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, since TSR3 announced itself with a press release.

TSR - Companies & Freelancers Distance Themselves From The New TSR

The new TSR (which I refer to as TSR3 to avoid confusion) has doubled down on its stance--which has been widely condemned online--via an ongoing series of tweets and replies from its TSR Games, Giantlands, and Dungeon Hobby Museum social media accounts (possibly operated by Justin LaNasa) in an...

www.enworld.org

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.

TSR - Ernie Gygax on New TSR, WotC Beefs, Trademarks, Licensees, 5E, & More

A YouTube channel, 'Live From the Bunker', interviewed Ernie Gygax about the new TSR. I've watched and decided to try to transcribe the most relevant parts of it, but the full hour-long video is below if you want to see the whole interview and full context. Ernie Gygax is one of D&D...

www.enworld.org

 

[Bolares]

True and you are perfect right about a proper apology.

That does not excuse the online attacks that drove Ernie to stay safe by having to abandon Twitter.

yeah, his leaving twitter was all about being safe, nothing to do with his accusations of WotC

 

[monsmord]

Does anyone have a stat block for a half-troll half-sealion?

 

[Umbran]

And social media also gives rise to the cyber bullies that drove many entertainers to mental breakdown.

Yep. But it should be noted that's generally a case of decent enough folks doing their jobs in professional manners, being jumped on by toxic individuals. What happened to Ernie was a person including toxic elements n their job, and paying a price for it.

Firstly, we need to accept all human beings are equal.

In theory, and only in certain ways. In practice, some folks are more equal than others. Ernie comes from a group that is typically "more equal", and he (and his business partners) effectively took potshots at those who are less equal for his own economic benefit - to make himself even more more equal.

In every martial arts class, self defense becomes assault when it crosses a threshold and the attacker becomes a hapless victim.

Eh. In my martial arts classes, we were taught that, should we get into a real fight, we hit as hard, fast, and effectively as possible, until the opponent no longer a threat. You don't know what they are packing, so you don't poke around trying to figure out how much force you need. Until they are down, every hit is intended to put them down. If you overmatch them, that's their problem, because you didn't start the fight.

Ernie... is down now. No further need to beat on him.

Everybody agrees, that when someone wrongs you, you react. It is the balance of the magnitude of the reaction.

For all you know, after deleting his account, Ernie was sitting around, drinking a beer and laughing with his partners over having "pwned" the internet. You don't know that what happened had any real impact on him personally. Maybe going on extended presses to defend him from harm should first be sure that harm was done, no?

 

[Neonchameleon]

Two wrongs make a right?

Ernie was wrong and I strongly disagree with his opinions and beliefs
I support the people who decided not to work with TSR3 and will be more likely to buy their products in the future
But that doesn't mean I approve of the treatment of Ernie

Why let yourself be dragged down to the same level as the bigots?
Love is wise; hatred is foolish

Because people blaming Ernie Gygax for what he did are still at least a moral level above people who attack others for who they are.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

Or he just got tired of it. Or realized his tactics weren’t having the desired effect. Or any number of other reasons he might have left.

 

[Mistwell]

If you think the criticism he faced was "damaging to his mental health" wait til you get a load of what it's like to be a trans woman on the internet.

I'd guess that's very true. One of the trans women I know simply opted out of all social media except the occasional Twitter, and most online interaction of any kind. And she's a pretty happy and fulfilled person, I think in part from taking that option. As a cis man, I find online interaction sometimes bad for my mental health. I can't imagine how hard it must be to be a trans person in the midst of the mess that is social media and the level of bigotry one can run into online.

Sorry to drag this further off topic. But yeah, I am not going to sympathize overly much about the heat Ernie might be receiving from his decision to interact with social media, given the context of the heat the people he harmed must receive from their interactions. I mean, I don't want Ernie to be harmed by this experience of course. I hope he's OK and I know he has some personal issues that could be exacerbated by something like this. He too should probably take the option of stepping away from social media for a while for his own benefit.

 

[monsmord]

Because people blaming Ernie Gygax for what he did are still at least a moral level above people who attack others for who they are.

This exactly.

 

[embee]

If they want the moral high ground? Yes!

Just like if I personally insult you, the mods here won't allow you to freely say whatever you want to me

I'd look for comments, but with his account deleted, responses to his tweets are harder to find
And if you pick a fight, that doesn't mean anyone who liked the person you swung at can come over at take a free shot

Also, if you bootstomp someone into the pavement after they clipped you in the chin, the cops won't buy "he swung first" as an excuse

Words hurt
People kill themselves ALL THE TIME because of cyberbullying
In part because of cyberbullying, suicide passed the homicide death rate for kids 10-24

I'm a grownup. I was brigaded once. And it SUCKED
Ask Kelly Marie Tran if words from strangers on the internet hurt
The difference is people think Ernie deserved it and she didn't

Are you implying he deleted his account for fun then?
He had the power, his feelings weren't hurt, and he wasn't driven offline?

Right now in New York City, there’s a whole lot of cameras and microphones at a place called Foley Square.

Now, let’s say I go on down to Foley Square right now, stand on the courthouse steps in front of those camera and microphones, and spout off on whether I believe that gender exists on a spectrum, whether I think there is a continuing problem of systemic institutional racism in 21st century America, or whether I think that Yankees manager Aaron Boone should save everyone the hassle and just go ahead and resign now.

I’m pretty certain I’d get an earful from an awful lot of people on all sides of a lot of various issues.

Maybe Ernie & Co. shouldn’t go spouting off in front of a bunch of cameras and microphones if they don’t want feedback.

 

[Mannahnin]

Are you implying he deleted his account for fun then?
He had the power, his feelings weren't hurt, and he wasn't driven offline?

I suspect he deleted his account because it wasn't proving to be a promotional asset.

And/or that after the fact, he or someone close to him realized that his and Dinehart's last social media salvo of accusing WotC of coordinating a conspiracy to attack them was incredibly dumb and made them look even worse.

 

[Bolares]

If they want the moral high ground? Yes!

So, either people have the moral high ground or they are wrong? people being harassed for just being, for their entire lives, normally are not so worried about "moral high ground" when people are mocking them and dennying their existence. I find this a really privilieged view, that does nto make room for the real world one bit. Showing the other face should not be the "right" choice. Making bigots accountable is not cyber bullying and any comparisons of what Ernie and Co made and the response they got has to account for the nuance of the situation. Who are we to say someone has or does not have the moral high ground?