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LS: I’m baffled by anyone whose response to actual action to address lack-of-representation issues is to complain that it’s token. It’s like complaining Roger Banister’s 4min mile was a token effort because John Landy did it again and faster a month later. Show me doing it better and I’ll take my hat off to you. Complaining that it’s not being done right is complaining that it’s being done at all.
LS: Dstl is actually putting a lot of effort into this. They’re having these discussions with suppliers. They’ve been addressing internal barriers and having an institution-wide discussion across thousands of employers. They’ve been promoting best practices on wargaming across the UK defence establishment. The issue isn’t what hobby gamers do with their miniatures–it’s the signal sent to women and minorities in the UK military and more broadly. From a training and military effectiveness point of view you actually want to highlight, not simply reflect or play down, diversity in the ranks in order to create soldiers better suited to operate in increasingly complex, diverse, and multicultural institutions.
I like the idea of putting in some variety to better reflect the actual makeup of the combat units involved. But, like the rest of the wargame, it needs to *reflect* reality (ie if 90% of the troops really are white males, then so be it). To do otherwise is to engage in some sort of propaganda operation.
I certainly hope we’re not starting down a path the leads to me seeing a few white females mixed into my Zulu Impis, “to promote inclusion and diversity”.
On the other hand, I’d love for someone to do a scenario depicting the 1077th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, whose female gunners made an extraordinary last stand outside Stalingrad, arguably saving the city from being quickly overrun.
But see, that would require actual *effort*. Much easier to just get some token voice-acting and call it a day.
Thank you PAXsims for this initiative. Everyone should feel welcome. It is important to encourage a change in the systemic culture that marginalizes certain groups based on traits that, as noted, are “irrelevant to gaming”.
Sally, the only threat to those groups is from you – by labelling them “marginalized” you are the one providing an axe to grind. What a person chooses to do with their sex organs is irrelevant to wargaming – until someone like you suggests it matters.
madorosh, just to be clear: my ideological world view is that women, disabled, LGBT, BAME/POC and other marginalised wargamers deserve respect. I’m sorry you feel so threatened by that concept.
In my experience those who find this controversial tend to be with hobbyists with an ideological axe to grind and not so much among professionals—among the latter there is broad agreement on the nature of the problem, the deleterious effects it has had, and the steps that need to be taken to address it. Nothing in this statement precludes people playing with whomever they wish in their leisure time. Rather, it represents a statement of professional best practice in nurturing, enlarging, and making best use of a pool of talent, and making all members of our teams feel valued and respected.
Sally, your lack of a response only proves my point. You mention ‘diversity covers a lot of ground’ but apparently, you aren’t willing to commit to a description of what precisely that ground is. I think if I were to amplify John’s comment, it would be to suggest that these stated principles are a solution in desperate search for a problem. Whenever terms like “underrepresented” pop up in the conversation, it’s usually to signal the ideological worldview of the person using it. In this case, some mythic belief that equality of outcome is the same as equality of opportunity. They are not the same things.
I’m not clear on your point, John. Are you arguing for “homogeneity and exclusion” rather than “diversity and inclusion?” Do you think we shouldn’t care about the quality of professional, serious games, despite the evidence that diversity produces better analysis? Or do you just have a problem with “signalling”, and believe that the community should be secretive about its common values?
What a load of politically correct virtue signalling nonsense.
Hi Michael, I’m sorry about the “tick all that apply” error, please use the free text box to provide your answer instead. Diversity covers a lot of ground, it’s not only about skin colour. It’s important to me that there is space for every kind of diversity in my survey.
The survey on diversity has several flaws, from the minor (a spelling error) to the relatively major (where it says ‘click all that apply’ it only lets you click one). I don’t see how you can have a working group and survey devoted to “diversity” without actually defining what you mean. The survey gives a definition of, anyone “outside the majority” in terms of background and class. This isn’t useful or helpful. If you mean “white-skinned” perhaps you need to just say it. Otherwise, what is your definition of a “majority background”?
Imaginetic and I proudly, wholly, and completely endorse the Derby House Principles, and will ensure they are a driving force in Imaginetic’s hiring practices, and development efforts.
An excellent initiative. Very pleased to see all the endorsements and support.