Charity rejects donations from GenCon

Remove all ads!

I think the cries against 'idiocy' is the feeling that D&D is often still percieved in such a manner

I expressed an interest in playing D&D while still in middle school and got screamed at by an over zealous teacher who felt I needed to be re-educated in my wicked ways

I can see why the charity would refuse donations from an event they probably have no clue what really happens there, and quite frankly most of the events held could easily seem outlandish. Even I think most cons are odd

It would be an embarressment to endorse an event by recieving a large sum and have it advertised to find out later if was something quite against the ethics of the charity.

The biggest slap in the face for gamers is it was the favourite charity of Gary Gygax. Not only have the staunchest fans got to deal with the loss of the creator of the game but also the rejection of their own charitable tribute in his name.

It is unfortunately the extreme ones who have the biggest sway on our lives and decisions, as they will be the ones to cause the biggest fuss and create a maelstrom when things just don't go their way. Inciting gamers to e-mail the charity with complaints and ire will not endear them to a preconception or defense any further. They may feel genuinely regretful they cannot take the money, but they have to again consider what they appear to endorse and the income from potentially extreme level christians and other donators who disapprove greatly from the source of one payment.

 

It seems to me to be an uneducated decision, but I have to weigh in with the comment I wanted to make earlier but didn't have the time.

My ex girlfriend was utterly furious with the Salvation Army because they turned down a donation from some people she knew. it turned out that the money raised ($2000) was from a strip a thon. Now don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of naked women. HOWEVER, . . . .

There's no way they could win in a situation like this. If they accepted the money, they would be "hypocrites who support strong traditional values -- unless there's a buck to be made -- then they jump at the money like a fat kid at a donut." If they didn't accept the money, they would be "prissy, elitist snobs who do not really care about the poor and only care about judging others."

I say if you don't condone how the money was raised, you shouldn't take it. My big beef is that they should actually look at what modern gaming IS before you make that decision about whether or not you condone it. THAT is what gets my goat.

 

There's an update on the story. It seems CCF are trying to backpedal and say how much they love and respect the gamers, though if you read their statement carefully you can notice they never mention what those "criteria" were that made them refuse the donation. Rich Burlew's theory is that someone at the charity made the decision by themselves because of their own beliefs and that CCF are now trying to hide that issue, which seems like a reasonable explanation for their behaviour and strange wording.

 

And someone thought that associating their name with GenCon was bad publicity?