The redoubtable Bill Corrie has penned an excellent post about Elitism and Inclusion on his Hinterblog, and I want to point folks towards it. Read it and come back. I'll wait here...
Done? Great! I'm totally with Bill here. This is what I meant when some time ago I said that there are indeed swine in this hobby. I've met some of them, and they are poison. Elitism of whatever kind is bad for all of us. This isn't to say one shouldn't have personal likes and dislikes, or that enthusiasm is a bad thing. It rocks! What I'm saying - and Bill is saying - is that there is a point where people confuse what's good for them personally with what is good for everyone. That's the not good zone. It's like your right to swing your fist stops a the point of my chin. It's a violation of my rights at that point.
Elitists want to chop the hobby up into little fiefdoms. I think that is just wrong! I learn new things from almost every game I play, and virtually everything has some useful bit that's a treasure. This constant interchange of ideas fertilizes the hobby. These fiefdoms become inbred and sterile quickly, and lead to funny looking games with bad teeth, big noses, and banjo playing. Let's cut down the fences and enjoy the different for what it is - a way to cross pollinate and hybridize the hobby.
-clash
I like your blog's new appearance.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brett! I think it looks more like I actually *do* fly at night now. :D
ReplyDelete-clash
Unfortunately, I think there will be a certain percentage of folks in this hobby that will willfully misinterpret what we are getting at here.
ReplyDeleteDamned Elitista! Sneaking in here with their evil ways!
ReplyDeleteBTW, Brett blogged about my blog blogging about your blog. I think you need to blog about that. :D
-clash
Then the OSR is the thing for you Cain! They do that stuff on purpose to look and feel the same as a game produced back in 19XX. :D
ReplyDeleteSeriously, the Small Press is still this - people designing games for the joy of designing games. I write, lay out, and illustrate my own games. There's nothing professional there. It's just that the tools are better. It's no more or less a "product" than some crazy-ass game from Joe's basement, and probably sells about as well.
I don't talk about "the industry" either. If there's an industry involved, it's a cottage industry. I talk about games, not industry. :D
-clash
You can't get more professional than a game about playing squirrels bent on stealing your nuts...did I say professional? I meant punk. Yeah! Better to burn out than fade away!
ReplyDeleteRust never sleeps, does it Bill! :D
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of squirrels with mohawks and safety pins in their fuzzy little cheeks! :D
-clash