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<blockquote data-quote="brak1" data-source="post: 351385" data-attributes="member: 5390">The toughest thing about this is that we're talking about one of the few industries where product is directly relatable to the people who created it.&nbsp; We're bitter and angry because we associate these names with superior work.&nbsp; Hasbro fires them and we can't help but think &quot;well damn, I KNOW those folks produced good stuff.&nbsp; I knew them and their work and I liked it.&nbsp; I have no idea what will come from this company next.&nbsp; Back to square one - I can't just pick a book up based on the names on the credits page.&quot;&nbsp; That, and when you know a person's work and like it, some of that like is bound to be transferred to the actual creator.&nbsp; This doesn't happen with stuff like, oh, say... toilet paper.&nbsp; (&quot;Joe Smith made the softest, most absorbent tissue paper EVER.&nbsp; And they just let him go!&nbsp; Now what will I wipe with?&quot;)So, bitterness and acrimony is expected and understood.&nbsp; Wanting to &quot;make things right&quot; or &quot;make your voice heard&quot; is also understood.&nbsp; We want things to be fair, and this doesn't seem fair.&nbsp; In fact, it seems stupid and short-sighted.&nbsp; But corporations in general are often both.&nbsp; But that's why I think a boycott won't work.&nbsp; Because nobody at Hasbro is looking at reasons.&nbsp; If they were looking at reasons they would have kept a lot of the people they fired.&nbsp; They look at the bottom line and have meetings about what the problem is.&nbsp;&nbsp; We have no idea what happens in those meetings, but we do know what they're response is: cut.&nbsp;&nbsp; So if their sales drop sharply on D&amp;D are you absolutely sure they'll get the message?&nbsp; Or will they just cut again?&nbsp; And are you absolutely sure they'll just sell WotC or D&amp;D in the end?&nbsp; Or will they chunk up the properties individually and try and make more money that way?&nbsp; Can you see FR being sold to a TV production company?&nbsp; We'd never see RPG books from it again.Okay, that's totally alarmist.&nbsp; And I have probably less idea than most what the future holds.&nbsp; All I'm saying is that boycotts work on big &quot;money maker&quot; items.&nbsp; A company will change Barby so she doesn't say &quot;Math is hard!&quot; because Barby makes money and they don't want to lose those bucks.&nbsp; They're cutting staff because WotC is NOT making money, or at least not what they expect.&nbsp; I guess if we're going to do anything I'd rather see a petition.&nbsp; One that clearly outlines our concerns, our gripes and explains (in simple terms) why D&amp;D is a good thing, why it will always make them money (if not scads) and why if they continue down the course they're on they will be strangling the goose that lays the golden egg.&nbsp; If we got just the people who sent into the Setting Search to sign it, that's a lot of pressure - and one that corporations are used to seeing.&nbsp; I mean, 11,000 people saying &quot;we will buy your product for the foreseeable future if you change your ways thusly&quot; is going to have more impact than a general scream of rage and a drop in sales.Anyway.&nbsp; Just my opinion.&nbsp; We welcome yours.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="brak1, post: 351385, member: 5390"] The toughest thing about this is that we're talking about one of the few industries where product is directly relatable to the people who created it. We're bitter and angry because we associate these names with superior work. Hasbro fires them and we can't help but think "well damn, I KNOW those folks produced good stuff. I knew them and their work and I liked it. I have no idea what will come from this company next. Back to square one - I can't just pick a book up based on the names on the credits page." That, and when you know a person's work and like it, some of that like is bound to be transferred to the actual creator. This doesn't happen with stuff like, oh, say... toilet paper. ("Joe Smith made the softest, most absorbent tissue paper EVER. And they just let him go! Now what will I wipe with?") So, bitterness and acrimony is expected and understood. Wanting to "make things right" or "make your voice heard" is also understood. We want things to be fair, and this doesn't seem fair. In fact, it seems stupid and short-sighted. But corporations in general are often both. But that's why I think a boycott won't work. Because nobody at Hasbro is looking at reasons. If they were looking at reasons they would have kept a lot of the people they fired. They look at the bottom line and have meetings about what the problem is. We have no idea what happens in those meetings, but we do know what they're response is: cut. So if their sales drop sharply on D&D are you absolutely sure they'll get the message? Or will they just cut again? And are you absolutely sure they'll just sell WotC or D&D in the end? Or will they chunk up the properties individually and try and make more money that way? Can you see FR being sold to a TV production company? We'd never see RPG books from it again. Okay, that's totally alarmist. And I have probably less idea than most what the future holds. All I'm saying is that boycotts work on big "money maker" items. A company will change Barby so she doesn't say "Math is hard!" because Barby makes money and they don't want to lose those bucks. They're cutting staff because WotC is NOT making money, or at least not what they expect. I guess if we're going to do anything I'd rather see a petition. One that clearly outlines our concerns, our gripes and explains (in simple terms) why D&D is a good thing, why it will always make them money (if not scads) and why if they continue down the course they're on they will be strangling the goose that lays the golden egg. If we got just the people who sent into the Setting Search to sign it, that's a lot of pressure - and one that corporations are used to seeing. I mean, 11,000 people saying "we will buy your product for the foreseeable future if you change your ways thusly" is going to have more impact than a general scream of rage and a drop in sales. Anyway. Just my opinion. We welcome yours. [/QUOTE]

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