaction some people have to Proud Boys.
I still do not much care, and I am willing to tolerate an artist having a left worldview, up to a point.  When that view starts telling me how I MUST think, act, and feel, we start having trouble.
Same here. Particularly when it comes to entertainment. I keep saying, IT'S ENTERTAINMENT for God's sake. It has probably lead to less violence over time (less boredom etc). We watch movies about serial killers all the time, and somehow we can't handle a "damsel in distress" anymore?

Squidi

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2021, 12:25:50 PM »
GamerGate, for me. Once video games became increasingly obnoxious (not just social justice, but also microtransactions and loot boxes), I started looking to traditional media for entertainment ithat was more permanent. Wasn't long after that Marvel NOW happened, then Disney buying Star Wars, movies deleting red headed characters (I'm red headed, as are my kids), etc. Miniature games were largely apolitical for a while. After BLM and Games Workshop telling their fans to go away, I came to RPGs - only to discover that they may be the most fucked bunch of them all.

Basically, since GamerGate, it has been moving from one hobby to another, just in time to see it collapse. It was like an apocalypse tour, with RPGs being post apocalypse (though I've found some amazing older stuff). Now, it appears I'm continuing my apocalypse tour with democracy and free speech. Have to admit, watching these fall stings.

Kael

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2021, 01:47:16 PM »
When Gygax started using the more inclusive "he or she" in the late 70's.

rytrasmi

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2021, 02:48:39 PM »
When Gygax started using the more inclusive "he or she" in the late 70's.

I've taken the position that we should just call everyone "he." Anything else foments discord and disunity. Plus, as far as older literature goes where "he" was the default, going forward with "he" essentially retcons all that stuff to include everyone, which was largely the intent anyway.

I don't think SJWs have taken over the hobby. They certainly have positions of power at the moment, but my observations at FLGS lead me to conclude that it's a passing interest for them. The obvious SJW groups I see are clearly having less fun actually playing these games than the regular schmucks like me. The last group I saw, the GM spent the entire session talking emphatically while a bunch of woke-looking folx just sat around and nodded and sheepishly looked down at their character sheets from time to time. This was the MO every time I saw this group. Nobody looked like they were having fun by any means.
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GriswaldTerrastone
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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2021, 03:54:52 PM »
Long ago. When political correctness appeared in everything ("he or she"). There was a break in the early 1980's because of the threat of WW3- equalists always vanish when things get dangerous- but it returned in force after Gorbachev took power in 1985.

It really started going into high gear during the 1990's, and it's been downhill ever since.

You must keep in mind that we didn't get here overnight, we are simply seeing that latest stages of a plan that has been in place before I was ever born. This is why SJWs, noted for their short attention spans, never seem to go away on the whole- the ones behind them won't allow it. Once they get ahold of something then they will remain, destroying any opposing voices.
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FelixGamingX1

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2021, 05:56:38 PM »
Not a takeover, just a loud and obnoxious bunch. Luckily you can spot then from a mile away, easier to ignore. Stop supporting and acknowledging them, eventually they’ll go away.
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Ratman_tf

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2021, 06:25:33 PM »
Not a takeover, just a loud and obnoxious bunch. Luckily you can spot then from a mile away, easier to ignore. Stop supporting and acknowledging them, eventually they’ll go away.

Narrator: They didn't go away when they were ignored.
The notion of an exclusionary and hostile RPG community is a fever dream of zealots who view all social dynamics through a narrow keyhole of structural oppression.
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Trond

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2021, 07:12:01 PM »
GamerGate, for me. Once video games became increasingly obnoxious (not just social justice, but also microtransactions and loot boxes), I started looking to traditional media for entertainment ithat was more permanent. Wasn't long after that Marvel NOW happened, then Disney buying Star Wars, movies deleting red headed characters (I'm red headed, as are my kids), etc. Miniature games were largely apolitical for a while. After BLM and Games Workshop telling their fans to go away, I came to RPGs - only to discover that they may be the most fucked bunch of them all.

Basically, since GamerGate, it has been moving from one hobby to another, just in time to see it collapse. It was like an apocalypse tour, with RPGs being post apocalypse (though I've found some amazing older stuff). Now, it appears I'm continuing my apocalypse tour with democracy and free speech. Have to admit, watching these fall stings.

I saw it in RPGs before Gamergate, but holy smokes how GG exposed how corrupt journalism had become. Not only games journalism mind you, as the mainstream media immediately threw themselves onto the same wagon. It was as if everyone was just parroting the same braindead “harassment campaign to drive out women” story.

FelixGamingX1

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2021, 07:19:48 PM »
GamerGate, for me. Once video games became increasingly obnoxious (not just social justice, but also microtransactions and loot boxes), I started looking to traditional media for entertainment ithat was more permanent. Wasn't long after that Marvel NOW happened, then Disney buying Star Wars, movies deleting red headed characters (I'm red headed, as are my kids), etc. Miniature games were largely apolitical for a while. After BLM and Games Workshop telling their fans to go away, I came to RPGs - only to discover that they may be the most fucked bunch of them all.

Basically, since GamerGate, it has been moving from one hobby to another, just in time to see it collapse. It was like an apocalypse tour, with RPGs being post apocalypse (though I've found some amazing older stuff). Now, it appears I'm continuing my apocalypse tour with democracy and free speech. Have to admit, watching these fall stings.

I saw it in RPGs before Gamergate, but holy smokes how GG exposed how corrupt journalism had become. Not only games journalism mind you, as the mainstream media immediately threw themselves onto the same wagon. It was as if everyone was just parroting the same braindead “harassment campaign to drive out women” story.

I totally recommend picking up a copy of Tucker Carlson’s book. One of the best $15 bucks I ever spent. So much garbage is exposed it’s not even funny.
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FelixGamingX1

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2021, 08:14:39 PM »
Hey! If you wanna have a good laugh check out this shit post they made about me at r/rpg, it’s hilarious. The SJWs still trying to cancel me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/pl6o6h/rpg_review_knights_and_legends_2nd_edition_or_i/

Was censored for saying, “don’t argue with a fool, because you don’t know who’s watching.” I guess that sent the mod team into a complete meltdown. This is hilariously uncalled for. I haven’t even baited the trolls yet. That was plan b!
« Last Edit: September 09, 2021, 08:27:00 PM by FelixGamingX1 »
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HappyDaze

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Re: When did you first start to notice the SJW takeover of the hobby?
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2021, 10:52:09 PM »
GamerGate, for me. Once video games became increasingly obnoxious (not just social justice, but also microtransactions and loot boxes), I started looking to traditional media for entertainment ithat was more permanent. Wasn't long after that Marvel NOW happened, then Disney buying Star Wars, movies deleting red headed characters (I'm red headed, as are my kids), etc. Miniature games were largely apolitical for a while. After BLM and Games Workshop telling their fans to go away, I came to RPGs - only to discover that they may be the most fucked bunch of them all.

Basically, since GamerGate, it has been moving from one hobby to another, just in time to see it collapse. It was like an apocalypse tour, with RPGs being post apocalypse (though I've found some amazing older stuff). Now, it appears I'm continuing my apocalypse tour with democracy and free speech. Have to admit, watching these fall stings.

I saw it in RPGs before Gamergate, but holy smokes how GG exposed how corrupt journalism had become. Not only games journalism mind you, as the mainstream media immediately threw themselves onto the same wagon. It was as if everyone was just parroting the same braindead “harassment campaign to drive out women” story.

I totally recommend picking up a copy of Tucker Carlson’s book. One of the best $15 bucks I ever spent. So much garbage is exposed it’s not even funny.
I'll consider picking it up f we have another shortage of toilet paper like in the spring of 2020.