If you don't read Rich's news posts, the late Gary Gygax's favourite charity, Christian Children's Fund has Refused $17,000 raised by GenCon in a charity auction, because some of the money came from the selling of "Always Chaotic Evil" (If I may borrow the term from TVTropes) Dungeons & Dragons merchandise.
That's got me mad, not only because of the narrow-mindedness of the charity about D&D, but that they would refuse legitimately raised funds which would help the people they promise to help, because they disagree with what was sold. I could understand if that money was drug money, or money that was robbed from a bank, but it's not. It's legally raised by people who want to help starving children.
So I thought this thread would be a good place for those of us who want to follow Rich's idea and give them a piece of our mind. We can all write our individual letters here, as well as proof read and fact check other's letters, before sending them on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Me
To whom it may concern,
I was most distressed to learn of your refusal of $17,000 raised at a legitimate charity auction at GenCon, citing the selling of "Dungeons & Dragons" merchandise for the refusal. First of all, I believe you have demonstrated a narrow-minded attitude to role playing games. They are not gateway games to Paganism or Satanic Worship. I myself am a devout Catholic, and to me, the game is an exercise in imagination and story telling, as well as a great way to expand one's volcabulary, and encourage team work and friendship.
The second issue I have, which is really curious, is that the late Gary Gygax, co-creator of "Dungeons & Dragons", was a follower of your charity, and after he passed away in March of this year, many "Dungeons & Dragons" players chose to donate to you, and yet these were accepted without qualm.
The final issue I have, which is far more important, is that you have refused $17,000 which could have gone to the children you have promised to protect, because you disagree with what was legally sold. I could understand if the funds were raised due to illicit activity like racketeering or drug selling, but you have chosen to put your own worldview above the needs of the children, which demonstrates a level of selfishness.
I hope you reconsider this policy in terms of future donations, because a charity should be about the cause it has chosen to champion. It's important in this world to "live and let live", and when funds are offered by someone legitimately, even if you disagree with their worldview, you should not look a gift horse in the mouth.
Yours sincerely,
[name]
How does that look? I'm worried it's a little strong.
__________________ "They couldn't know that the points from the mainline to the siding were frozen, and the signal should have been set at 'DANGER', but snow had forced it down."
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hallavast
Ya know? I think I'd about kill Rowling if she wasn't holding me hostage with that last book of hers...
Last edited by RMS Oceanic : 10-31-2008 at 05:12 AM.
Heck I'll take it.
and that is in no way too strong btw.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly
I am now going to begin blaming everything that goes wrong on Charity. Just for gits and shiggles. And not even just things on the forums. Summer! Charity!
How does that look? I'm worried it's a little strong.
It reads as perfectly polite and reasonable to me.
Remember, in this situation one snail mail letter counts as twenty times more important than an email, so I suggest you find the charity's postal address and actually mail it to them.
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Spoiler
Thank you kpenguin for the lovely avatar, Recaiden for my dolly, and Alleine for this:
It reads as perfectly polite and reasonable to me.
Remember, in this situation one snail mail letter counts as twenty times more important than an email, so I suggest you find the charity's postal address and actually mail it to them.
Seconded definately... It kinda angers me that they see DnD as some kindof satanic ritual group... What kind of satanic ritual group donates to charity anyway?
Seconded definately... It kinda angers me that they see DnD as some kindof satanic ritual group... What kind of satanic ritual group donates to charity anyway?
Dunno. Maybe there are special secret satanic charities?
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Thank you kpenguin for the lovely avatar, Recaiden for my dolly, and Alleine for this:
Seconded definately... It kinda angers me that they see DnD as some kindof satanic ritual group... What kind of satanic ritual group donates to charity anyway?
DnD, apparently?
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"Eins, zwei, drei... Ugh, I do not think we brought enough body bags."
Dunno. Maybe there are special secret satanic charities?
Every 10 seconds, an imp dies from lack of blood of the innocents.
Every minute, an archdevil gets murdered by passing angels.
Every hour, a worshipper of Satan gets burnt alive.
With just 1 pound a month, this could be stopped.
It takes £23 to feed an imp for the rest of it's life.
It takes £284 to install the defences necessary to murder said angel.
It takes £529 to save a worshipper of Satan from the flames, and to give them a chance of a new life.
We need your donations. If you wish to donate, please call 616-666-616-666
__________________ "I'm just going on motive and opportunity here and the fact that if the earth got swallowed by a black hole, I'd look suspiciously in your direction first."
~ Timberwolf
"After the first day we universally agreed that she was banned from fire thereafter. The second day she ended up with the power to create 5 extra copies of herself."
~ Heliomance
"You're like Pinkie Pie powered by a nuclear reactor."
~ Lix Lorn
You wake up at Seatac, SFO, LAX. You wake up at O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, BWI. Pacific, mountain, central. Lose an hour, gain an hour. This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.
__________________ "I'm just going on motive and opportunity here and the fact that if the earth got swallowed by a black hole, I'd look suspiciously in your direction first."
~ Timberwolf
"After the first day we universally agreed that she was banned from fire thereafter. The second day she ended up with the power to create 5 extra copies of herself."
~ Heliomance
"You're like Pinkie Pie powered by a nuclear reactor."
~ Lix Lorn
How does that look? I'm worried it's a little strong.
Pfft. Kinda tame for my tastes. Add some bile.
__________________ The Impossible Thing Before Breakfast- "The GM is the author of the story and the players direct the actions of the protagonists." Widely repeated across many role-playing texts. Neither sub-clause in the sentence is possible in the presence of the other.
You wake up at Seatac, SFO, LAX. You wake up at O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, BWI. Pacific, mountain, central. Lose an hour, gain an hour. This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.
I have allready e-mailed them, will write when I get home. Speaking as a gamer and an Anglican, this is utterly vile and petty behaviour. I hope that you all out there remember than many Christians actualy try and follow the message of tollerance, peace and honest conduct that the church preaches, rather than this kind of, you know what I can't finish this scentance without upsetting the Moderators so I am just going to his send now and go scream at a bathroom mirror till I loose my voice.
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It is a contraction of Evil DM Mark 3. I don't know why why so many have difficulty with a standard contraction but there we are. In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded
Sir Terry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tirian
He may secretly be the World's Greatest Detective, but I think that the average person in the DC Universe thinks of Bruce Wayne as the World's Worst Skier.
Change the last bit from "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" to something like "be willing to accept this with a spirit of grace, understanding the shared concern for your cause."
If it were in the middle of the letter it would be one thing, but I think ending on a saying like that might weaken the letter, literarily speaking.
Also, maybe take this: "First of all, I believe you have demonstrated a narrow-minded attitude to role playing games. They are not gateway games to Paganism or Satanic Worship. "
And say something like this: "First of all, I your words would seem to demonstrate a narrow-minded attitude to role playing games. If that was not your intent, it is nonetheless the attitude many will believe you are displaying. These games are not gateways to Paganism or Satanic Worship. They have no inherent world-view attached to them, being intended solely for tools for enjoyment and imagination." (Or something to that affect; show an effort to try to reach common understanding; it will go over much better, I daresay.)
Overall, a very calm-sounding letter. My changes are minor, and more of a "how I would write it" than anything.
I think that it's a very good response, especially as an attempt to actually get them to listen. Bile and anger only breed more reactionism.
If you don't read Rich's news posts, the late Gary Gygax's favourite charity, Christian Children's Fund has Refused $17,000 raised by GenCon in a charity auction, because some of the money came from the selling of "Always Chaotic Evil" (If I may borrow the term from TVTropes) Dungeons & Dragons merchandise.
That's got me mad, not only because of the narrow-mindedness of the charity about D&D, but that they would refuse legitimately raised funds which would help the people they promise to help, because they disagree with what was sold. I could understand if that money was drug money, or money that was robbed from a bank, but it's not. It's legally raised by people who want to help starving children.
So I thought this thread would be a good place for those of us who want to follow Rich's idea and give them a piece of our mind. We can all write our individual letters here, as well as proof read and fact check other's letters, before sending them on.
How does that look? I'm worried it's a little strong.
I think it looks just fine.
I strongly recommend AGAINST anyone adding bile to their letters. I assume that CCF believes D&D is a work "of the flesh" and showing rage, anger, upset will only serve to confirm them in that belief further.
RMS -- it may be if they are Jack Chick - type believers that they will not consider Catholics Christians either. Yeah, I know. But we can discuss that offline.
To actually contribute, I think it's messed up, but it's just another example of idiots making idiotic decisions. At least another, more accomodating charity was found.
You wake up at Seatac, SFO, LAX. You wake up at O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, BWI. Pacific, mountain, central. Lose an hour, gain an hour. This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.
I strongly recommend AGAINST anyone adding bile to their letters. I assume that CCF believes D&D is a work "of the flesh" and showing rage, anger, upset will only serve to confirm them in that belief further.
RMS -- it may be if they are Jack Chick - type believers that they will not consider Catholics Christians either. Yeah, I know. But we can discuss that offline.
Respectfully,
Brian P.
Hm. Point...in light of this, might I reccommend changing "Catholic" to "Christian"? No meaning is lost, and it sounds less...denominational? Again, trying to approach a common understanding, as it were. It'll work wonders.
I think it's quite blatant that a charity with such an ignorant and intolerant worldview is one that should never be given even an eighth of a penny. I bet they're young-and-flat-earth creationists who would burn Giordano Bruno at the stake over and over again if given the chance.
These people are clearly evil, pushing an agenda of religious oppression and obscurantism, and we should rejoice that they did not get the money because who know what they would have used it for? I'm sure there's a big chunk of indoctrination in their "educational programs" and "child sponsorships".
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Midnight Roamer
I think he did the only morally acceptable thing by killing everyone.
Rich states in his news post GenCon proceeded to donate the money to the Fisher House Foundation.
__________________ "They couldn't know that the points from the mainline to the siding were frozen, and the signal should have been set at 'DANGER', but snow had forced it down."
- The Flying Kipper
Pixar Fanboy of the Hinjo Fanclub
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hallavast
Ya know? I think I'd about kill Rowling if she wasn't holding me hostage with that last book of hers...
I am e-mailing to enquire as to the exact circumstances surounding your apparent rejection of a substantial donation by GenCon2008. I have heard rumours that you turned down this donation besed on the fact that it was raised in part on the sales of Dungons and Dragons materials. Please tell me this is not so.
Over the years a lot of poorly informed and hateful people have blamed Dungeons and Dragons for a wide veriaty of societies ill and placed at its feet allegations of unholy or unwholesome practices, but I had thought that we had outgrown this era of petty sniping and rumour mongering. There is nothing less christian than to spread flase rumour or to persuce others for their lawful and harmless passtimes. Gary Gygax, that co-creator of the game, was a frequent donator to your cause during his life and, if the rumors are true, this is a slap in the face of him, his family and gamers world wide.
I have been an Anglican in the Church in Wales all of my life and am a member of several christian orginisations and am also an avid gamer. I have yet to find a single argument against gaming in general and D&D in particular that has ever been substantiated. I e-mail to ask you for yoru reasons and to hope that you have not fallen into the trap of blind hatred.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The reply came:
Dear Mr. Foweraker,
Christian Children’s Fund made the decision to decline the gift from Gen Con, LLC as the request presented to us gave the appearance that CCF (the organization) was an endorser or supporter of a gaming convention, which CCF was not. As many non-profit organizations, CCF is selective in its endorsements or support in order to maintain the integrity of its name and logo. We cannot lend our name to an event for which we have no involvement. This decision should in no way be interpreted as CCF holding an opinion on Mr. Gygax, gaming enthusiasts or the game Dungeons and Dragons.
So, that is their line on the matter.
__________________
It is a contraction of Evil DM Mark 3. I don't know why why so many have difficulty with a standard contraction but there we are. In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded
Sir Terry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tirian
He may secretly be the World's Greatest Detective, but I think that the average person in the DC Universe thinks of Bruce Wayne as the World's Worst Skier.
You wake up at Seatac, SFO, LAX. You wake up at O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, BWI. Pacific, mountain, central. Lose an hour, gain an hour. This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.
Wait, people still think that D&D is satanic? Wasnt that in the 80's or something ?
According to them, they don't. I suspect however that they may have large, frequent donators who do.
__________________
It is a contraction of Evil DM Mark 3. I don't know why why so many have difficulty with a standard contraction but there we are. In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded
Sir Terry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tirian
He may secretly be the World's Greatest Detective, but I think that the average person in the DC Universe thinks of Bruce Wayne as the World's Worst Skier.
Wait...if they were supporters/endorsers of GenCon, wouldn't they be giving money to it? I would think this more appears that GenCon is supporting the CCF. They also could have accepted it as an anonymous donation, unless GenCon wanted to try and get their name out.
Last edited by Jack Squat : 10-31-2008 at 07:43 AM.
I read this thread's title and thought "Wait, who is giving Charity money and why?"
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Stoats legit King Arthur by The Succubus.
[naive]
Wait a minute ... so if CCF rejected the funds because it would give the appearance of CCF endorsing Gencon, why wouldn't Fisher House also reject those funds for the same reason?
[/naive]
I suspect EvilDMM has the right of it; CCF may have been put under pressure by people who donate a *lot* more money than we do.
I wonder if World Vision would refuse the money? It's mission is nearly identical to CCFs.
I know at the end of the day it makes no difference to what actually happened, but to correct something:
It appears, from reading about this situation on other blogs, can't recall who exactly, it was someone in the industry who was involved with Gen Con, that they didn't directly turn the money down, they actually said before the event that they didn't want to be the beneficiary.
Same result at the end of the day; just as stupid, but a little politer.
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