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So yesterday I went and donated to the MN Freedom Fund. I held off on talking about it because of a dread of a sentence.
“Stay in your lane and stick to video games.”
That idea is bullshit. Here’s why.
“Stay in your lane and stick to video games.”
That idea is bullshit. Here’s why.
The phrase takes 2 differing approaches, both of which are looking to stop political (or more realistically, uncomfortable moral) discourse.
1) The crowd of “I only follow you for gaming content. Stick to that.”
& 2) The “it doesn’t affect you, why should you care” crowd.
1) The crowd of “I only follow you for gaming content. Stick to that.”
& 2) The “it doesn’t affect you, why should you care” crowd.
To the first of those. The ones who follow me for my gaming content.
You followed “Byf” the human being. I am not a machine simply pumping out entertainment for you. If you want to follow me you get the whole package. Nothing less. Nothing more.
That includes my morals.
You followed “Byf” the human being. I am not a machine simply pumping out entertainment for you. If you want to follow me you get the whole package. Nothing less. Nothing more.
That includes my morals.
If you don’t want that, you can unfollow. I don’t mind. Go ahead. If you’re uncomfortable with me talking about these things it says way more about you than it says about me.
To the second group, the ones who ask why I’m talking about something that doesn’t affect me, I ask you this. What kind of society do you want to live in?
I want one that represents equality and I want one that represents justice. Those ideals apply to us all.
I want one that represents equality and I want one that represents justice. Those ideals apply to us all.
Yeah. I’m white. I’m straight. I’m male. I’m educated. I am the vision of privilege. I’m sure you might fit some of those categories if you’re reading this.
I don’t experience the problems that come with being black or gay or a woman. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t give a crap.
I don’t experience the problems that come with being black or gay or a woman. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t give a crap.
Both of these types of people, who tell me and other content creators or influencers to not take a side or to keep to my job are basically asking me to be complicit.
Why? I’ll explain why.
Why? I’ll explain why.
When George Floyd was murdered (yeah. It was murder. We have the tapes) there was an officer who knelt on his neck till he died. There were three other officers on the scene who helped push him to the ground and who later stood and watched him be killed. They are accomplices.
Any one of them could have stepped in and saved his life. They could’ve let him breathe. They could’ve accosted their colleague. They could’ve physically removed him. But they didn’t. Now they’re complicit too. Both legally and morally.
By telling me to “stay in my lane” you’re asking me to be a man who stands by and lets injustice happen. You’re telling me to be complicit in the suffering that is inflicted upon my brothers and sisters in the black community.
Well. I won’t be complicit.
Well. I won’t be complicit.
I’ve always sat out of politics. Hell, I earned a degree in it. I thought I had the right to never think of it again.
Dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Even if I hadn’t studied it I’d still have a responsibility to myself, you and our peers to be involved in change for the better.
Dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Even if I hadn’t studied it I’d still have a responsibility to myself, you and our peers to be involved in change for the better.
The whole idea of “stay in your lane” is an attempt to give someone an out because it makes everyone more comfortable. I’m sure you don’t want to get bombarded with this stuff every day.
Well guess what. That’s inconvenience is nothing compared to the suffering we let happen.
Well guess what. That’s inconvenience is nothing compared to the suffering we let happen.
By saying “stay in your lane” you’re trying to tell me that I’m not supposed to care about injustice.
Well, guess fucking what. Injustice isn’t a black problem or an LGBTQ problem or a women’s problem.
It’s a human problem.
Well, guess fucking what. Injustice isn’t a black problem or an LGBTQ problem or a women’s problem.
It’s a human problem.
These problems speak to a moral deficits that run deep in our society. They say things about our willingness to value life. They say things about how we’re willing to ignore those issues until nothing but violence works anymore.
So yeah. I’ll happily stay in my lane, but you should know. It’s a 1 lane street. The lane belongs to you and me. It belonged to Floyd too.
Fuck your ignorance if you’re willing to turn away from this. I for one refuse to be complicit.
Fuck your ignorance if you’re willing to turn away from this. I for one refuse to be complicit.
So yeah. If this pisses you off, unfollow me. The community I’ve built will be better without you in it. I for one will not stand by like the other 3 police officers.
Condemn me all you want. It’s nothing compared to the suffering of those without my privileges.
Condemn me all you want. It’s nothing compared to the suffering of those without my privileges.
To those of you who expected me to be a better ally, I apologise for not being there in every capacity. I’ll promise to do better.
Fuck the follower count. Fuck “staying in my lane.” Fuck being complicit in the injustices through silence.
Because #BlackLivesMatter
.
Fuck the follower count. Fuck “staying in my lane.” Fuck being complicit in the injustices through silence.
Because #BlackLivesMatter
.
Also... if you want to make a difference and make a better society...
MN Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate
See about putting your money where your mouth is.
MN Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate
See about putting your money where your mouth is.
