So, Ja'nar, as we already discussed in Messenger (I had assumed, having discussed this, it wouldn't have been necessary to bring this OOC onto the forum, but since it has then I need to respond here, obviously), I understand your feeling is that this is a place for escape, and not somewhere that you expect to be confronted with contentious OOC issues. For the most part, incidentally, "antagonizing a player's beliefs" is indeed against the rules. But I don't see this as intending to antagonize anyone's beliefs, certainly not as much as calling pro-life people who honestly oppose abortion "insensitive and tasteless." I'm pro-choice, mind you, and I don't feel as Oswaldt does, but I think he should be able to express himself here the same as anyone can, as long as he's not intending to offend people. I don't think he is, and remember also that he isn't the person who introduced abortion into AGW.

That said, yes abortion is a contentious thing, and an ugly thing—it offends some people (clearly) and makes some people feel uncomfortable. But war is ugly, genocide is ugly, gaiacide is ugly, and these are all things that the RP deals with regularly. The thing to keep in mind is it isn't real. I've solicited opinions from a lot of members and all of them seem to have the same attitude; that this is RP, and shouldn't be taken so seriously. I don't think anyone here has a monopoly on emotions when it comes to abortion. You don't have this monopoly any more than I have a monopoly on emotions when it comes to atheism—another sensitive subject that has also come up in the RP, and in Star Wars. As for the argument that abortion isn't something that concerns Star Wars, I read the Senate debate closely and saw no references to religion (and incidentally, many references to Star Wars era technologies, etc.). Under the circumstances then, I don't see why abortion can't be discussed here. For all I know, Oswaldt feels as strongly about abortion as you do, and possibly for many of the same reasons that you do. I don't know that, but supposing its true I don't see how management can require it to be deleted, thus offending one person so that another person isn't offended.

In sum, I think what's needed here isn't necessarily respect for how other people feel about this, but certainly respect for them being allowed to say how they feel about this. And it is a game, yes, but it's a game that draws inspiration from our real world, and our real lives. I wouldn't say, for example, that it's "tasteless and insensitive" for Cambrist to propose the Imperial Astrogation Museum because let's say I'm not comfortable OOC with museums—which exist in the real world. It's a silly example, but I think it illustrates the same thing. In any case, worst case scenario you don't need to take part in the discussion. Again, I'm sorry I had to post all this here, but since it had been raised on the forums I feel like it had to be responded to here too.

Jace Varitek
Manager/Administrator from January 2003 to Present
My recent posts here, pre-2009 archives here

"When my information changes, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
—John Maynard Keynes

Furthermore, a dancing Wookiee: