That's kind of the response that Anthony Burch had when people were saying Tiny Tina was racist. It's the right response.
Actually, his first response was basically "Fuck off, trolls. You don't know what you're talking about and you're all dumb." and proceeded to fight back from there.
It was only after he was browbeat about it for - IIRC - a day or three that he finally relented and said "Okay, I'll look at it" and then "Okay, I can see how you might be offended, we're not changing it now, but we'll not do it like that again."
Wow I just read through a Kotaku article about the Anthony Burch thing. I think it more racist that people were basically saying that only poor Black people talk with Ebonics. A couple people had some interesting points that were actually convincing but saying Tiny Tina was racist because shes goofy and uses words that have origins in black culture is hugely stereotyping and racist in its own merits.
Not that I want to get into that at all. But it does go to show that things can be construed any which way.
Wow I just read through a Kotaku article about the Anthony Burch thing. I think it more racist that people were basically saying that only poor Black people talk with Ebonics. A couple people had some interesting points that were actually convincing but saying Tiny Tina was racist because shes goofy and uses words that have origins in black culture is hugely stereotyping and racist in its own merits.
Not that I want to get into that at all. But it does go to show that things can be construed any which way.
It's one of the hot recent fads of the SJW pseudo-academics - Cultural appropriation. If you do ANYTHING that isn't exactly in line with what you should for "Your culture", then it's "cultural appropriation". God Forbid you even attempt any sort of inclusive multiculturalism, because then you'd be a horrible Nazi.
That's kind of the response that Anthony Burch had when people were saying Tiny Tina was racist. It's the right response.
Actually, his first response was basically "Fuck off, trolls. You don't know what you're talking about and you're all dumb." and proceeded to fight back from there.
It was only after he was browbeat about it for - IIRC - a day or three that he finally relented and said "Okay, I'll look at it" and then "Okay, I can see how you might be offended, we're not changing it now, but we'll not do it like that again."
My mistake. I only hear about this stuff through the internet friend filter mostly.
My mistake. I only hear about this stuff through the internet friend filter mostly.
S'alright. The only reason I remember is because Burch has been criticizing people for that sorta shit for years, and I thought it was funny as hell that when he got a whiff of his own bullshit, he reacted exactly like the kind of people he puts shit on.
Forgive me if I've said this before, but I don't like Anthony Burch very much.
Seriously, if these people don't want to go to PAX, there are plenty of people who will fill their shoes.
We live in a society where people walk around wearing sports jerseys of fucking murderers, and rooting for their teams, but where is the massive public outcry?
I sincerely do not think I will ever be able to wrap my head around the individuals who claim they would feel unwelcome in an environment such as PAX. The community is fantastic, and the PAX content is stuffed with panels that preach acceptance and delve into the issues. Krahulik is an insensitive jerk, but interacting with him is not a requirement to experience PAX.
The amount of discussion sparked by one offhand comment, dialing back an apology for something that happened three years ago, proves to me that these people will never be happy. They will be in a near-constant state of being offended, ready to tear down whoever is closest to them, not the actual worst offenders.
I am at the point where I don't want to associate myself with the people who want to boycott PAX as much as they don't want to associate themselves with me. Good riddance.
Scott basically said all I was going to say about the incident with the enforcer, but I'd like to reiterate that the PAX leadership takes swift and harsh action against people who harass others (as they should). The enforcer in question was banned from PAX and shunned by the enforcer community.
As for Mike, he has a habit of saying dumb and insensitive things on twitter, and doesn't deal with criticism well (especially if he perceives it as attempting to censor him). That being said, saying that he (or Penny Arcade, or enforcers, or the greater community that attends PAX) endorses rape culture is frankly incorrect. There are a lot of things that perpetuate rape culture (lax sentencing, media sympathy for rapists, etc), but PAX is very low on that list.
EDIT: it's late, I'm tired, and my points aren't being made as eloquently as I'd like. Go re-read Matt's post right above mine, and pretend I just did that quote-and-don't-add-more-because-you-agree-one-hundred-percent thing.
Just read the linked article, and I'd like to add my "oh but!" regarding the call to attend Gen Con instead: according to The Dice Tower's recap, a large section of the Gen Con expo hall was almost impassable for the entire con due to traffic caused by one booth having scantily clad booth babes. This sounds like a nightmare of an alternative.
Just read the linked article, and I'd like to add my "oh but!" regarding the call to attend Gen Con instead: according to The Dice Tower's recap, a large section of the Gen Con expo hall was almost impassable for the entire con due to traffic caused by one booth having scantily clad booth babes. This sounds like a nightmare of an alternative.
Truth. It should be noted that the PAX community actually VOTED to ban booth babes. An Internet vote, and we still won that won. For every Dickwolf shirt wearing guy at PAX the majority voted to ban booth babes.
Also, even at Connecticon where we are so inclusive we have some gender neutral bathrooms, there are still people selling porn anime merch. I saw a picture of body pillows on sale/display at GenCon. If an exhibitor even tried that shit at PAX they would be out the door so fast.
People are judging the PAX community based solely on the actions our crazy uncle Mike. Meanwhile, the rest of PAX is superior to almost every convention ever in terms of the things these people are complaining about.
Honestly, I find that a lot of it revolves around this problem I see on the internet.
People on the internet get used to like-minded ideas. They surround themselves with people who agree with them. If you go on Tumblr, you start to fall into the mindset that everyone agrees with the same social issues as you. So when someone pops up who doesn't know all of the "obvious" things you guys know, the response is "Ugh, another prejudiced person, can't wait for all the old people to die so that this idea ends." They don't have the capability to understand that the only way people can understand they're saying something insensitive is if they are taught.
You might say that in 2013, it's common sense to understand transexual and gender identity issues.
You're wrong. It's not. The only way to learn about these things is to seek out this information. The only reason you would seek it out is if things you encountered in your life pushed you there. Many people just straight up wouldn't have learned this information, and so things like "Women have vaginas" doesn't necessarily make you transphobic, it means you're uneducated and living your life based on what you were taught growing up in society. The only way you'd know otherwise is if someone taught you.
I'm not gonna defend Mike saying dumb things. But I think people's outrage and refusal to accept him rather than try and teach is ridiculous. The second someone sent him a kind and understanding email, he came around and started to apologize, ending with a donation to the Trevor Project. Lots of people told me that writing a check can't get him out of bad comments, but I think his apology is sincere enough.
That all being said, I still understand people's choices not to go, because Penny Arcade cultivates a culture that is quite frankly keen on attacking people who disagree. I'm not saying it's everyone, it's a small minority, but the people up top are doing nothing to fight against this minority and make them stop. As a result, PAX is consistently a negative place for certain groups to be if they disagree with Mike about something.
Today I was telling my girlfriend about the different crowds at non-juggling conventions. These photos pretty much conveyed my main point (from Rym's panel vs my panel):
Anyhoo, PAX was great. I liked that it only went to midnight. We were still able to snag some open tables in the Olive 8 for later gaming. I, alas, did not win any games. People ganged up on me in River Dragons, for Jeremy to swoop in for the win.
I'm happy to have gamed a lot and had 4 days to relax and not rush PAX. The IndieMegabooth & PAX 10 was the best. I also got to get all the Strip Search artists sans Erika Moen to do panda sketches in my panda sketch book. I'll take pics & upload later.
Also Sriracha & PB cookies were surprisingly delicious.
I was happy to get some good quality play tests for my board game, and will be putting that at the front of the line for my development. I have re-themed the game to a Hedge-maze theme with dueling wizards. I will be posting the files for anyone interested in a Print and Play version to try it out.
Comments
It was only after he was browbeat about it for - IIRC - a day or three that he finally relented and said "Okay, I'll look at it" and then "Okay, I can see how you might be offended, we're not changing it now, but we'll not do it like that again."
Not that I want to get into that at all. But it does go to show that things can be construed any which way.
EDIT: Article for reference.
Forgive me if I've said this before, but I don't like Anthony Burch very much.
We live in a society where people walk around wearing sports jerseys of fucking murderers, and rooting for their teams, but where is the massive public outcry?
I sincerely do not think I will ever be able to wrap my head around the individuals who claim they would feel unwelcome in an environment such as PAX. The community is fantastic, and the PAX content is stuffed with panels that preach acceptance and delve into the issues. Krahulik is an insensitive jerk, but interacting with him is not a requirement to experience PAX.
The amount of discussion sparked by one offhand comment, dialing back an apology for something that happened three years ago, proves to me that these people will never be happy. They will be in a near-constant state of being offended, ready to tear down whoever is closest to them, not the actual worst offenders.
I am at the point where I don't want to associate myself with the people who want to boycott PAX as much as they don't want to associate themselves with me. Good riddance.
As for Mike, he has a habit of saying dumb and insensitive things on twitter, and doesn't deal with criticism well (especially if he perceives it as attempting to censor him). That being said, saying that he (or Penny Arcade, or enforcers, or the greater community that attends PAX) endorses rape culture is frankly incorrect. There are a lot of things that perpetuate rape culture (lax sentencing, media sympathy for rapists, etc), but PAX is very low on that list.
EDIT: it's late, I'm tired, and my points aren't being made as eloquently as I'd like. Go re-read Matt's post right above mine, and pretend I just did that quote-and-don't-add-more-because-you-agree-one-hundred-percent thing.
Also, even at Connecticon where we are so inclusive we have some gender neutral bathrooms, there are still people selling porn anime merch. I saw a picture of body pillows on sale/display at GenCon. If an exhibitor even tried that shit at PAX they would be out the door so fast.
People are judging the PAX community based solely on the actions our crazy uncle Mike. Meanwhile, the rest of PAX is superior to almost every convention ever in terms of the things these people are complaining about.
People on the internet get used to like-minded ideas. They surround themselves with people who agree with them. If you go on Tumblr, you start to fall into the mindset that everyone agrees with the same social issues as you. So when someone pops up who doesn't know all of the "obvious" things you guys know, the response is "Ugh, another prejudiced person, can't wait for all the old people to die so that this idea ends." They don't have the capability to understand that the only way people can understand they're saying something insensitive is if they are taught.
You might say that in 2013, it's common sense to understand transexual and gender identity issues.
You're wrong. It's not. The only way to learn about these things is to seek out this information. The only reason you would seek it out is if things you encountered in your life pushed you there. Many people just straight up wouldn't have learned this information, and so things like "Women have vaginas" doesn't necessarily make you transphobic, it means you're uneducated and living your life based on what you were taught growing up in society. The only way you'd know otherwise is if someone taught you.
I'm not gonna defend Mike saying dumb things. But I think people's outrage and refusal to accept him rather than try and teach is ridiculous. The second someone sent him a kind and understanding email, he came around and started to apologize, ending with a donation to the Trevor Project. Lots of people told me that writing a check can't get him out of bad comments, but I think his apology is sincere enough.
That all being said, I still understand people's choices not to go, because Penny Arcade cultivates a culture that is quite frankly keen on attacking people who disagree. I'm not saying it's everyone, it's a small minority, but the people up top are doing nothing to fight against this minority and make them stop. As a result, PAX is consistently a negative place for certain groups to be if they disagree with Mike about something.
PAX is, in practice, one of the most inclusive and safe "nerd" spaces I have ever seen. It puts most other large nventions to shame in that regard.
Anyhoo, PAX was great. I liked that it only went to midnight. We were still able to snag some open tables in the Olive 8 for later gaming. I, alas, did not win any games.
I'm happy to have gamed a lot and had 4 days to relax and not rush PAX. The IndieMegabooth & PAX 10 was the best. I also got to get all the Strip Search artists sans Erika Moen to do panda sketches in my panda sketch book. I'll take pics & upload later.
Also Sriracha & PB cookies were surprisingly delicious.