Micah Sweet
Level Up & OSR Enthusiast
So never produce anything that might possibly offend anyone? Art is risk, and intent matters.All fun and games until you're the offended one...
So never produce anything that might possibly offend anyone? Art is risk, and intent matters.All fun and games until you're the offended one...
Driving down the street is a risk, but we have traffic laws and safety features in cars to mitigate the risk. I see no difference in mitigating risk in art.So never produce anything that might possibly offend anyone? Art is risk, and intent matters.
Mitigation can go too far, and where that line is is very, very subjective.Driving down the street is a risk, but we have traffic laws and safety features in cars to mitigate the risk. I see no difference in mitigating risk in art.
That is simply not true. Not in the gaming industry and not in the broader American culture.It's just a fact that every modern company in America at least is trying to be completely non-offensive to anyone.
It is true of WotC though, and how large a percentage of the industry do they represent?That is simply not true. Not in the gaming industry and not in the broader American culture.
True, the problem then becomes that the Fighter isn’t really good at anything except hitting.But in D&D, it makes perfect sense to just let the Rogue be good at opening locks and sneaking around, or to let the Wizard understand arcane inscriptions and recognize magical creatures, and things like that.
You're using the online home of racist hot takes --one that actively promotes those hot takes to all its users -- as a company trying to be complexly non-offensive? What exactly do you consider non-offensive?I didn't go into cultural difference or the fact that we have our Google, Twitter and X overloards to beat us mercilessly for every mistake and make sure that the mistake is never forgotten. It's just a fact that every modern company in America at least is trying to be completely non-offensive to anyone. This is like making food that tastes good to everyone. Most of the time it'll just be bland fair that meets the baseline for food.
Right. The thing is that I don't think anyone is arguing that offensive things should be forbidden. But if you do write offensive things, you shouldn't be surprised when people take offense, and when they are very vocal about it.Mitigation can go too far, and where that line is is very, very subjective.
WotC might disagree with you. And in any case, what counts as offensive? Is it anything anyone might be offended by, because it sure seems like that's the definition these days, and that whittles down the available material a lot.Right. The thing is that I don't think anyone is arguing that offensive things should be forbidden. But if you do write offensive things, you shouldn't be surprised when people take offense, and when they are very vocal about it.
I think the problem is that what's offensive changes over time. The Overton Window is the term for what's acceptable and not to discuss in public or government terms. That changes over time, and it has gotten smaller over the years. Back when 5E launched, the idea of fantasy character "races" was somewhat controversial but still present in a lot of games. Since then? It's just gone.Right. The thing is that I don't think anyone is arguing that offensive things should be forbidden. But if you do write offensive things, you shouldn't be surprised when people take offense, and when they are very vocal about it.