Thread by @ArcanistPress

There is a controversy happening in the #DnD twitterers currently.

I’m seeing a lot of (older, white) TTRPG creators today saying, “If you agree to do freelance work, you get what you signed up for. Don’t complain.”

We disagree. Here’s why.

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#DnD5e #CandlekeepMysteries

It's perfectly reasonable to want to enter an industry that historically has treated people poorly but want to be treated better.

Imagine someone saying 'don't complain' to a union activist trying to fight for workers’ rights!

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#DnD5e #DnD #CandlekeepMysteries

But in this particular case, the issue IS NOT about getting work changed.

An older white man inserted the word PRIMITIVE into the text of a black man whose is well-known for arguing against colonialism in #DnD! Here's why that is exceptionally bad:

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#CandlekeepMysteries

Referring to peoples, or their culture of clothes or houses, as primitive is the epitome of colonialism. It implies that another people is advanced/civilized, & these better folk should colonize & civilize the primitive ones, like a parent to a child.
#CandlekeepMysteries
4/8

The idea that some peoples are savage and others civilized, and the superior peoples had a duty to lift up the primitives, was traditionally called the white man's burden toward the brown peoples of the world, and it was a vile form of colonialism.
#CandlekeepMysteries
5/8

Treating a people as a primitive, savage child that needs another, more developed people to 'parent' them still harms people today. And sticking that baggage into the work of someone who is well-known for critiquing colonialism in D&D is not good.
#CandlekeepMysteries
6/8

Freelance culture in #TTRPGs needs to change and this particular case is an example of how that culture can do harm.

We support better treatment for freelancers and we urge folks not to use colonialist language like primitive & savage in the games.

#CandlekeepMysteries #DnD
7/8

Finally, we support all of the diverse and amazing creators that contributed to #CandlekeepMysteries. There’s a lot that’s great in that book! We also call on @Wizards_DnD to add guidance to avoid such terms into their style guide in the future.

#DnD5e #TTRPGs
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