Post by Fulfillment on Aug 29, 2015 16:26:22 GMT -5
Hi, guys. So, some of you know me as Paks, or that lobster-girl off in outer space! But today I want to talk to you as a long-time member of BG.
We have a problem here on BG. It's not something all of us face, but it's insidious and it creeps into all sorts of interpersonal relationships on the site. It's happened for a long time. I know staff is trying to deal with it, and maybe I'm preempting them, but I can't just sit by while people come to me so worried about comments other people have said to them, or afraid to ask for help or advice, or afraid to be honest to the site because of what gets thrown back in their face.
Guys, it's not alright to disparage other players. It's not alright to talk about them behind their back. It's not alright to make fun of their writing. To discuss their age, their orientation, their race, their native language, their romantic involvement with other players, any of that, and use it as an insult. It's not okay to openly call people names.
I get that we're a site that has a lot of OOC culture. I get that we have a sarcastic and ribbing style of play. But too many people are feeling hurt. Too many people are afraid of other players. Too many people won't speak up because they're too scared of what will happen.
So here's my solution. You can join me in it or not. But if I am told by another player about an instance of abuse, or if I witness it, and the bully in question after being told why what they said was harmful continues to make similar statements to the person in question, I will no longer write with that person. Yup, across the board on all my characters, you will be crossed off my list of people I want to associate with. I'm all for staying in touch, I'll be there for you whatever you need, if you want to talk or need support, but I will no longer write with people who refuse to be decent to the rest of the site. I don't care who you are or who you're bullying, if this scenario unfolds and you continue to make said comments, no matter how much you feel they're a joke or not serious, that's it. You're on my list.
Can you get off the list? I guess that depends on how you deal with the issue and how the person you've been bothering feels about your change of heart.
There, it's that simple. This is what I can do as a non-staff member to help make BG a better place. I come here because it's my home. It's my community. And I won't stand by and witness this stuff anymore. Please feel free to come to me with any stories you have, so long as you've politely told the person bothering you to stop and they have not I will act on this promise. This starts now. I don't know that it will help everyone, but it's what I can do as a member of BG. Maybe more of you will join me in this promise, maybe not, but just know that I'm here to listen to each and every one of you. You're my BG family, and I take that very seriously.