I’ve always been a “say what I want to say” kind of person here. This is my blog, and all 800+ posts I have written were put out there for me. This blog has been a chronicle of my growth from a starstruck MMO player to transitioning to working in the industry that I am so passionate about. It has served me well; I love searching tags and going back to get a glimpse into who I was and what I was thinking at any point in time. Generally in the past, I blogged about news and my personal gaming experience. This isn’t something “new” in the MMO blogging community and I never wanted it to be. I was simply having fun keeping a chronicle of my gaming and enjoyed having conversations with people who replied to me.
I no longer feel that me having a dialog with myself about what I’m currently playing is the only content I have to offer. I am now transitioning this blog a bit, and the blog header says it all — “Alternative digital culture via social media, the web, gaming and virtual worlds.” I’m sure all of you have noticed that I talk more about gender issues and topics that concern the LGBT community and allies – a group I’m happy to be a part of. I think there is opportunity for education, discovery, and growth towards understanding, acceptance, equality, and appreciation through the web and virtual spaces. It’s something I am interested in.
What I’m trying to say here, is that if you’re offended by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender conversation..you probably don’t want to read this blog. I’ve now had three people send me mail telling me that they will be removing me from their RSS feed if I don’t stop talking about LGBT issues. Or things like “As a representative of your company, you shouldn’t spout this propaganda.” I’m sorry – that is a load of bullshit. As a community manager, I love all my users. I think differences are what make virtual communities strong. I have never been hateful or prejudiced against any ‘class’ of people – what I promote is love, acceptance, support, and understanding. And what I say here has nothing to do with my representation of my company, this is my personal blog. My Twitter is my personal Twitter. I do a shitty job of seperating the two (I should really fix that…) but keep that in mind.
I love all my readers. I’m still baffled that 1000+ people hit this site every day. I don’t doubt that my readership will shift and change when people who don’t share my viewpoints drift on to other blogs that suit them more. I’m fine with that. I will continue to post about anything I want including my daily gaming log, news in the industry, gender issues, culture, LGBT news and topics. If you’re offended, unsubscribe. If you’re curious, stick around and have a conversation with me. 
/rant off.
Tami Baribeau is the Associate Producer for Metaplace, Inc, currently working on Island Life. She is also the Lead Editor of feminist gaming blog The Border House, and the National Facebook Games Examiner for Examiner.com. She can be reached on Twitter or by email.
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Nothing wrong with being honest with ones self and others. It's your blog you have fun and talk about the issues that shape your life.
“I’ve now had three people send me mail telling me that they will be removing me from their RSS feed if I don’t stop talking about LGBT issues. “
That's actually kind of amusing, in a sad way. Did they think you'd respond with “Oh noes! I can't lose you! I'll stop talking about the topics that are important to me!!”
I mean, I support their decision to stop reading you. I've done the same thing with other people (in my case, it was when I learned that an 'internet celebrity' believed global warming was a conspiratorial hoax) but I didn't expect this person to change her beliefs because of me. I just stopped offering my eyes to her. I'm sure she didn't miss me and if for some reason I'd made it known I was unsubscribing, she wouldn't care a bit.
Anyway, tangent. Sorry. People just amaze me with their attitudes sometimes.
So far I have been lucky in Metaplace and haven't received any anger or attitude for my LGBT position, but I know it was only with hesitation that I ever stated an opinion because of this very type of behavior.
You are in a unique position to reach a whole lot more people than the average person and I think it is great that you speak for a community that needs the visibility and support as much as we can get it. Thank you for not shying away from what you feel and being yourself.
You have always been respectful to everyone I have ever seen you talk with in Metaplace and I think you are right about your job as community manager encompassing all of your community.
You're wise and wonderful, and you have a beautiful way with words. I admire you so much!
bah! fuck them. you're awesome.
m3mnoch.
Good on you! If bigots and jerks get to self-identify and remove themselves, so much the better.
We're not “representatives of our company” 24/7, and it's not that hard to separate what someone says as official business from what they say on their own time, in their own media. Besides, I get the impression Metaplace is *about* opportunity and inclusion.
Keep doing what you're doing: it's good, and it's needed.
Thanks Brooke
<3
I wouldn't mind if you wrote more about LGBT communities in virtual worlds, but to be fair, it is your personal blog and should be about what YOU want to write and not any of us.
It is called Cuppytalk for a reason
Welcome to the club, Cuppycake. I've been forced to make depressingly similar posts on my blog every once in a while, just without the LGBT part. Basically people are telling us that we aren't allowed to post opinions that offend them, be that politics, religion, or game design. Of course *any* strong opinion is going to offend *somebody*, so this is a complete no-win situation.
Next up: Some troll posts offending personal attacks on your blog, you delete the comment, you're accused of censorship, and Godwin's Law kicks in.
Its your blog. Its probally a good idea to let yourself talk about what you want there unless you really want to end up with 3-4 different personal blogs on different subjects.
Anyway those who will be bothered are trolls anyway.
Yeah Tobold, that has happened to me too! It's so annoying. You better believe I censor on my own blog. I don't write here to be insulted or chastised, or do I want this place to be a negative hateful place. This is my hosting fee, my domain name, and my piece of the web that comes up when anyone Googles my name or my moniker. And you better believe I censor as it's my reputation at stake – not anon trolls!
Fair play, I don't think I'd be as strong in defending myself if someone was to try to shame me in that way, and it really is the shame tactic with a capital S by bringing your company into it, among other things.
I don't follow this blog myself, but came here through chooseareality's tweet post. I agree that as a representative of your company, you should not use official channels to promote an agenda (I don't know if you were referring to me or not.
. That being said, however, this is your personal blog. As much as I may stand in opposition to your viewpoint, I would fight for your right to put it here. This is your space, and your place to speak your voice. I am a believer in the Bill Of Rights, and if first amendment protections don't apply to all of us, then they apply to none of us.
If its your personal blog, you have every right to speak your mind on issues you like. Metaplace is trickier, since when you do an event there you are acting in the name of your company. TBH though Metaplace is going to be so niche at best it doesn't matter, I don't think enough people will exist to complain, and those that do will be approving anyways. If Metaplace was a larger MMO and bigger budget, you might have to keep more of a demarcation between personal views and proffessional.