Basically, it cuts short Zak S' collaboration with LotFP.
Like many people and organizations have attempted, it's a good solid compromise. No more books by Zak S., but neither will there be a book burning party. Previous stock will slowly be sold off, and then that's it.
No one's great at everything. One may quibble at the man's style or aesthetics or taste, but Zak Smith/Sabbath could write, draw, self-promote, and he even had some great ideas. But there's always a flaw, isn't there. He couldn't be a decent human being. Actually, I don't think he could do his own layout, either. Oh well.
Additionally, WotC/Hasbro is erasing all consultant credits from future printings and digital versions of the Player's Handbook. That sucks for everyone who isn't currently besieged by abuse allegations. Legally, it may be sound, and I'm sure it'll cover their asses in regards to the online activist outrage mob, but is it fair? Nope, not really.
Never did get James' apology for throwing Jordan Peterson under the bus... [sigh] This is a depressing blog post.
p.s. I thought it was amusing that out of dozens of FB comments, mine is pretty much the only one that no one without a "like" or reply.
Here it is for posterity (until Google annihilates this blog), "I hope we can all learn and grow from these experiences." Not just pretty words. It's a civil and objective wake-up call to those keeping at least one eye open.
Yes, state an opinion, cite a source, mention a statistic, or even reveal a deeply-held belief...
Now, you're in danger of using hate speech, committing a hate crime. Basically, you're a Nazi, or at the very least, a white nationalist.
Jesus H. Christ on a pogo-stick! James Raggi IV is somehow in trouble for having a picture of himself taken with Jordan B. Peterson while holding his Lamentations of the Flame Princess rulebook.
There's a lot to unpack here, but I'll be as brief as I can.
Two high-profile LotFP collaborators, Zak S. and Kiel Chenier, believe what James Raggi did was a big mistake, that James has something to answer for. Namely, his crimes against the LGBTQ+ for associating (or not utterly disavowing) the clinical psychologist, philosopher, best selling author, and free speech advocate Jordan B. Peterson.
Here's a video where Peterson speaks for himself. If you haven't read his book or listened to him debate the issues of the day, be careful of those putting words in his mouth because it serves their loathsome political agenda...
This shouldn't even need to be said, but Jordan Peterson is not Alt-Right. He doesn't speak for them or espouse their political beliefs. Well, that's if your definition of Alt-Right includes fascists, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and white supremacists.
If, on the other hand, you define Alt-Right as populists, nationalists (like President Trump), free speech advocates, and alternative right-wing individualists, then sure, he's Alt-Right - and so is half of America!
But the radical-left doesn't mind offending 50% of U.S. citizens. They're too preoccupied assuming that they're correct and everyone else is wrong.
So, shame on Kiel Chenier and Zak S. for shooting down their former creative comrade. Hey, what's wrong with a little friendly fire? James is just collateral damage in the greater fight, I guess... the fight against freedom.
What's worse, James took the photo down?!? Why? I mean, I know there's an impulse to be agreeable, to cave in the face of the SJW mob, their Ctrl-Left vitriol and outrage, but we all have to reach beyond that kind of weakness. Peterson talks about courage, and that's what it takes to stand up to the far-left cyber bullies... well, that and balls.
Over the years, James has thrived being apolitical and kind of sitting in the middle of the culture war, unscathed. His RPG stuff is occasionally offensive and in bad taste, but LotFP shielded itself by paling around with the totalitarian left.
Of course, as we all know, that side of the fence has no qualms about eating its own. Purity tests are all the rage, and James Raggi IV has been found to be less than ideologically pure. So, he must be disavowed, purged, blacklisted, and made an example of. Because what else can these SJWs do to him, besides un-buy his products (and not purchase any more)?
As the RPGpundit has taught me over the years, these people cannot be left alone. We must struggle against them like weeds in our garden. We ignore their backwards, regressive values at our peril. The radical-leftist ideologues Peterson fights on YouTube are cut from the same cloth as the SJW censorship-fascists we face in the RPG trenches.
So, free speech is hate speech. If thinking for yourself and speaking your mind makes you a Nazi, then I guess we're headed for even more interesting times.
Venger As'Nas Satanis High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing
