But in truth, I can't be silent about this. Last week I talked about Bob Bledsaw II and his racist, anti-Semitic, anti-woman, posts on Facebook. Some fans of Judges Guild were content to ignore them or try to separate the "art from the artist".
Well, I am here to say that is all bullshit.
If you buy one of my books you are buying a piece of me. You are buying the stories I read, the music I listen too, the movies and TV shows I watch. When doing research I make choices to read Book A or Book B, Article C or Article D, Documentary E or F. This goes on and on. What I choose is based on my interests, my time, and yes, my political leanings. You don't have a choice in this save for one; to buy or not buy my books. When writing I have one principle that applies; is this fun to play. If so then I do it. If I do it right you buy and enjoy it too.
But don't pretend my politics don't enter into it.
Well. Now all the hemming and hawing and handwringing aside, Bob Bledsaw II posted the following unhinged screed on the Judges Guild official Facebook page. There is no separation now of art and artist. And to be 100% accurate, BBII did not, as far as I know, create anything for Judges Guild.
You might need to click on this or download it to read the whole thing. Otherwise, Tenkar over at his eponymous Tavern has been doing a good job of keeping track of this whole clusterfuck.
There is so much wrong with this posting that it would take me several hours to point all the self-contradictory statements, the outright false-hoods and tin-foil hat wearing conspiratorial bullshit and frankly, he is not worth my time.
But there are only two facts that matter to me.
1. This was posted as part of an official release on the Judge's Guild page.
2. It is so full of hate, bigotry and vile thoughts as to be repulsive to any reasonable individual.
Does BBII have to right say what he wants? Yes. So fuck off with the "free speech" bullshit argument. There is no such thing as consequence-free speech. He can say what he wants. So can I.
BBII has destroyed any sort of good legacy Judge's Guild had left.
So fuck him. Fuck his ideas. Fuck his company's products.
And if you support him or his ideals then fuck you too.
I am not going to buy any of Judges Guild stuff. If you decide you don't want to buy my stuff.
Good. I don't really want your money here.
I am happy to note there are many in the community, and in the OSR community too, to stand up against this type of behavior.
Here are some videos that address the topic.
There are undoubtedly more and plenty of Twitter and Facebook conversations too.
TL;DR Bob Bledsaw II is a piece of shit and if you support him don't fucking buy my books.
Likely you are too stupid to understand them anyway.
Should this read Bob Bledsaw II is a piece of shit?
ReplyDeleteSeriously? All you got out of that was a typo?
DeleteI frankly can't make heads or tails out of his bizarre rant, but it sure doesn't sound like an apology to me. Fuck him indeed.
ReplyDeleteDid I say that? However I think it is important to make the distinction between Bob Bledsaw, founder of Judge's Guild who's been dead since 2008, and Bob Bledsaw II who took over the company after his death (and even BBII's son Bob Bledsaw III/Jr). The former was a genuinely nice guy in all my experiences with him, and creatted/published a lot of wonderful things.
ReplyDeleteThe latter 2 are raging assholes who've done nothing but abuse that legacy and rob their customer's blind. I'm seeing that a lot of people don't seem to realize that they are different people, and leveling vitriol at the original products and the people that loved them as if somehow they've been supporting anti-semitism since the 70's or something. Th
Oh yes. Sorry. You are correct. Yes, I do not mean Bob Bledsaw Sr. at all.
DeleteI will fix that. A bit more that just a typo.
Fixed now.
ReplyDelete*sigh*
ReplyDeleteI read some of the links under the first YouTube video. And I thought the 3 posts revealed a couple of days ago were bad.
His "apology" is like a textbook racist response. "Read the Bible in Aramaic" Fuck him and Fuck that.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad, I've been called an "SJW" for being angry about this "situation". A racist and antisemitic piece of shit posted some racist and antisemitic hatred for all to see and then posted racist and antisemitic "apologies".
Thanks for standing up when it matters, if it helps, I have your back.
I agree 100%.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking a stand!
Virtue must be signaled; those who complain about those who signal their virtue are villains who wish not to be recognized for their villainy, yet enjoy wallowing in it.
Antisemitism, Holocaust-Denial, Racism, Misogyny, Nazi and Confederate Sympathy, and Homophobia are Evils, each and every one with a capital "E". They have no place in this world, there is nothing holy in any book that defends them, they are all born completely of hate, and anyone who defends the indefensible deserves to be tarred, feathered, and ridden out on a rail.
Yeah, I got accused of "Virtue Signaling" in another group. My response was "oh no. whatever shall I do."
ReplyDeleteIf it is virtue signaling to denounce rabid hate like this, then fuck it, someone tell Commissioner Gordon to fire up the Virtue Signal!
"Does BBII have to right say what he wants? Yes. So fuck off with the "free speech" bullshit argument. There is no such thing as consequence-free speech."
ReplyDeleteTHIS. THIS THIS THIS. The cowards who use the "but free speech" argument to protect their garbage ideas don't seem to get that yes, they have the right to free speech, but WE as fellow members of our society are free to give them consequences for their words. Those consequences include boycotting their work and telling them that their ideals and beliefs are sh*tty. They should stop worrying about "the government restricting their free speech" and start worrying about the sh*tstorm of consequences from people who won't stand for such sewage ideas being peddled openly.
@Tim Brannan: I'm also getting SICK to DEATH of the virtue signalling sh*t! That's another smokescreen bullsh*t euphemism the cowards hide behind. Yeah man, get a big spotlight with a huge V on it, because if pointing out putrid ideologies is virtue signalling, consider me the Robin to your virtue signaling Batman. BUT let's be real here: it's really a$$hole signaling. We're pointing out hate, and people who adhere to ideologies that depend on other people to be "lesser" than them. Garbage thoughts need to be pointed out and eradicated. Nuff said.
@Anthony, if there is anything the last 3+ years has taught me is that you have to fight when called. There is no rest for freedom, we tried that and look where it got us.
ReplyDelete@Cross Planes: I'd like to think we're fighting for common human decency and equality of human dignity, not just freedom. If anything, we're talking about freedom from bullshit ideas. Talk about an eternal struggle...
ReplyDelete