hat_plays_sims: All I did was crop-- go read Bite Me by Dylan Meconis, you'll laugh. (Default)
[personal profile] hat_plays_sims
Last night, I got an anonymous post from someone who I thought had given up on convincing me to help them stir up trouble, or support them in their trouble, or-- honestly I'm not sure what they thought they were doing, but their post read like a list of warning signs for "If he does this, this, and that, run for the hills, you probably won't get out of this relationship alive."

Eventually, after I made it clear that I was not buying what the anon was selling (look, you send me nine paragraphs of trying to convince me to help you tear down another woman, and I'm not going to be nice to you, not even right out of the gate, sorry not sorry as the kids these days say), I got a nice little explosion wherein the anon informed me that they're glad Trump won because he's a Real American, that they're glad my 'bitch queen' Hillary lost, compared President Obama to a false god and thus, me to a worshiper of false gods (that gets you sent to Hell, doesn't it?), and called me a couple of names that were, frankly, a step down from the delicate implication of breaking an Old Testament commandment.

I was shaky when I made last night's post, and I said some stuff that was funny in my head, but I think it was 'funny in my head' in more of an adrenaline-crash 'oh my god did they seriously end what could've been a threat to my life by calling me a little monkey?' way than actually being funny. So, having had some time to think-- and re-read, and a long comment to answer, here's what I actually want to say to anyone still reading or following this blog:

When you start researching the Middle Ages-- and definitely when you start researching Vikings-- you learn pretty quickly that there are two kinds of hobbyist Medievalists.

There are the people who want to know what things were like in as much nitty-gritty detail as possible, especially as might pertain to whatever special area of history tickles their fancy. What sort of seams were on a houpelande? How heavy was a hauberk? Just how much smaller was a Medieval ox than a modern steer? Why didn't Saxons eat chicken eggs if they ate chickens? What was the Danelaw? If we don't actually know what apron dresses looked like, why do all the reenactors wear them the same way? Were there any black people in Medieval England?

Then there are the people who find the Middle Ages fascinating because they haven't, and don't intend to, learn about it beyond Victorian revisionism of the period. They want to keep reading about Europe, before the Age of Sail, before the purchase of the first African slave or acceptance of the first brownish refugee, when the whole continent was white people. The men were white, and they were strong Christian white men who kept their families in line with a firm hand. The women were white and silent (if they knew what was good for them). The children were white and obedient. The kings were white, and the good kings were tall, good-looking men who kicked Saracen ass for the glory of Christendom, while the bad kings were short, misshapen men who murdered little children or overtaxed the rich barons good free men of England, and always got their comeuppance in the end.

And it can be hard to know who's who. The second group sounds a lot like the first when you're talking about types of shoes or the worst jobs in a Medieval castle. And the second type often thinks that, because the first type is just as interested in the trappings of the Middle Ages as they are, the first type is just as white supremacist, too.

This can get particularly troublesome lately, because the incoming American presidential administration pretty much shares those views of a totally white, totally Christian, totally heterosexual utopia enforced by violence and the fear of violence.

I am a white person; I have white nonsense to unlearn (I'm working on it, it's a process). I'm also mentally ill, queer, and a cis woman.

This blog is a zero-tolerance zone for white supremacists, Neo-Nazis, fascists, and supporters of such. Anyone who stands for Donald Trump stands for putting my life* in legalized jeopardy, and is cordially invited to fuck right off my blog and unfollow me forever. I will not welcome debate on this topic. I will not agree to disagree. On ne passe pas.

Anonymous comments are currently screened, but still allowed. OpenID is still allowed, and Dreamwidth (although not busy) is free to join just in case some asshat ruins both anonymous commenting and OpenID for everyone. Disruptive comments will be frozen or deleted at my sole discretion.

*And the lives of a shitload of other Americans who happen to be a little browner or a little queerer or a little less Christian than the rest, but if I can't make them care about what happens to me through the content I've made, then I can't make them care about people they don't know, unfortunately.

99% of this blog will always be Sims related, history-related, or state-of-the-Hat posts explaining stuff that's affecting my ability to Sim or history or Sim History. Sorry for the disruption. Unless you're a white supremacist or white-supremacist-adjacent, in which case I'm not sorry about anything and I hope you step on a Lego. In bare feet, in the middle of the night, while you have a full bladder.

Original post below, it's terrible but it feels dishonest to just delete it.

This is a very petty post.




Hello everyone! Tonight I bring you a cheerful message.

Paradox07 is not on my side. Of anything. Apparently.

I don't know if she's decided to clamber unprompted onto anyone else's personal sites waving a laundry list of insults in Sunni's general direction, demanding help spreading word that a website administrator is a tyrant, but hey, that's how she came to mine, and now you get to be prepared in case she comes into yours. If she already visited you, now you know what happens when she's confronted, and that you're not the only person she's approached. (Was I defensive? Yes. I will always be defensive if your opening statement to me is to baselessly rip the hell out of another woman's character, because I will always be wondering, "And what do you think about me?")

Do not go out of your way to bother Paradox07, please. She's not worth the words I used on her; she's definitely not worth your time.

I'm making this post, and making an example of Paradox07, to say that if your politics are as Trumpist as hers, you are cordially invited to unfollow me forever. I am neither heterosexual nor neurotypical; Friday's regime change means I spend the next four years literally afraid for my life and bodily autonomy. I do not create content for neo-Nazis, neo-Nazi supporters, or people who think I deserve to live in terror.

Anonymous comments are going to be screened for a while, I think. OpenID is still available.
From: [personal profile] sunni
Jason, I respect your candor and all I can offer is an apology that we do not see eye to eye regarding your creations. As I stated, I tried to keep my own personal opinions out of the equation, as I do on many issues on the forum, until it sparked a controversy. Knowing the members that complained much longer than you or your works + my own feelings on the matter I chose to remove offending content. I don't regret this decision. It's not easy being an admin because no matter how much I try to stay impartial eventually I have to make judgement calls on things. Some will approve, others will not and I'll never make everyone happy.

When I look at it, this is really similar with what happened with Steph. She expressed that she was uncomfortable with a particular thread. If she had done so reasonably rather than making a scene and attacking other members I would have pulled the thread immediately. And I did pull the thread at the request of another member in the end. My primary rule is that everyone play nice and act respectful to each other. If anyone misbehaves, they're gone. This isn't MATY and I don't want to see that kind of negativity or drama. I don't regret banning her and would do it again if anyone throws a tantrum like that on the forum.

Steph has made some serious allegations regarding my character and motivations. In reality she has no evidence to validate her opinions. Like Hat, I do not really know Steph. I've had little personal interactions with her, Hat and most people in the community. I typically keep my beliefs, feelings, problems to myself and want to primarily talk about our shared hobby = The Sims 2. I have enough stress and drama in real life that I don't need it online too. Plus, I don't think anyone ultimately cares about my situation.

My primary interests are TS2, History, SciFi/Fantasy and Computers. These are the things I want to engage with others. It's no secret that I have a serious health condition, just like so many in the community. It gives me a hobby and something to take my mind off reality. I am definitely Hat's type A medieval enthusiast because I am fascinated by the nitty gritty of knowing ridiculous details of how things worked and functioned long ago. My main motivation for starting the forum was to be able to share these interests. I have no other agenda than to hopefully expand custom content for the historical theme.

The majority of my exchanges around the community have been purely Sim business related or light discussion of other shared interests. I have no negative experiences with Steph, or anyone else. I have nothing to say against her. The majority of our communications were public in chat or through threads. So, imagine my shock to read such a character assassination against me. I honestly have no idea how she has developed her theories when we have never really had any private interactions. I've made no attempts whatsoever to contact her directly or via proxy since she was banned. I've neither encouraged or endorsed others to do so on my behalf. I've kept my virtual mouth shut for months. I can only parrot Hat by stating, if Steph makes these accusations, where is her proof? Where are the emails, PMs, Screenshots? What does she base her interpretations? I don't even think she accurately understood or represented my only and final post to her at the Keep, as she seemed to be looking for hidden machinations. Those who do know me are acutely aware that I don't have the time or inclination for elaborate plots. I just want to concentrate on my Sim creations.

I've been held hostage for months by these events. Paralyzed with self-doubt and truly hurt by the onslaught of words hurled at me like daggers. However, I think I'm finally done now worrying about it. I appreciate Hat's insight that other people's behavior is not my fault or problem. How others choose to react is completely their responsibility. I can only be responsible for myself and have faith that most of my exchanges are equitable. If people don't like me or my forum despite my best efforts, there's an entire Internets at their disposal. If anyone thinks they can make a better medieval site and be a better admin, I wholeheartedly encourage it to be done.

Thank you Hat for sharing your perspective and site to explore these issues. You truly helped me to release a few things gnawing at me for a while. I do feel slightly guilty though that it was at your expense. Hopefully we can move on and focus on what's really important - The game.

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