I dont even understand the conversation anymore.
Is Wizards being defended? Why?
Is Wizards being 'forgiven'? Why?
What even is the point of debate currently, like the thesis?
They clearly did wrong, knew it, owned it, backed off in a complete 180. Its as good as an admission of guilt as there is to get at this point. They dropped one in the middle of a packed room, and everyone saw them.
Whats even up for debate lol.
The debate is really over whether people should feel bad about continuing to consume WoTC's product after they've done wrong.
People want to feel they're morally okay to consume product from a company that's now known to be willing to destroy the ecosystem of the game (players, other developers and companies, content creators in general) if they think it'll eak them out a little bit more profit.
They very obviously know what WoTC did is wrong. And they know it's pretty wrong to continue to support them - because in a capitalistic society, choosing where your money goes is a supposedly powerful choice - so supporting a business that does wrong isn't a good look.
But... they still want WoTC's product. They
have to have it. For many valid (and invalid) reasons, they're not able to do or don't want to do the research to find high quality third party product, or change the way they play so they significantly reduce or eliminate their reliance on WoTC. Some will continue to buy because the act of buying it makes them happy (that is valid, if sometimes wasteful - but it's behaviour we all do).
So what is the only solution but to paper over the moral issue and what happened?
Right now, people MUST defend the company that did the indefensible and get others back into the ecosystem and brush the problem under the carpet. Otherwise their continued support for the company and product becomes indefensible, and morally not okay, and that'll eat at their conscience.
They don't care that WoTC not facing longer term consequences will encourage them to do this again.
They don't care that people have reasonable objections.
It's not about the people not supporting the brand. It's about themselves. And it is so,
so obviously bad faith, as this thread has been from the start.
We're seriously believing a billion dollar company over what caused their decision?? When have WoTC ever even acted in the slightest of good faith here?
Call it cynical, but I'd rather not believe a company when we have evidence to the contary over what forced their hand >.>