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<blockquote data-quote="Ovinomancer" data-source="post: 8341566" data-attributes="member: 16814">If your point is that the GM should say something if they see something, then no contest -- I think everyone should.&nbsp; I'm questioning the idea that the GM has primary place to do this.&nbsp; Your points about where the GM sits in the conversation are valid, but cut both ways.&nbsp; If the GM notices a violation, then they usually can jump in first.&nbsp; But, that doesn't resolve the situation unless the GM also has assumed authority over the dispute, which, as a social contract issue, I argue they have no special place.&nbsp; Even if the GM speaks first, there should be a discussion at the table about it.&nbsp; However, if the GM doesn't notice, then they are still often going to be first in line due to position, as you note, but now will be reinforcing the issue as they narrate outcomes or engage it within the game role.&nbsp; This makes it harder for others to speak up if the GM is assumed to have primacy of resolution because it adds weight to the action being okay.My point is that it should be session 0 stuff, and reiterated often, that everyone at the table has the responsibility to maintain the social contract, and everyone is empowered to do so.&nbsp; If you have a problem, say so.&nbsp; This doesn't put the GM in the prime position as first arbiter, even if they have the advantage of usually getting in the first response (which, again, they're no better than others would be in noticing a social contract problem).&nbsp; Now, even if the GM doesn't notice, everyone knows that calling out a problem will be respected.This only fails to work in a social situation where it's not openly stated and where it's not respected by the others.&nbsp; In effect, if you don't talk about it, then, yeah, it doesn't work as well because you're in the usual mode for RPGs where people feel the social onus to just go along with it.&nbsp; This is a problem in the hobby, and should be addressed, as this is always the case when you hear about the horror stories, and it's almost never the GM that solves those, but players standing up for themselves.&nbsp; Or just escaping and leaving the situation to fester for others.&nbsp; Not very healthy.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Ovinomancer, post: 8341566, member: 16814"] If your point is that the GM should say something if they see something, then no contest -- I think everyone should. I'm questioning the idea that the GM has primary place to do this. Your points about where the GM sits in the conversation are valid, but cut both ways. If the GM notices a violation, then they usually can jump in first. But, that doesn't resolve the situation unless the GM also has assumed authority over the dispute, which, as a social contract issue, I argue they have no special place. Even if the GM speaks first, there should be a discussion at the table about it. However, if the GM doesn't notice, then they are still often going to be first in line due to position, as you note, but now will be reinforcing the issue as they narrate outcomes or engage it within the game role. This makes it harder for others to speak up if the GM is assumed to have primacy of resolution because it adds weight to the action being okay. My point is that it should be session 0 stuff, and reiterated often, that everyone at the table has the responsibility to maintain the social contract, and everyone is empowered to do so. If you have a problem, say so. This doesn't put the GM in the prime position as first arbiter, even if they have the advantage of usually getting in the first response (which, again, they're no better than others would be in noticing a social contract problem). Now, even if the GM doesn't notice, everyone knows that calling out a problem will be respected. This only fails to work in a social situation where it's not openly stated and where it's not respected by the others. In effect, if you don't talk about it, then, yeah, it doesn't work as well because you're in the usual mode for RPGs where people feel the social onus to just go along with it. This is a problem in the hobby, and should be addressed, as this is always the case when you hear about the horror stories, and it's almost never the GM that solves those, but players standing up for themselves. Or just escaping and leaving the situation to fester for others. Not very healthy. [/QUOTE]

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