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TSR TSR3 Blames Widespread Pushback On WotC

In an unexpected turn of events, the primary individuals behind TSR3 have claimed the pushback they've received on social media and elsewhere was orchestrated by .... D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast (a company which has thus far remained completely silent on recent events). TSR3 is run by Justin LaNasa, Stephen Dinehart, and Ernie Gygax. The controversy has been raging for over a week...

In an unexpected turn of events, the primary individuals behind TSR3 have claimed the pushback they've received on social media and elsewhere was orchestrated by .... D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast (a company which has thus far remained completely silent on recent events).

TSR3 is run by Justin LaNasa, Stephen Dinehart, and Ernie Gygax. The controversy has been raging for over a week, since TSR3 announced itself with a press release.


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Stephen Dinehart and Ernie Gygax have since deactivated their Twitter accounts; Justin LaNasa doesn't appear to have one, but it is believed he is the person operating TSR3's Twitter account. A couple of days ago, Ernie Gygax posted about recent events on Facebook (note that he edited the post, but the original can be seen here).

I wish to state in the strongest terms that I never meant to hurt anyone of any race, creed or color. My video From the Bunker caused some to feel that they would not be welcome or would be looked down upon. That was never the intent, I was reacting to focus of modern role play into a more background and Role Play rather than the wargame that so made so many lives happy over 40 years ago.

As a gamer it meant that most of us were not worthy of any attention from others of our own age. We were Nerds. We were brainy-acks and others would snicker. Older classmen would ask to "borrow" something of ours to then pass back and forth a game of keep away. I used to receive some special attention from about 4 Juniors in my Freshman year. I played the Violin and often I began to wish that I had Super Powers, perhaps become a Giant.. I was far to shy and then embarrassed as attractive ladies would just lower the eyes while the jocks or other socially vibrant fellows had some fun at another geeky nerds expense. Thank goodness I grew 4 inches my junior year.

The only real comfort zone we all could share was a table in the lunch room. At least the fledgling TSR found fertile minds in those who had only those like us - gamers. Rather than have to risk embarrassing myself, since Phy Ed was going to force us to dance with those wonderful and yet scary girls. Well to get my Diploma I had to slave for a month to Mr. Gerber the head of the Phy Ed department. Fortunately I knew all about janitorial work as before D&D and TSR dad only made $5,000 as a Cobbler (five children) and we had food stamps and even free school lunches. Yes you had to go to the councilors office every week to collect your free lunch passes. Obviously you could feel all the eyes on you and the talk about....

Everyone has been welcome at my gaming table and multitudes of new friends have been created by the time spent playing the games we Love. Look at pictures of gaming on my site or anywhere I run games. Everyone is welcome, just like a Boot Hill game leave your guns at the bar until you leave town. If you come to the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum Jeff R. Leason will show you courtesy and a smile and you will see that gaming with elder gamers is a safe and entertaining environment.


 

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Marc Radle

Legend
What (please be specific and quote if you can) vile consequences did anyone wish on Ernie?

I was in a FB discussion this week in an AD&D group, in which a trans woman who had formerly worked at TSR gave her two cents. Multiple people responded by insulting and denigrating her personally, calling her several nasty names. She got a little bit snarky in response to one or two of them, but did not do any name calling. Yet one of her interlocutors kept accusing her of attacking them, of denigrating all cis het white dudes, when she had literally done nothing of the kind and it was plain to so in black and white text.

Purely a side question …

What is a ‘cis het white dude’?
 

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Incorrect. They know what he said, since he did that in publicly available form. This isn't about what he does in the privacy of his home - this is about what he tried to use as a sales tactic.

The power of social media is great, but there is no "I get to use the power, but not feel consequences if I am a jerk" button. Power comes with responsibility - he failed in that responsibility.
Presumably he used Twitter because he knew the advantages of having such a large audience.

To pretend like he wasn’t aware that a large audience might not hang on his every word is the same to me as (1) presuming him an idiot who somehow lucked his way into making a Twitter account, Facebook, Kickstarter, etc. or (2) presuming him to be insanely arrogant to the point that he can’t imagine not being revered.
 



Mannahnin

Scion of Murgen (He/Him)
Purely a side question …

What is a ‘cis het white dude’?
"Cis" is a neologism for an opposite/complementary prefix to "Trans". The terms derive from Latin for "this side of" and "on the other side of". As in Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul. Gaul on this side of the mountains, and Gaul on the other side of the mountains,

Het is just short for heterosexual.
 


And no one is saying “screw ernies mental health” as much as we are saying Ernie is a grown man who could have taken steps to preserve his mental health and instead chose to promote conspiracy theories with his time. And honestly? I don’t think he was “chased off Twitter” as much as he abandoned that course for now so he could do just that.
 

The thing is, and the whole issue boils down to, Ernies predicament (to call it that) boils down to repeated choices he has made.

There’s no gun to his head, no one is forcing him to do anything (see: not apologizing to the people he actually hurt), there’s no torch fire mob standing outside his door.

There’s a man who repeatedly made public statements now having to deal with the consequences of a public that listened.
 

Presumably he used Twitter because he knew the advantages of having such a large audience.

To pretend like he wasn’t aware that a large audience might not hang on his every word is the same to me as (1) presuming him an idiot who somehow lucked his way into making a Twitter account, Facebook, Kickstarter, etc. or (2) presuming him to be insanely arrogant to the point that he can’t imagine not being revered.
Do you not think #2 is a reasonable possibility? I get the impression he is arrogant and feels entitled.
 


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