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kendrick-simpson · 5 years ago

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OOF

I was going to sit down, shut up, put my blinders on, and just write but I can’t do that in good conscience.

I’ve been in this group for a few months now and have seen people come and go, and I have seen the way certain issues are handled. Because they didn’t affect me directly, I just looked the other way and continued to roleplay.

When I came to the admin team to address an issue that I felt was wrong, I was given a very impersonal “we care about our members” message that then proceeded to make me realize how little regard they actually care about the members not in their immediate circle.

Here’s a disclaimer found at the top of the rules for the roleplay:

“Disclaimer: Characters in this roleplay may say or do things that players may find offensive, and mature behavior can be seen here including: drug taking, nsfw, infidelity, and so on. By joining you agree to a clear distinction of IC/OOC wherein the actions and beliefs of the characters in no way represent the actions or beliefs of the players. If you are sensitive to certain topics, this roleplay may not be a good fit for you.”

But where do we draw the line?

Drug taking, NSFW, and infidelity are on a different level from blatant bigotry, sexism, racism, and homophobia.

You have seriously got to be living under a rock not to realize that the state of the world is changing, and that begins with every single one of us. It’s time to do some real introspection to figure out why some people think it’s okay to write things in a way that’s completely irresponsible, and why others think it’s perfectly fine to accept it as is, or look the other way.

To add to that, when approached, to show lack of acknowledgement or lack of understanding and compassion is irresponsible.

It is absolutely okay to write a villainous, bigoted character. But as a writer, you have a responsibility to ensure that you’re taking consideration of possibly marginalized readers who will be reading your content. Whether it’s ableism (discrimination in favor of able-bodied people), racism (prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group), sexism (prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex), and homophobia (dislike of or prejudice against homosexual people), it is your responsibility– if you TRULY– are against these things, to differentiate between a character’s internal dialogue and your own monologue. It is your responsibility to use slurs sparingly, and really only in dialogue. Put yourself in the shoes of someone reading your writing who might be marginalized, or might know someone who is.

TAGGING THINGS IS NOT ENOUGH. Not anymore. Not in this day in age.

Ask yourself why you have to roleplay this, why you have to tolerate it in roleplay (laughing about it and looking the other way without raising concern is complicit), why you have to make your members blacklist people or unfollow them because you actually don’t know how to address this issue properly.

What does it bring to the roleplay? Is it done respectfully?

The answer, in this group, is a resounding no.

Using the real pain and alienation of marginalized people for shock value is tasteless, and it’s wrong, especially right now.

“Hey there! We appreciate you taking the time to write to us. We take the concerns of our members very seriously, look into things in detail, and discuss amongst ourselves the proper way to proceed.”

If all four admins think it’s okay, there’s a serious problem. If one or two are not okay with this, yet what you sent me is the answer you’re all going with, you are complicit.

“(…) we will not be censoring his portrayal and stand by this. We have a disclaimer at the top of our rules that mentions words to this effect, and it’s the opinion we have taken since the opening of the RP”

Again, where do you draw the line?

This isn’t about censorship. It’s about responsibility to your members in creating a safe space to read and write. It’s responsibility to your readers to know that you are seriously aware, and you’re rolling your eyes, brushing this off as someone being overly sensitive.

I believe creative writing should be free and open. After all, we should be entitled to free speech. People should be allowed to write about whatever they want to write about. But when you choose to write a bigot character, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the reader knows you are aware that it’s not okay, that this character’s thoughts are their own. You have a duty to your readers to ensure them that you know this isn’t okay.

When you choose to write bigotry just for fun, and just for shock value, it’s disgusting.

For that reason, among others, I am withdrawing from the group. Feel free to unfollow Landon and Noah.

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