CCF refused D&D donations

[Fifth Element]

Isn't the CCF, the place that Sally Struthers eats all the food for?

-1 class point

 

[Snoweel]

And here I was thinking Christian organisations just wanted peoples' money...

 

[Voadam]

Yeah, I came across that. It gives me the auction group's one-sentence opinion, not a quote or any real information. I'd like to know the details of the objection. Being the rotten, skeptical scoundrel that I am I'm left with questions and suspicions that actual evidence or facts would be useful in fielding. Most importantly, "sales of Dungeons and Dragons" is the key issue I'd like to be expounded upon. If the objection is strictly to the brand as a whole I'd be surprised and disappointed. If, on the other hand, the objection had to do with certain products (for examples, "The Book of Erotic Fantasy," or "The Pleasure Prison of the B'thuvian Demon Whore") being in the auction it would paint a different picture for me. On yet another hand ("I found this in the back") if their objection had something to do with, say, Hasbro (the makers of D&D) as a company that would present things in yet another light.

As they say, "the devil is in the details."

I'd like said details before I summarily file them in my "Jack Chick" bin.

Trust but verify.

- Marty Lund

"Unfortunately, when they found out that the money they would get came partially from sales of Dungeons and Dragons they decided not to be the sponsored charity."

You think that statement could mean the CCF is actually declining donations connected in any way with anything from Hasbro? That would seem more bizaare than that they declined based on the D&D brand. What would the explanation be for why they would want to distance themselves from Hasbro? I can see a reason for a group like CCF to want to distance themselves from D&D as D&D, but not really from anything as Hasbro. It is possible, but it seems improbable.

Declining based on the auctioning of two adult themed RPG books could be possible, but I think it highly unlikely. 1 I doubt they were part of the auction. 2 I doubt CCF would know about any individual items auctioned even if these two were included. 3 it would mean that Gencon is wrong and possibly misleading in its statement, it was not the sales of D&D but of specific adult items that was CCF's motivation to decline the donations.

Going by Occam's Razor it looks like the simplest explanation is that CCF declined the donations because they were partially derived from sales of D&D.

 

[Rykion]

Edit: Look on the bright side though... at least they're not refusing aid to those that don't follow their beliefs... I'm sure they take every opportunity to proselytize but I guess that is a perk and part of the reason for the charity to begin with.

The CCF is not part of any church. They do not proselytize at all.

 

[Darrin Drader]

After thinking on it for a bit, I decided that my religious leanings are irrelevant and I sent them a letter expressing my disappointment and made it clear that I would find more tolerant organizations to donate to in the future.

 

[Darkwolf71]

Obviously, as this was Gygax's favorite charity, it makes sense that Gen Con chose CCF for last year's event. But I've got to say, I think it's a terrible idea to tie corporate donations to a cause that is intimately tied to a religious or political concern. It's just asking for trouble, as you cannot be sure that all of the participants/donors will be of the same beliefs/political bent, and thus some people might be dissuaded from donating.

All due respect Erik, but that's just a bit silly. If you, I or anyone else doesn't agree with a particular cause, that's no reason it should not be choosen as a corporate recipiant (Unless, of course, the disagree-er is the one doing the choosing). There are others who will actually be more inclined to give to that particular cause, and those who don't can jump on for the next one that sponsers a cause they do agree with.

If such corporate auctions and such were to only support the 'neutral' causes, there are a good many worthies that would be neglected and then, everyone loses.

 

[Umbran]

Okay, so I've just handed out a couple of thread bans, and at least one tempban from the site is under discussion.

I will warn everyone to not try our patience on this. We don't have any. Be respectful. You have been warned.

 

[mlund]

"Unfortunately, when they found out that the money they would get came partially from sales of Dungeons and Dragons they decided not to be the sponsored charity."

You think that statement could mean the CCF is actually declining donations connected in any way with anything from Hasbro?

No, I think that statement was made by the rebuffed (perhaps even "offended") party without citation, quotation, or further explanation. Skeptical, I take it with a grain of salt and would like to hear from the horse's mouth before I start judging people's motives.

That would seem more bizaare than that they declined based on the D&D brand. What would the explanation be for why they would want to distance themselves from Hasbro? I can see a reason for a group like CCF to want to distance themselves from D&D as D&D, but not really from anything as Hasbro. It is possible, but it seems improbable.

Again, we base this on what evidence, exactly? Hearsay? A popular meme of D&D being persecuted by Christians?

Going by Occam's Razor it looks like the simplest explanation is that CCF declined the donations because they were partially derived from sales of D&D.

Occam's Razor has been used by many other names for centuries to "justify" every manner of vile human prejudice imaginable. It is sometimes useful as a scientific tool and often times a popular meme in science-fiction works. It is not an adequate tool for passing judgment on human beings. It can't even pass for circumstantial evidence in most modern legal systems.

- Marty Lund

 

[Voadam]

No, I think that statement was made by the rebuffed (perhaps even "offended") party without citation, quotation, or further explanation. Skeptical, I take it with a grain of salt and would like to hear from the horse's mouth before I start judging people's motives.

I didn't see any statement on their website about the issue or their policies on not accepting donations. I suggest you email CCF if you want to hear directly from them. There is plenty of evidence here to make a judgment on however.

Even taking Gencon's statement with a grain of salt, the other possibilities you posit as their motives should be evaluated for their plausibility, not just their possibility in evaluating the situation.

It is possible somebody held a gun to the statement writer's head ordering them to write the statement for an unknown purpose and CCF never actually declined to accept the donations. Its not a logical impossibility and would change our views of the situation if we found out it were so but it is not worth withholding judging the situation on its face over such implausible possibilities.

Lack of 100% knowledge is not a good reason to withhold judging a situation. It is very hard to get 100% knowledge and you need to judge situations all the time.

Again, we base this on what evidence, exactly? Hearsay? A popular meme of D&D being persecuted by Christians?

The evidence is hearsay, Gencon's public statement of what happened.

I take it we both accept Gencon's statement that the charity took the action of declining to accept the donations, you are only skeptical about the stated motive of why.

Given what we know here, that Gencon made the statement saying CCF declined the donations because it was derived from sales of D&D, we must exercise our judgments about what reasonable conclusions can be made.

I am not aware of any reason CCF would wish to boycott donations connected to Hasbro. I think it unlikely to be over individual auction items. I see no obvious reason for Gencon to be false in making the statement. Given the statement and these alternatives, the reason Gencon gave in its statement seems plausible.

Is there anything you are aware of going on at Hasbro as a corporate entity that would be a plausible motive for CCF to decline donations connected to Hasbro?

 

[jaerdaph]

Isn't the CCF, the place that Sally Struthers eats all the food for?

But +1 coolness point for the classic South Park reference!