Read on Twitter
Short thread about where I'm at on #FreeCaptainZack, because I think there's a lot of nuance that (surprise surprise) nobody on Twitter is able to, or even willing to ATTEMPT to, engage with.
What I've been seeing for the past few days is -- and this is reductionist, but bear with me --
1) well-intentioned, mostly Melee folk, saying "respect the CoC's decisions unilaterally. Victims need the ability to come out with their stories in privacy"
and
1) well-intentioned, mostly Melee folk, saying "respect the CoC's decisions unilaterally. Victims need the ability to come out with their stories in privacy"
and
2) well-intentioned, mostly Ultimate folk, saying "it's ridiculous that Zack, a victim of sexual abuse and grooming, was banned for 5 years for match-fixing, which downplays the severity of sexual abuse".
What I have observed is that most people in both of these well-intentioned camps are seeking legitimate justice and are trying to make the community a better place.
What may not surprise you is that they are both largely COMPLETELY misrepresenting the other camp.
What may not surprise you is that they are both largely COMPLETELY misrepresenting the other camp.
I don't want to drag people in the mud so I'll spare you the QRTs, but I've seen camp 1 accuse camp 2 of not caring about victims' privacy (when it is precisely a victim that camp 2 cares about), and I've seen camp 2 accuse camp 1 of probably wanting Ally back (they don't!).
Here's where I have to disappoint many of you:
I don't know what the solution is in terms of how the CoC's process should operate to resolve tricky cases like this. I agree with the CoC that victims' privacy is important.
I don't know what the solution is in terms of how the CoC's process should operate to resolve tricky cases like this. I agree with the CoC that victims' privacy is important.
I also agree that, if nothing else, the optics of banning Captain Zack for 5 years was not well-thought-out and something probably needs to change.
If you remember, Mew2queen's ban for sexual abuse was administered simultaneously, and her ban was initially shorter. This ban was later extended, but I would not be surprised if many in the Ultimate community are still sore and suspicious of the CoC due to this decision.
It is abundantly clear to me that there is an OVERWHELMING cultural gap that everybody thinks will just go away if they close their eyes and ears and refuse to engage in good faith with people in The Other Camp.
It sickens me.
It sickens me.
What I would AT LEAST like to see going forward from my friends in the community:
- NONE of you harassing the CoC panel for what is a multifaceted and complex issue. It does not do anybody any good.
- NONE of you harassing the CoC panel for what is a multifaceted and complex issue. It does not do anybody any good.
- Less of you speaking in platitudes and erasing the good points that other people with good intentions are making. People have legitimate concerns.
- More of you attempting to engage people in good faith outside of your immediate bubble in the Smash community.
- More of you attempting to engage people in good faith outside of your immediate bubble in the Smash community.
There is probably a conclusion we can arrive at that makes the entire process better for everybody -- but we will never find it if the people who have legitimate grievances over how the Zack case was handled have no way of engaging in good faith with the CoC folks.
