Real World Economics and RPG's

[Khairn]

First things first...

this is only my personal opinion, and I am not calling for any kind of action by anyone

I work in a manufacturing industry that has been hammered by our govt's trade policies with countries that have controlled currencies. A foreign worker in my industry makes less than 1/20th what his US counter-part earns, and there is no hope on the horizon for that to change anytime soon. The companies that go to these countries are looking for the cheapest cost, no matter the impact. I have watched over the past few years, as millions of workers in my industry have been laid off as their jobs have been shipped over seas.

For myself, I have begun to do what I can to counter this trend. I no longer buy from Wal-Mart (as an example) and I do my best to shop smart and buy products from countries that at least have an open currency.

I've also made the decision to not purchase any RPG that is printed in a country with a controlled currency. If that means I dont buy the hottest new game ... so be it. I'll support those games that are printed in a country that has fair trade practices.

I know this isn't a hell of a lot, and that many of you may roll their eyes and laugh at this, but having seen the impact of these trade policies, I believe that every little bit helps.

Just some food for thought.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

And I thought this was going to be another complaint about how real world economics don't work with how d&d sets up it's economics (which from what I understand make little sense).

I think you have a point though but I don't buy many RPG products (or much else) because I don't have alot of excess cash. I'll continue not shop at walmart however.

 

[ender_wiggin]

(For context, this is coming from a first generation Chinese immigrant to the U.S.)

Personally, I feel that a nation's citizens need to think about solving the plethora of issues in their own nation before they feel they can tackle the world's problems. It's an issue of egocentrentrism. The dearth of subject wage issues in the United States causes the overseas problems to be more pronounced.

My family buys stuff from Wal-mart. It's cheap and we have more practical things to worry about than people making things for less pay in other countries.

 

[shaylon]

"I've also made the decision to not purchase any RPG that is printed in a country with a controlled currency. If that means I dont buy the hottest new game ... so be it. I'll support those games that are printed in a country that has fair trade practices."

Could you give examples of these printings? What companies do this?

Thanks
Shay

 

[Ibram]

well I dont shop at wallmart because its beneath me... there are standards afterall...

 

[Shemeska]

Isn't this thread just a big rant on the Renminbi? Besides, considering that most RPGs are by US or European companies, I doubt that they're printed outside their respective nations. Could be wrong, but unlike textiles I doubt that much is going to be saved by printing in a non floating currency nation.

 

[Turanil]

A foreign worker in my industry makes less than 1/20th what his US counter-part earns, and there is no hope on the horizon for that to change anytime soon.

I've also made the decision to not purchase any RPG that is printed in a country with a controlled currency.

I post in this thread before it is closed*!

Devyn, I understand your concern, and think that more people should think about who manufactured stuff and where. Brought back to RPG material, the only products that I think are manufactured by "slave laborers" in China, are (I guess, but don't know for sure) painted miniatures. So don't buy painted miniatures anymore and you are okay.

(*: Isn't this thread totally in the political subject?)

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

There's at least one RPG I'm buying that's being printed in Asia, though it's a little unclear which part I'm fairly certain it's not Japan though it may be Korea. But I suspect they are doing it because of the intellectual property and art they are working with more than anything else. Certainly they've suffered for the decision.

I don't shop at Wal-mart for any number of labor related reasons. Though I will admit to using them when there are no other physical choices, mostly either extremely late night necessary trips or I'm stuck in a Wal-mart town.

Also I have to agree that it is both a relief to see a thread labelled real world economics that is about real world economics and that this thread is doomed to die a horrible death. Undoubtabley a perfect example of a just thread killed by a just mod policy.

 

[S'mon]

I think this is a political thread BTW.

If China actually floated its currency & ended capital controls, capital outflows would cause the yuan to plummet not rise, and Chinese-produced goods would become even cheaper.

More generally, if you buy goods from third-world countries they become wealthy and eventually their workers get paid a similar amount to first-world, eventually they join the developed world - eg Japan, now Korea. Personally I think supporting third-world industries so poor countries can become richer is a good thing not a bad thing.

 

[Dinkeldog]

I agree that this is a bit more political than we like to see here. There are plenty of more appropriate places for this discussion.