w1n5t0n

What you say about having unique experiences based on your cultural back ground is true. But What Giant Bomb needed for this particular job opening were a combination of criteria the most important of which is chemistry with the crew. Giant Bomb isn't just personalities first, it's completely predicated upon personalities. That's it's shtick. Based on that, Jeff picked the guys he thinks are the best fit for the Job. And honestly nobody knows better than Jeff who fits the job best since A.) He saw all the applications and B.) He sort of drives the vision of Giant Bomb.

It really isn't Giant Bombs job to make sure every single different voice out there is represented. There are tons of sites on the internet! They don't all have to be all things to all people. Also, the internet is pretty damn open, its very easy to start your own site if you feel like there is a need that isn't being catered too. It's actually a really great opportunity. I love Giant Bomb, I really do. But if it doesn't fit in your world view for one reason or another, or the tone isn't up your alley there are other great communities too. I really don't want the chemistry fucked up because some people with a bone to pick think something that isn't theirs needs to be run differently than it's creators envision.

interesting that you view this criticism as a "warped crusade." could you maybe explain that? hiring women and people of color for positions of influence isn't a "social issue", it's kind of just... other people's lives?

That's not what they were saying though. They wanted to see different appearances, not different opinions. I don't recall that being the criticism.

Right, but they didn't like the hires becausethey wanted to see different appearances. They wanted to see a woman or black man for instance. They didn't dislike the hires specifically for who they are.

@rorie: I was referring to the Twitter 'incident'; I should have been more clear on that. It was rather easy to see that people were arguing on two completely different fronts. What you say supports my point. Indeed, nobody said the hires were not appropriate, yet countless stated that they were appropriate as an argument.

Two sides just talking passed each other. What I meant was that as long as they discuss on different plains, they won't be able to do so effectively.

There are people who dislike diversity and tolerance. Those people are assholes.

Then among people who say they like diversity and tolerance, there are two camps.

The first camp sees tolerance as a reason to embrace people, accept others, and treat everyone with respect.

The second camp sees tolerance as justification to be constantly offended, to constantly boycott and exclude, and to only being kind to those seen as "allies", while reserving contempt for a perpetually growing list of "enemies".

I like Giant Bomb and the community because it embraces the warm happy middle, or at least does a better job of it than most places. Embrace diversity and tolerance because it gives you a reason to embrace people, accept others, and treat everyone with respect. Stay away from the extremes that are both just excuses to exclude and complain and hate.

GB is pretty awesome, most of the time.

But the internet fucking sucks. Seriously. And I'm not just talking about the people who started the shitstorm yesterday. When Rorie told someone on Twitter that they're really really busy right now and don't have time to write an official response because all of the shit that is happening, he got shit for that. Like, motherfucker give them some slack, will you.