Recent content by Dire Bare

Cool. I'll be there for it!

Thanks, put so much better than I did! :)

Do we have an obligation to view bigots as complicated humans who are not all evil all the time? No, but (IMO) it's the better way to view such folks, both ethically and practically. Again, that doesn't mean there are no consequences for bigoted behavior. It doesn't mean you shouldn't cut...

Yeah. :( Industry has spent big money trying to convince us all that individually, if we just "reduce, recycle, and reuse" we can make a difference . . . while failing to actually build systems that effectively recycle our waste. We need systemic change at the societal level which takes...

It's tough right now in Minnesota, to be sure. And mad respect for those organizing, protesting, and doing what they can to help neighbors who are the most affected. Your anger and frustration is justified, as is that of your community and your local and state politicians. Your pushback...

Sure. That goes for a lot of societal issues. Politicians and institutions often push individual solutions rather than affecting real societal change. But being open to the idea that bigots are people too and can change, IMO, doesn't really fall into that. And small changes at the individual...

Okay. You're right, kinda, changing the mind of one bigot doesn't "solve" racism. I don't think anybody is under that illusion. Heck, "solving" racism and bigotry isn't something we're likely to achieve anytime soon, no matter what we do. Humans have been prone to bigotry since Day 1. But...

I'm sure Baker is well aware of the contracts he signed with WotC. I wouldn't worry.

There are definitely some folks who deserve to be in the "bad" column, for sure. But "drawing lines" is problematic. And as other posters have pointed out, we need to be vigilant and vocally opposed to racism and other forms of bigotry. But writing folks off as evil and irredeemable isn't...

I appreciate you including your "character planning" sheet. I've been thinking of working something similar up for my afterschool D&D club . . . I'm just going to steal yours! :)

Well until somebody does some google-fu and looks it up . . . I didn't get the impression that Baker was "tired" of Eberron, but tired of putting so much time and energy into something that couldn't pay his bills as a writer. And part of the reason for that situation is that he does not own...

It's ideas like that, that humanity can be simply divided into "good" and "bad" that leads to bigoted thinking. People are complex. We're all at least a little racist. And even the worst racists are capable of love, altruism, and charity.

Not exactly. Baker stated he didn't want to do anymore Eberron stuff on the DM's Guild, because even with his books being top sellers, the financial return wasn't worth his time. Having his books be on D&D Beyond is completely different!

Well, you know . . . you don't want to simply copy somebody else's racism, make it your own!!

You're not wrong, but Americans don't hold a monopoly on racism and other forms of bigotry. It's endemic to our entire species.