Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #CAHisover
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I used to associate a lot with Max Temkin—panels, podcasts, etc.—and at one point rented office at the CAH co-work space. Though I privately started cutting ties years ago, the stories of abuse and mistreatment from #CAHIsOver forced me to face my own longstanding complicity.
I owe people a more public reckoning. As I’ve sat with it, I found myself drawn to a passage written by Anita Sarkeesian on the subject: 
That is not an excuse, but an attempt at an explanation. To my colleagues, if you looked at me and thought it gave you permission: I’m sorry. To my readers, I apologize for any cover that my silence provided or any sense claims against abusers shouldn't be trusted or acted on.
To everyone speaking out on #CAHisover: I'm with you and I believe you. If the Chicago creative/game community is going to heal we need to first be honest about what's been going on.
If you don't know what I'm talking about check out the #CAHisover hashtag for stories being shared as well as Anita's thread linked here:
Throughout my years renting a desk at Some Office I've experienced Max's toxic/abusive behavior personally as well as seen it firsthand. What's on #CAHisover is the tip of the iceberg.
Reading the #CAHisOver tag is embarrassing and shameful because of how often I was willing to overlook glaring flaws in the name of civility and *potential* opportunity.
CAH (the game) sucks. It feels bad to play and it is nakedly indulgent of privilege and violence.
CAH (the game) sucks. It feels bad to play and it is nakedly indulgent of privilege and violence.
It's a huge box of micro and macro agressions tailor made for privileged people to splash around in.
That's something obvious that I knew two rounds into my first time playing.
That's something obvious that I knew two rounds into my first time playing.
It's a thing that lots of folks who I generally think of as good people ignore when they played the game or tolerated the CAH brand in their spaces.
There are lots of reasons that people gritted their teeth and smiled along.
There are lots of reasons that people gritted their teeth and smiled along.
I never worked for Cards Against Humanity, but I worked out of their office, and am friends with a lot of people who did work for them. Everything people are saying about the work environment there is true, and more.
I watched so many people I care about get ground down by that place, and that company, and specifically Max. It was and is a horrible place to work and I am so glad that people are finally talking about it. #CAHisOver
And, as others have said, I too was complicit in hearing the sexual assault allegations against Max (they came out right as I started coming to the office) and thinking "Surely someone else here would have said something if this was an issue." I'm ashamed of that.
Speaking of #CAHisOver, I guess I should mention the time the owners tried to put the N-word into the game and how Max Tempkin tried to have me fired when I complained. I only found that out in a fact-finding meeting the state of Illinois held. They settled, of course.
I was a writer in their room for a few years, but I started raising a ruckus about the unethical, racist way the predominantly white, upper-middle class room was approaching writing the game. #CAHisOver
The head writers Julia Weiss and Jo Feldman convinced my parents I was having a mental break and had me committed for five days, during which time they called other writers and told them not to talk to the hospital so that I would stay there longer. #CAHisOver
I know it'll likely ruin my shot at gainful employment in the future, and that I'll regret doing this for a long time. But, fuck it.
Yeah, boy, I've got some stories to tell about #CahIsOver.
Yeah, boy, I've got some stories to tell about #CahIsOver.
I worked for CAH for about a year as their first Designer in Residence, someone who worked on developing new games that the office might consider taking to market if they ended up jiving with CAH's branding. I worked out of the office for about 2 years after that.
So trust me when I say that I've had my fair share of experiences with CAH. It's difficult for me to type this because someone at CAH did quite literally save my life when I needed it most. But the truth is that I wouldn't have needed that in the first place if not for them.
Please read and amplify @atheresastewart's thread who bravely came forward with her story about the toxic culture at Cards Against Humanity #CAHisOver
People have bravely been coming forward about their stories with Max and CAH in the #CAHisOver hashtag. I urge folks to go read them.
