Since a lot of people have asked why I stopped working for Paizo, and it's been a while and is something I've had time to think about, I figure I can discuss it some. This probably won't be a pleasant thread so feel free to skip it if you don't have the bandwidth.
Earlier this year I was informed of an internal discussion at Paizo where executives informed employees that "anonymous reports of harassment" would be treated as threats to the company and be treated accordingly.
Screenshots of my tweets helping mask the identity of someone experiencing harassment within PFS Organized Play, but who felt compelled to speak out against it, were shown as examples.
That was my hard line. I just couldn't do it anymore after that. I couldn't keep doing work for a company I felt a strong moral objection to. It took me a while to actually make the choice, but it was ultimately the only choice I could make.
I feel strongly about anonymous reporting of harassment being a powerful tool of the disenfranchised to avoid retaliation. Whether that be from corporations themselves or other individuals. I couldn't just pretend I didn't hear that.
So I made the decision to walk, because I had the privilege to afford to do so. I do t hold it against any of the people who continue working there because they're trying to enact change, can't lose that income, or otherwise wanted to stay on. It was a personal choice.
I have many friends who work there still that I trust and care deeply about and all I want for them is success and happiness. But I could not be happy anymore, so I had to step away. That is why after my final projects are printed you won't see my name in their future products.
I loved my time at Paizo for the individual people, but the corporate climate as a whole is -- depending on who you are -- hostile. It took me a long time to realize it because it wasn't a hostility to me, Mr. White Gamer. But the peripheral hostility I both saw and heard was...
...anyway. That's why, for those curious. There's no receipts on this, I don't care to present them. So you can take my word on what transpired or not, I'm not here to convince anyone. I wanted to explain why I walked away.
