Elon Musk Calls for Wizards of the Coast to "Burn in Hell" Over Making of Original D&D Passages

Elon Musk, the owner of the app formerly known as Twitter, is calling on Wizards of the Coast and its parent company Hasbro to "burn in hell" for the publication of Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons. On November 21st, former gaming executive turned culture warrior Mark Hern posted several passages from Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons on Twitter, criticizing the book for providing context about some of the misogyny and cultural insensitivity found in early rulebooks. These passages were pulled from the foreword written by Jason Tondro, a senior designer for the D&D team who also worked extensively on the book. Hern stated that these passages, along with the release of the new 2024 Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide for D&D's "40th anniversary" (it is actually D&D's 50th anniversary) both "erased and slandered" Gary Gygax and other creators of Dungeons & Dragons.

In response, Musk wrote "Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to trash E. Gary Gygax and the geniuses who created Dungeons & Dragons. What the [naughty word] is wrong with Hasbro and WoTC?? May they burn in hell." Musk had played Dungeons & Dragons at some point in his youth, but it's unclear when the last time he ever played the game.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to trash E. Gary Gygax and the geniuses who created Dungeons & Dragons. What the [xxxx] is wrong with Hasbro and WoTC?? May they burn in hell.

- Elon Musk​

Notably, Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons contains countless correspondences and letters written by both Gygax and Dave Arneson, including annotated copies of early D&D rulesets. Most early D&D rules supplements as well as early Dragon magazines are also found in the book. It seems odd to contain one of the most extensive compliations of Gygax's work an "erasure," but it's unclear whether Hern or Musk actually read the book given the incorrect information about the anniversary.

Additionally, Gygax and Arneson are both credited in the 2024 Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide. The exact credit reads: "Building on the original game created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and then developed by many others over the past 50 years." Wizards of the Coast also regularly collaborates with Gygax's youngest son Luke and is a participant at Gary Con, a convention held in Gygax's honor. The opening paragraph of the 2024 Player's Handbook is written by Jeremy Crawford and specifically lauds both Gygax and Arneson for making Dungeons & Dragons and contains an anecdote about Crawford meeting Gygax.

Musk has increasingly leaned into culture war controversies in recent years, usually amplifying misinformation to suit his own political agenda.

 

[Maxperson]

if you want to prove me wrong, you have a burden too. I am good with his letter from 1974 and my claim that most people would not have written that, even the sexist ones

That's a strawman. The claim is that he was not a product of his time, not that other sexists wouldn't have written that. You are twisting what I am saying needs proof.

 

[Bedrockgames]

My issue with this is it can quickly be reduced to almost everyone was simply a product of their time, and unless one personally knew or was harmed by them, they cannot judge them despite whatever they may have said or done.

I’m content to accept what people have stated publicly and don’t feel I owe anyone that benefit of a doubt.

I agree it is a danger. You wouldn't want to make the argument that "oh Hitler was just a product of his time" for example. I think here though I really do see Gygax much more in the light that I would see an elderly relative

 

[mamba]

That's a strawman. The claim is that he was not a product of his time, not that other sexists wouldn't have written that. You are twisting what I am saying needs proof.

no, the claim was he was an outlier even then, to me the letter demonstrates that

 

[Steampunkette]

That's a strawman. The claim is that he was not a product of his time, not that other sexists wouldn't have written that. You are twisting what I am saying needs proof.

Not exactly...

People said "He was a sexist." <--- This is the foundation of the discussion and the initial claim.

He said he was a Sexist. He then went on a quick tirade about how sexist he could be. <--- this is the evidence to support the claim.

Other people then said "Product of his time" <--- This is a new claim which requires evidence in order to discredit or detract from the statement he was a sexist.

People pointed out that feminists and various other people born before him were showing he was a sexist within his own time relative to their positions. <--- this is counter evidence disproving that his time was exclusively or even primarily sexist or that it excuses or deflects criticisms from his sexism.

If someone wants to claim that he was a "Product of his time" they need to provide evidence of that claim. Further, they need to prove how him being a "Product of his time" is relevant to the discussion about whether or not he was a sexist.

Now the -new- claim that "Other sexists wouldn't have written that" or that "He was an outlier even in his own time" definitely is a new and separate claim that requires it's own evidence (Which the letter certainly supports, as does the fact that he was called out, specifically)...

But the burden of proof to show he was a "Product of his time" and that it in any way ameliorates or counters the argument and evidence he was a sexist still exists.

Of course people will claim that while also saying it isn't an excuse or a counter to the fact that he was sexist and then we all have to wonder "Then what does it have to do with the price of tea in China?" that people -keep- pointlessly bringing it up.

 

[Grendel_Khan]

Has Elon Musk said anything else on this subject? Or has there been any other traffic on Twitter from his entourage? I'd check for myself but I don't use that platform.

It's painfully obvious that he's never even read the book that he's so offended by. I wonder if he's tried to defend his statements further.

He throws a dozen bombs as ridiculous and trollish as this D&D thing every day. And the way the algorithm works there now, he'd have to go looking, and pretty hard, to see any pushback. Paid accounts get their replies pushed to the top, and they're overwhelmingly Elon fanboys and bots. So he's likely already said about 20 eye-wateringly bigoted and/or just plain moronic things by now that'd get more traction.

 

[Steampunkette]

I'm transgender, Ulorian.

Lots of people think I'm a man, well aware that I am a woman. They just usually don't say it outright.

Neither did this person. Instead they said that Rowling is fighting the good fight. What fight is it she's fighting? Keeping trans people in the closet and working to make the world more hostile for us.

Oh, I absolutely agree with this. In fact:

@Ulorian - Agent of Chaos it's been a full page since I explained -why- that person needed to be put onto my block list. I'd love to know if you think that I should give my time, energy, and politeness to people who would prefer I didn't exist, or if you've come to understand that I shouldn't have to spend my time patiently debating people who hate who I am.

Gonna bring these back up for you, @Ulorian - Agent of Chaos, since it's been a few more pages and maybe you just didn't notice they were back there.

Lemme know!

 

[Zardnaar]

I agree it is a danger. You wouldn't want to make the argument that "oh Hitler was just a product of his time" for example. I think here though I really do see Gygax much more in the light that I would see an elderly relative

Hitler was an extreme outlier for his time. Gygax was fairly typical for his time. Gygax was a public figure he's far from the worst or even somewhat typical for his generation.

Everyone's basically a product of their time. If you're reading classical literature for example they're describing their world at least from their PoV.

 

[abirdcall]

I made 2 posts replying to Ulorian regarding the value of engagement which they haven't responded to, or dare I say have ignored.

I am thinking their position is less "I don't ignore people so I can learn from them" and more "don't ignore me so I can tell you how it is."

It is tough to he convincing when not even following your own advice.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Hitler was an extreme outlier for his time. Gygax was fairly typical for his time. Gygax was a public figure he's far from the worst or even somewhat typical for his generation.

Look, can we all just agree that Gygax was not as bad as Hitler, be happy that common ground was reached, and let this thread die?

 

[Steampunkette]

Hitler was an extreme outlier for his time. Gygax was fairly typical for his time. Gygax was a public figure he's far from the worst or even somewhat typical for his generation.

Everyone's basically a product of their time. If you're reading classical literature for example they're describing their world at least from their PoV.

Gary's positions were outright outnumbered by the US population's positions in the 70s.

He specifically called out not caring if women were paid less than men. But the ERA went through both houses of Congress in 1972 and it contained a provision on that basis. (as an Amendment it needed 2/3rds in both houses)

Taking a look at the average age of congressmen, here:

Generations of American Leaders: Average Age

We can see that the average congressperson who voted for the ERA was -Older- than Gary Gygax.

And since each of those elected officials were elected by thousands upon thousands of voters, each....

Well. As you can see, MOST of the country disagreed with Gary Gygax on the topic. Making him an outlier.

To be clear, I'm not looking to discuss the ERA or other political positions, only to use the historical record to prove Gygax was out of step.