Recent Dragon Mag Article Pulled?

[pawsplay]

What I am saying is that within specific groups of people dialogue and debate progress until certain things are taken for granted. We sometimes call this intellectual inbreeding. To outsiders, what the group takes for granted can be seen as shocking and distasteful but to them it is just mild hyperbole to demonstrate the extent to which they agree with some point.

The question is, What is the substance of their agreement? What is the worth of their idea?

When an in-group comes to believe that their limited perspective represents the justification of an issue, it's called dominant privilege. In this case, the impression generated is that this person and people who enjoy his posts do not consider women important. Apparently, it's more important to crack jokes than it is important to understand the reality of the evil inflicted on actual women.

When a gang of teenagers sets fire to a homeless man, that is not "intellectual inbreeding." When respected religious leaders compare women in modern clothing to leaving meat on the table for cats, actually blaming victims for the crime, that is not "intellectual inbreeding." Intellectual inbreeding may have led to the mistaken thoughts, but to tilt a can of gasoline, or to speak, is an action with consequences. Misogyny is not simply an opinion, but a voice, and one which must expect to be met with other voices.

In short, the idea that someone is justified in saying any old thing is consistent with the belief that others are entitled to respond as they feel. The argument does not encompass, and does not address, whose words are better, or worse, for whatever purpose our lives are aimed toward. We may not agree, completely, as to what makes the world a better or worse place, but I think there is little arguing with the general knowledge of the facts of which I am speaking, nor do I think it's unfair to any person, for me to state: I think a world which is more hostile to women, which creates divisions and hate between men and women, which harms innocent people, is a worse place.

I am distant enough from his view points that I find his words distasteful, but I'm not ready to declare that he "makes the world a worse place."

Not by himself, no. But neither is he excused by being one of legions.

 

[AeroDm]

I agree with the sentiment of what you posted, but I disagree with the extent of the sentiment. At the end of the day, my take on this guy is, "I'd rather not have a beer with him" but I think he is harmless and is merely voicing his (distasteful) opinion. Moreover, the fact that his opinions are distasteful makes him more harmless because it is harder for him to have his voice heard. I agree that a world of equality is a better world, but I think enough people of sound moral character exist to more than flood out the voices of people like this guy. Would equality carry farther without this noise? Maybe. But I think equality is up for the challenge.

Against teenagers that light people on fire or ideological extremism (I'll leave it at that in light of the no-religion policy) I'd go quite a bit further and attempt to stop such behavior. I can appreciate and respect if you take his words as more than mere words. Many people have personal experiences or beliefs that elevate certain topics to higher echelons. For me, this goes back to my statement that a person is responsible for knowing his or her audience. This guy seems to have failed that particular test and he is now reaping the fallout.

 

[S'mon]

I hope anyone who reads this, and at some future time is tempted to say, "Well, women/girls like X..." pauses a moment and considers whether they are contributing to a culture where it's acceptable to joke about raping and battering women.

aargh. Damn you Uri, you've given pawsplay ammunition!!

 

[Umbran]

This thread has passed beyond discussing the article, and the company pulling it, and into what should be considered acceptable behavior beyond the gaming table. EN World is here for discussion of gaming, not social politics, so I'm closing the thread.