Contributed by: Jeff Rivett (site admin) Tuesday, February 11 2025 @ 05:05 AM PST
Note: the following content is based on a brilliant post on rpg.net[*1] published not long after Trump's election in 2016. I hereby credit the authors of that post for both the inspiration of this post and much of its wording. Thank you.
New rule: Do not post, act, speak, or otherwise communicate in support of Musk, Trump or their administration. Doing so on the JDRGaming web site, in JDRGaming Discord, in JDRGaming Gametracker server chat, in chat on any JDRGaming game server, or in the form of player names, will result in an immediate and permanent ban and possible network blocking.
This policy announcement is the result of careful consideration. The decision is final. It will not be the subject of further debate. I have considered the possible downsides and ultimately decided I have to stay true to my values. I will not pretend that evil isn't evil, or that it becomes a legitimate difference of political opinion if you put a suit and tie on it.
I am banning support of Donald Trump and his administration on JDRGaming sites, servers, and services. This is because his public comments, policies, and the makeup of his administration are so wholly incompatible with my values that formal political neutrality is not tenable.
We can be welcoming to (for example) persons of every ethnicity who want to talk about games, or we can allow support for open white supremacy. Not both.
Support for elected hate groups is not welcome here. We can't save the world, but we can protect and care for the small patch that is JDRGaming.
You might object to this new policy. You might be thinking along these lines: "The problem I find with a lot of people who call themselves 'progressives' online is that they seem to think the only strategy worth doing is to 'ostracise people whose values are antithetical to their own' rather than discuss it with them or accept that some people just have different viewpoints. Sure, in some cases there's not much hope for changing anyone's minds, but to default at 'ostracise, humiliate, shun and berate' is not a good approach IMO."
To which my response is: "No. You know what? Fuck that noise. Ethnic cleansing is not a 'different viewpoint.' Racism is not a 'different viewpoint.' White nationalism is not a 'different viewpoint.' Dogwhistling that attacks against your political enemies will continue if the media doesn't stop saying things you don't like is not a 'different viewpoint.' Putting children in cages is not a 'different viewpoint.' A nazi salute is not a legitimate political expression. Misogyny is not a viewpoint, it's hatred. All bigotry is irrational and evil.
This is not an argument over tax rates or the proper role of government in education. This is an argument about who will be allowed to exist in America and beyond. If you don't like it, get the fuck off JDRGaming. And don't come back until you learn the meanings of words like compassion, empathy, fairness, and equality.
(In effect starting February 14, 2025; not retroactive.)
JDRGaming sites, servers, and related services remain no-fly zones for political and religious discussion, with one exception: the #general channel on JDRGaming Discord.