D&D General (Anecdotal) conversations with Asian gamers on some problems they currently face in the D&D world of RPG gaming

[Imaculata]

Unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that the anti-racism movement reinforces the concept of skin-color as identity, as opposed to skin color as butt-cheek mole.

I don't agree that it reinforces it. What it does, is state that people are being treated different based on their skin color, and that this is not acceptible. It is a call to action. A call for change.

What you are saying, is kind of like saying that criticizing arson is a reinforcement of the fact that houses are flammable. You can't talk about changing a thing, without talking about that thing.

There is a racial divide, and there shouldn't be.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

I don't agree that it reinforces it. What it does, is state that people are being treated different based on their skin color, and that this is not acceptible. It is a call to action. A call for change.

What you are saying, is kind of like saying that criticizing arson is a reinforcement of the fact that houses are flammable. You can't talk about changing a thing, without talking about that thing.

There is a racial divide, and there shouldn't be.

If that were happening, I would agree. Except that isn't what's happening, as far as I can see. Here are two example, one political, one populist.

1) California has proposed to repeal civil right's law.

California Proposition 16, Repeal Proposition 209 Affirmative Action Amendment (2020)

Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics

ballotpedia.org

2) How to be an Antiracist by Kendi, Ibram X is ranked #1 on Amazon in Human Rights, Civil Rights and Liberties, and Political Advocacy. This book proposes that the solution to past racism is future racism.

How to Be an Antiracist: Kendi, Ibram X.: 9780525509288: Amazon.com: Books

How to Be an Antiracist [Kendi, Ibram X.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. How to Be an Antiracist

www.amazon.com

.

Nevertheless, I think all of us here oppose racism. I haven't see anyone here advocating in favor of racism.

 

[Imaculata]

1) California has proposed to repeal civil right's law.

I don't see how that has any relevance on my statement. Just because there are opposing voices to equality, doesn't mean there isn't a huge call in favor of equality.

The reason we're seeing all these Black Lives Matters protests, is because people of color don't want to live in fear of the police. They don't want to be afraid that every time a cop stops them, they might get shot. The way police treat people of color in America has been racist for a very very long time, and now the voices to put a stop to this are stronger than ever. That is the current anti-racism movement: A call for change and a plead for awareness.

Popular culture is getting a critical review in light of this renewed awareness. We look at works like OA with a little bit more scrutiny, because we realize we can improve race relations in many areas, not just law enforcement. They may be minor gripes in light of the more egregious offenses all around us, but every tiny step helps.

I think why this is so important, is because ignoring these little transgressions, passively approves them, and makes it easier to ignore the bigger transgressions. This is something that was pointed out earlier by @Umbran: By taking a neutral stance, you allow for it to exist.

2) How to be an Antiracist by Kendi, Ibram X is ranked #1 on Amazon in Human Rights, Civil Rights and Liberties, and Political Advocacy. This book proposes that the solution to past racism is future racism.

And this doesn't seem relevant either. Yes, both have to do with racism, but that is a tenuous connection at best. It doesn't change the fact that there are strong calls for change and equality.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

I don't see how that has any relevance on my statement. Just because there are opposing voices to equality, doesn't mean there isn't a huge call in favor for equality.



And this doesn't seem relevant either. Yes, both have to do with racism, but that is a tenuous connection at best.

Yes. I agree. I think those of these things show are people are thinking about equality. They want to be anit-racists to fight racism. They want to appeal California civil rights law to hire more minorities. I think these people's hearts are in the right place. They want equality and they want all people to have a chance.

Unfortunately, I think the strategy is flawed. I do not oppose the push for equality, instead I do not support the anti-racist vision of equality and their method of attaining it.

Instead, I advocate an experiential approach. I think the US should set up more diverse service programs , national and international, (similar to Vista and Peace Corps) with the goals of:

1. Teaching Americans new skills and trades.
2. Showing Americans new ways of life.
3. Integrating major Americans minority communities and minority Americans into majority societies.

With the struggle to find employment nowadays, I expect such programs might have a very wide appeal in assisting young people gain job experience and others transition into new fields and industries.

 

[Imaculata]

Unfortunately, I think the strategy is flawed. I do not oppose the push for equality, instead I do not support the anti-racist vision of equality and their method of attaining it.

I think it is worth considering that if you don't actively fight back against racism, racism takes hold. The white supremacists are very active right now, and fascism is trying to take hold in America. So anti-racists need to be double as active too, to drive these forces back.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

I think it is worth considering that if you don't actively fight back against racism, racism takes hold. The white supremacists are very active right now, and fascism is trying to take hold in America. So anti-racists need to be double as active too, to drive these forces back.

Which is why I support policies and perspectives that actively combat racist worldviews, just not the policies and perspectives I've seen proposed from anti-racist movements, which I believe will ultimately result in a more race-centric worldview. (Hopefully I am wrong.)

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Do you remember the conflicts between Normarnds and Saxons in Robin Hood's books, and who worries about that now? Two thousands years ago the Latin(mediterranean) were the supreme power, and the blonde-blueyed barbarians from the North of Europe was the "third world". Life has many a twist and turn. After the fall of Roman Empire when Visigoth arrived to Spain the relations with the naives weren't too good. Both communities had got different legal codes, and mixed marriage was forbidden. Step by step this started to be allowed, and in the end both became one community, the Spanish people.

* What about when anybody wants to use speculative fiction as a softer way to talk about historical facts, but it's not enough soft? For example an author from California with Latin blood whose ancestors arrived where the Spanish empire, before the English-speakers and the Mexican-USA war. In his story the blonde and blue-eyed viking erstazs are the bad guy, the invaders. But what if the author is a Hindu girl and in her setting the evil empire is a ersatz of Muslim invaders (maybe the worst genocide in the History was against the Hinduists by the Muslims)?

* Maybe we need some article, not published in the books but in the internet, about the different rules of courtesy and good manners in the different cultures, for example to explain usually the behavior by the characters from manganime is different, the Japanese in the real life don't allow themself that type of actions, or in Japan to point with the fingers is unpolite, or the males have to cross the doors before the women.

* If there is a d20 play manga, why not a spin-off as d20 play manwha and d20 play manhua?

* I say again my opinion is after Dark Sun and psionic to be published the next will be Kara-Tur to be used with the martial adept classes. Why not to hire Dreamscarred Press as outsource/subcontracting worker?

* I have seen the nezumi/ratfolk are canon in Kamigawa.

* In my opinion the xiaxia subgenre isn't very right for D&D (but for epic levels?) D&D is more about cooperation with the rest of the group and social interactions than leveling-up killing monsters, not about how to become more powerful but to be better person and growing up psychologically.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

The story of Zuvdija Hodžić shows why I am skeptical of racial identity:

"I came to Istanbul and people asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘a Turk’, but they shook their heads: ‘Eh, you are not, you are Albanian’. So I came to Skadar as Albanian, where I was told that I was Bosniak. So I went to Sarajevo as Bosniak and people around me asked me again what I was, and I said, ‘Bosniak’. They thought I was mad and told me that I was Montenegrin, but with Islamic religion. Then, in Podgorica, someone said to me that I was nothing but a Turk. Who am I, and what am I? Nobody."

We are simply a combination of what we want to be and what others allow us to be. I want to emphasis the former (we are who we want to be) and emphasis the latter (what others want us to be).

 

[Marandahir]

values as the good sense against the demagoge, trust against the fear, humilility against the blind pride, understanding against the predjudices compasion and patience against the resentment and the rage. Racism is wrong, but not all Caucasians are racists, neither all racists are Caucasians.

BOLD emphasis mine - because trust against fear requires courage, and you're second claim is not courageous at all.

Racism is a societal construct that suppresses people who aren't considered white/Caucasian from equality, equity, and equal justice with the ruling white caste. By definition, all Caucasians are racists, because we're taking part in and reaping the benefits of a racist system that raises us up and pushes everyone else down.

Fighting against racism does not make you not-racist. We all have to identify and challenge ourselves on a daily basis. Racism is not a boogeyman that only belongs to men in white hoods or wearing reverse Hindu holy symbols on their arms. Racism is alive and present around us, and we are a part of the problem.

Doing nothing and sitting on the sidelines is just as bad as marching in the streets against antifa and BLM - because if we do nothing, then nothing will change, and nothing will end.

I know that's asking a lot of people, and it sounds hard and we just want to sit back and play our TTRPG and not think about these issues. It's also a lot less than what's asked of non-white people every day. Lives are at stake. Livelihoods are at stake. Sitting on the the sidelines is picking a side, and it's not the right one.

To reference a pop-culture icon,

“I know I’m asking a lot. The price of freedom is high. It always has been. It’s a price I’m willing to pay. And if I’m the only one, then so be it. But I’m willing to bet I’m not.” - Steve Rogers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier

 

[Cadence]

Racism is a societal construct that suppresses people who aren't considered white/Caucasian from equality, equity, and equal justice with the ruling white caste. By definition, all Caucasians are racists, because we're taking part in and reaping the benefits of a racist system that raises us up and pushes everyone else down.

Anyone have a favorite link for the general public on the differences between systemic/institutional/structural racism, personal/individual racism, and race based bigotry/prejudice?

It feels like some conversations are easier when everyone's using the same meanings, instead of some using the ones that have finally spread from the humanities to some dictionaries to the ones that are still in a lot of dictionaries. It feels like that can make it a lot easier for people to hear what's being asked of them in some cases.