https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="1️⃣" title="Keycap digit one" aria-label="Emoji: Keycap digit one">Have active contact with someone you know is an industry abuser

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="2️⃣" title="Keycap digit two" aria-label="Emoji: Keycap digit two">Produce form-letter apology misses the point of what people were even upset about

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="3️⃣" title="Keycap digit three" aria-label="Emoji: Keycap digit three">Ignore when asked if you do/will continue to be in contact with the abuser in question

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="4️⃣" title="Keycap digit four" aria-label="Emoji: Keycap digit four">Get hit with memes at 10PM

I also forgot:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="5️⃣" title="Keycap digit five" aria-label="Emoji: Keycap digit five">DM me saying the conversation can’t be “constructive” unless I believe your (tone-deaf) (later edited) apology instead of /just saying you won’t continue to be in contact with the proto-Zak of the RPG industry like that’s a crazy request/

They say don’t meet your heroes, but as I come up on my 3rd anniversary on the #DMsGuild I’m coming around to the idea of punting them straight in the nards

There are some people out there who have worked/are hoping to work/ with MT Black and punch a meal ticket that their very livelihoods may depend on, and I can respect that (unfortunate) predicament

But after 3 years I’m generally punching my own ticket on RPG work and will happily wield that privilege like a big chunky club to say that I’m generally fed up with MT’s progressively shittier takes and stances as time has gone on

I can’t control WotC’s hiring decisions and I’m sure MT’s turned the crank on work they found good enough

But it’s also really unfortunate the crank is being turned by someone who thought contacting Frank Mentzer to win a twitter argument during *gestures* all this was okay.

So I’m happily burning this bridge, because it’s a bridge I wouldn’t check for traps with a ten-foot pole. I’d be worried about the pole.

As a final note, I debated with posting this, or my initial follow-ups, or even commenting on the ‘apology’ in the first place because, gasp, is that UNPROFESSIONAL?

Unprofessional is excusing bad takes or bad behavior because the person is perceived as being powerful in your corner of the industry, maybe even having power over you. It’s the same problem we’ve had in this industry over and over. It’s a weak enchantment. I cast dispel magic.

Oh gosh it goes without saying but I’ll add:

1. I’ve shown the ENTIRETY of my ass on here before and have circled back to talk about it before; a little self-deprecation can do wonders

2. Sorry to invite everyone to a “cishet white guy shits on cishet white guy” party