Hey ResetERA,
I usually lurk and chime in from to time. I would love to be a more active poster, but I generally do not believe I have anything of substance to add.
But, this is not why I sit here typing this right now.
This year has been rough on many of us for a variety of reasons. Some of our loved ones did not make it. Some of the members of this very community did not make it. And some others are struggling with physical health, mental health, or both.
I believe that this site's original premise was an inclusive place to discuss games and other topics of interest. It started from a very public meltdown in NeoGAF, and many of us distanced ourselves from that to build something new. Something better.
But, it seems we have learned nothing. Or very little at least. We've become a parody of ourselves. How many times have we thought ourselves superior to that place, or even to people outside this bubble?
This year alone, we have had countless threads highlighting how certain members of ERA are treated, and how some topics are brushed under the rug.
Off the top of my head:
We are rightly mocked because we fail at self-moderation, we routinely fail at discussing sensitive topics constructively, and we fail at growth. This isn't a case of some bad apples spoiling the bunch. It has become somewhat normalized (to varying degrees).
I do not expect us to be completely infallible, and paragons of fairness, justice, and so on at every single turn. I, myself, was banned for the first time on how to address people in a group: "hey guys", vs. "hey all". On the surface, it does seem insignificant, but it does affect how someone feels.
At the time, I struggled to understand my ban. Partly, because I juggle many languages. Partly because I deal with many that do not have English as a first, second, or even their language. I don't necessarily expect them to understand the nuances from the get-go, especially in light of the culture they come from.
My ban finished, and I sat and read through more replies and understood where I went wrong. And when dealing with someone learning English, I have adjusted how to get them to address groups appropriately. It wasn't hard.
Is it difficult to just shut up and listen? Is it difficult to try and understand what people who are different from you go through? If the answer to any of these is yes (to you), what is difficult about it?
There have been countless work done by members here to shed light on issues that concern them (and others). I often see these important threads slowly fall from the first page, and into the deep dark corners of the forum. Hell, I'll tell you that as a Black African man, there is far more to be done about talking about African issues. But, I have learned to pick my battles because I am exhausted. I highly commend those here who keep fighting the good fight in an effort to bring positive and sustainable change. And this is important because this is one of the most popular gaming forums on the internet.
On a good day here:
We're years into the experiment, and if anything…this place feels like a long-lost sequel to the old place. It sucks, and as much as we say we want to do better, we keep messing it up when it counts.
"The performatively woke person takes up a lot of space. The ally makes space. It's a crucial difference." - Eric Peterson.
I usually lurk and chime in from to time. I would love to be a more active poster, but I generally do not believe I have anything of substance to add.
But, this is not why I sit here typing this right now.
This year has been rough on many of us for a variety of reasons. Some of our loved ones did not make it. Some of the members of this very community did not make it. And some others are struggling with physical health, mental health, or both.
I believe that this site's original premise was an inclusive place to discuss games and other topics of interest. It started from a very public meltdown in NeoGAF, and many of us distanced ourselves from that to build something new. Something better.
But, it seems we have learned nothing. Or very little at least. We've become a parody of ourselves. How many times have we thought ourselves superior to that place, or even to people outside this bubble?
This year alone, we have had countless threads highlighting how certain members of ERA are treated, and how some topics are brushed under the rug.
Off the top of my head:
- Racism
- Transphobia
- Bigotry
- Sexism
- Ableism
We are rightly mocked because we fail at self-moderation, we routinely fail at discussing sensitive topics constructively, and we fail at growth. This isn't a case of some bad apples spoiling the bunch. It has become somewhat normalized (to varying degrees).
I do not expect us to be completely infallible, and paragons of fairness, justice, and so on at every single turn. I, myself, was banned for the first time on how to address people in a group: "hey guys", vs. "hey all". On the surface, it does seem insignificant, but it does affect how someone feels.
At the time, I struggled to understand my ban. Partly, because I juggle many languages. Partly because I deal with many that do not have English as a first, second, or even their language. I don't necessarily expect them to understand the nuances from the get-go, especially in light of the culture they come from.
My ban finished, and I sat and read through more replies and understood where I went wrong. And when dealing with someone learning English, I have adjusted how to get them to address groups appropriately. It wasn't hard.
Is it difficult to just shut up and listen? Is it difficult to try and understand what people who are different from you go through? If the answer to any of these is yes (to you), what is difficult about it?
There have been countless work done by members here to shed light on issues that concern them (and others). I often see these important threads slowly fall from the first page, and into the deep dark corners of the forum. Hell, I'll tell you that as a Black African man, there is far more to be done about talking about African issues. But, I have learned to pick my battles because I am exhausted. I highly commend those here who keep fighting the good fight in an effort to bring positive and sustainable change. And this is important because this is one of the most popular gaming forums on the internet.
On a good day here:
- I pick up life protip;
- Learn about an issue I never realized before;
- Discover a hidden gem
- Laugh at some of the hilarious memes that have become a fabric of this community, or the ridiculous threads that show up on the weekend.
We're years into the experiment, and if anything…this place feels like a long-lost sequel to the old place. It sucks, and as much as we say we want to do better, we keep messing it up when it counts.
"The performatively woke person takes up a lot of space. The ally makes space. It's a crucial difference." - Eric Peterson.
