Prediction: The next time the dance game community has to grapple with credible allegations of sexual harassment, assault, or rape against a high-performing player, it will become a hot topic in Music Game Hell and they will have no shortage of people to defend them.

Outside of groups that provide a veil of irony, people will still defend the player. They will dismiss the accusers and attack people who support them. Many players will continue to lack access to local communities and arcade scenes in which they actually feel safe.

Over the past few weeks the organizers and the creators within the DGC have done a lot to address past mistakes and to speak in favor of a safer and more socially-conscientious community. That behavior will continue to inform how larger events are run, but what about the future?

Are we ready for the next generation of players who will have gotten into this game through certain Twitch streamers? Have we done enough to build a community where everyone feels safe?

I don't even go to the arcades in my state. Real talk, I don't feel comfortable engaging with the rhythm game community here, and I am absolutely not alone in that sentiment.

When I go to the arcade or events and I hear racial slurs, women being referred to as "toys", trans folk being referred to as tr*****s, endless privileged gripes about moves toward community inclusiveness, and generally toxic conversation, it's discouraging.

This behavior isn't unique to rhythm games by any stretch of the imagination, but I have seen that behavior be normalized. I have seen the same people who shout slurs also say MGH memes (or even the more shameful references from the early ITG footspeed days) out loud.

This thread is mostly just venting but I hope that people ask themselves what kind of community they want to cultivate when evaluating things like sexual assault allegations and that, when deciding how to respond, they choose empathy for the victims over sarcasm and memes.