I already provided the basis of one earlier in the thread. I also provided a bit more of an idea
later on too.
But, basically? If I could get her permission for it, she would end up the PR face of WotC. I would ask her to do a regular article on being a woman who plays DnD and interacts with the genera geek community, as well as showcasing her various talents in special features. Also would hold a contest for individuals in the community, to where they submit articles on inclusion, LGTBQ+ rights, feminism, civil rights, and other such forward movements and how they intersect with DnD, as well as advice columns on how to run a diverse game without discriminating against anyone or making anyone feel unwelcome or uncomfortable.
I would also reach out to leaders of the various movements via Twitter and Facebook, to engage them and draw their attention to what is being done as well as to ask them for advice on how to improve. At the same time, I would be monitoring the troll activity, and trying my best to cut communications when they come close to threatening one of my staff, but at the same time not acting to entirely cut them off so I can use their own vitriol as a free marketing scheme. All the while, continuing to engage the rest of the world without letting their hatred become part of the narrative.
I would even reach out to news networks, possibly seeing if I could get Kate Welch to be a company spokesperson for various interviews. Admittedly, she's far from her original job if she accepts this, but hey... the trolls handed me a golden egg, so why not capitalize on it? They hate her so much, they get to see her
everywhere in connection with DnD.
My next step would involve reaching out to Paizo, possibly to get a joint DnD-Pathfinder venture going to where the inclusiveness of both games can influence each other. Reach out to Lisa Stevens for advice on how she manages it, and possibly even hire the company to do official third-party material related to being inclusive. If Hasbro would allow it, a joint WotC-Paizo mutual advertising venture could crop up.
And that's when it's time to assess where I am and plan my next steps.
Falling in line once their attention is on you doesn't get it off. It just makes you a meeker target. Once again, part of that catch-22 feeling that comes with this kind of situation. It sucks because, when you're in it, it really does feel like it is better to fall in line, avoid attention, and don't take risks... but it's too late.
So, yes, to a degree, I am trying to get that across... because that's one of the thought patterns that can go through your mind a lot when you're in those crosshairs. It's important to understanding exactly what kind of choice someone faces when they're in Kate Welch's potential position.
1. Which person? Obryn, or Kate Welch? If the latter, I was asking a set of hypotheticals. There's a reason.
2. Not really, when it comes to doxing. I have... a pretty good idea of what that can involve.
3. Blood boiling doesn't make the situation better. Neither does being passive. Both emotions are the wrong basis for approaching this. Instead, trying to examine the situation and work out a strategy is a far better option. Even better if you look at similar situations from the past to work out tactics that may work.
You're still avoiding the question. If she chose to avoid confrontation, would you support her?
Some people never grow out of thinking a troll is funny. But, then, I've found most humans hit peak maturity around age sixteen to eighteen. But, that may just be my experience as an American.
In any case, no, he's not going to change minds, stop the gatekeeping, or anything like that. At this point, his focus is going to be on surviving the backlash so other people can do the work that needs to be done. Because, to be honest, he's not in a position where he can do as much good as some think he can.
Personally, I wouldn't use that site as any indication of size of a problem. They lock some topics while they're still molehills, and on others leave active volcano ranges active until after they erupt. Plus the slight problem they've had with Nazis taking over pages. And I wish that previous sentence was a joke or exaggeration.