Posted by Kim on June 2, 2020, 9:05am
We're in a very important moment for the USA, and for the world as a whole.I and the mod team are feeling our way through this moment. We'll be figuring some things out as we go. I wanted to let you in on some of our thought processes so far.
Let's start with this: The official position of the RPR is that Black Lives Matter. "All lives" can't matter if Black Lives don't matter too.
Many of our community members manage underlying mental health conditions and/or are members of vulnerable populations. We know that a certain amount of escapism can be an essential tool to help manage your energies and be able to bounce back from the truly frightening things going on in the world. The RPR serves that purpose for many. It can be a restorative refuge from traumatic events and news cycles, as well as toxicity in other online spaces. We do want to be able to continue to offer that to everyone.At the same time, it can feel as if your chosen family is ignoring the real problems that face you, and abandoning you in your time of need when we don't discuss these things. Perhaps “feel” isn't even a strong enough word. It may be true.
This has been an uncomfortable tension over the years that has kept me up many a night. It was one more thing on the very long list of things I had no idea I was getting into when I opened a site for playing pretend with my friends. It screamed with importance but also felt unanswerable, too big to tackle, possibly inappropriate, or irrelevant to the RPR. I did my activism in other spaces, in real world protests or in calling Congress people or in registering voters. I know many of the mods did the same.Over the years, we watched a pattern of excellent conversations about politics on the RPR get unfailingly derailed by slogan shouting and name calling. We were exhausted by the moderation requirements, as well as fact-checking bogus news sources, hoaxes, and conspiracy theories. We erred more and more on the side of letting the RPR be a bastion for escapism and recharging. Surely we didn't sign up for teaching media literacy and asking folks to confront the truth about the racist history and present of the US, right?? We had volunteered to an unpaid position to look after a community of mostly young people playing (really awesome) pretend. Adding in the international nature of the site only added more layers of confusion and exhaustion.
We still want to be able to offer escapism and joy. We also want to care for and support those in our community who have more reason than ANYONE to want those things, and that means showing up for them.
We still don't know the right way to go forward. But we're going to try some things.
In the coming weeks…
- We'll be talking about media literacy skills in the news, so we can all get better about sorting out fact from fiction and the grey areas in between.
- We'll be allowing some discussion of current events on the forums, as it relates to how it is touching our users in their real lives, and their fear for their friends. At this point, the distinction between what's “politics” and what's just life occurring on our doorsteps is even more difficult than it was before.
- Please DO NOT share videos or images of a violent nature, regardless of the discussion, especially the recent videos going around of violence against black folks. These videos far exceed the violence ratings of our forums, and can be deeply traumatic, especially for BIPOC folks to have to see again and again.
- The mod team will shortly be opening a group specifically for discussion of United States politics. It will be considered more or less another official forum. We will ask that some discussions move there if they become too heavy, or go beyond how political realities impact your life directly. The group will be heavily moderated to remove racism, anti-LGTBQ+ sentiment, anti-semitism, gaslighting, and baiting.
If you're champing at the bit to start talking politics, we ask that you wait for the opening of this group. Please don't go making posts about candidates and how you feel about them on our public forums.
This will be an experiment in allowing political discussion on the RPR, while still preserving most of our spaces as places to recharge. This group may be shut down without notice if it presents too much burden on the team's time and attention, or temporarily locked if things get out of hand and there aren't enough of us online to handle it. If it proves a failed experiment, we'll regroup and try something else.
We hope that these are first steps on the road to finding an appropriate balance. Like I said, we're figuring things out as we go. We're going to make some mistakes and have to change policies on the fly as we learn more about them. Our role in all this is still not totally clear to us. What is clear is that we ALL have a role during these times. Even silly little websites about playing pretend.
Finally, remember that it's okay to be overwhelmed. Everyone needs to do what they can. If all you can do is survive, then do that.
Q: What about other countries?
This is something that we're still discussing. Most of us feel vastly less qualified to be able to moderate such conversations and evaluate other countries news sources, cultural contexts, etc. However, people have always been able to start their own groups to discuss these things, and that seems like the best solution we have right now.
Q: When will that group be dropping?
Probably early next week.
Comments
Perhaps it would be better to keep all the political and hot button social issues to this new group so those who want to participate can there. Otherwise, as Marvin the depressed android says, this will all end in tears. These kinds of conversations tend to get heated very quickly and subject to misunderstandings or differences of opinion that cause hurt feelings.
You will not be required to join the group for political discussions, nor will you see notifications from that group if you aren't a member. 
Mipps
June 2, 2020
10:07am
Frankly, as much as I appreciate you Kim, and the mod team, for trying to handle the situations compassionately... I would prefer politics and activism to NOT be in the place I use to relax and unwind away from it all. This site to me, while being all inclusive, I though was for role-play and creativity. Not complaints, rants, arguments and debates that divide people.
As RPR moves in this direction it becomes less of that sanctuary for those of use desiring to escape.
I think it would be better to simply not allow these discussions here as there are a plethora of other sites and platforms that can be utilized for those seeking to converse about these topics.
As RPR moves in this direction it becomes less of that sanctuary for those of use desiring to escape.
I think it would be better to simply not allow these discussions here as there are a plethora of other sites and platforms that can be utilized for those seeking to converse about these topics.
I know times are scary and difficult for all of you right now, no matter how you feel about how this year has unfolded, but just know I'm so proud of our community. 
@Sunflower - "an oppressed group of minority asking to not be murdered because of the color of their skin isn't politics" A very good point!
i've made a linktree with links to black owned business you can support and petitions you can sign! i update i it multiple times during the day: https://linktr.ee/muzze09
also, i would like to add that the black lives matter movement isn't politics; an oppressed group of minority asking to not be murdered because of the color of their skin isn't politics
also, i would like to add that the black lives matter movement isn't politics; an oppressed group of minority asking to not be murdered because of the color of their skin isn't politics
I am happy to be apart of this caring community
From the bottom of my heart, Kim, I thank you and the moderators for coming together and getting this posted as well as thought out to better prepare the community for approaching topics as emotionally charged and have great impact such as this.
I chose my name because I wanted something to remind me of what I wish for myself: a sense of freedom. Flying free and unhindered by obstacles. Whether those were personal doubts or outside forces at work that would try to bring me down. Where I might have thought that great for myself, I now want to extend that for all who might face especially the latter of what I mentioned. No one deserves to be caged or have their wings clipped by anyone.
Black lives matter, and I stand in solidarity with the people and their movement.
I chose my name because I wanted something to remind me of what I wish for myself: a sense of freedom. Flying free and unhindered by obstacles. Whether those were personal doubts or outside forces at work that would try to bring me down. Where I might have thought that great for myself, I now want to extend that for all who might face especially the latter of what I mentioned. No one deserves to be caged or have their wings clipped by anyone.
Black lives matter, and I stand in solidarity with the people and their movement.
Very well said, and it sounds like you have a really elegant strategy going forward. Thank you, Kim and mods! You really are the best website staff on the 'net.
Thank you for speaking up during this time. As a poc this really means a lot . I'm really happy to be part of a caring community.
. I'm really happy to be part of a caring community.
this is good
I'm not really in support of this move as dipping toes within politics can easily be a slippery slope that would change RPR for the worst. Sure the politics would be in a separate area, but their is a possibly for it to spread around. Plus, RPR is a place to go away from such political things and for those who are politically different can enjoy each in the escapism without knowing who or what they believe. Involving politics could possibly lead to roleplay not happening solely based on what one person or another believes and one person just has to go over to the other discussion forum to see if the other person has posted and see if they posted an opposing view or not.
That's just my opinion
That's just my opinion
I'd like to say that I know that there's a fair amount of vets on RPR, and I'm sure that there's quite a few active duty service members as well.
I know that you took an oath, and you took it seriously. If you're like me, you might be feeling a lot of pressure and confusion because of it.
"Foreign and domestic", "Uphold the Constitution", and "Obey the orders of the President" may be conflicting for you. And that's okay. Be safe, be smart, and follow your morals in an intelligent and beneficial way.
I know that you took an oath, and you took it seriously. If you're like me, you might be feeling a lot of pressure and confusion because of it.
"Foreign and domestic", "Uphold the Constitution", and "Obey the orders of the President" may be conflicting for you. And that's okay. Be safe, be smart, and follow your morals in an intelligent and beneficial way.
This really means a lot. Honestly so heart warming to know the support. Thank you Kim and mods for speaking up during this hard time and not keeping silent.
I am happy to be part of a community that cares so much.
I'm so happy this was posted. It's great seeing so many people coming together for something as important as this. Things are scary right now, and seeing so much solidarity has been refreshing.
@Sunflower please post it as a comment here
I can only echo Ben; I too am proud of this team and community!
I'm proud of this team and this community
Sanne
June 2, 2020
10:21am