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Stand against racism, hate, and police brutality - #BlackLivesMatter

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Posted by Petie - June 6, 2020 - 12:07 PM

Last week, Ton left you with a simple message - Black Lives Matter. This isn’t just a statement, a group of protesters, or a movement; it’s a fact and one that’s unfortunately being regularly ignored. It’s sad that this even needs to be said in 2020 but I think the current state of the country makes it clear that not everyone is on the same page.

I’d like to quickly address the negativity displayed in the comments of last week’s update. Neither we nor anyone else using the phrase “Black Lives Matter” is suggesting that they matter more. They don’t claim that they’re the only victims of police brutality or the only targets of ignorance, hate, and racism. They simply want an end to the systemic racism they experience on a day-to-day basis, especially at the hands of the police, and that is something that everyone should be able to agree with unequivocally.

So I’ll leave you with this: We at The VG Resource stand with Black Lives Matter and against racism and police brutality. The changes they’re pushing for will benefit everyone and they deserve the justice they’re seeking. If these statements somehow offend you, nobody is forcing you to stay but remember this moment when you find yourself on the wrong side of history. And if you are choosing to be on the wrong side of history and are in fact just racist, do us all a favor and leave.

No new content will be highlighted in this update out of respect and in an effort to avoid distracting from the issue at hand. Instead, take a look here to see how you can help if you feel so inclined.

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	Luigifan1115 Jun 7, 2020, 7:00 PM
	bro i just wanted to see what sprites were here today

	Gussprint Jun 7, 2020, 6:02 PM
	@Gaia: Haven't watched a lot of TV back then, I'll admit... but I do remember coming across a GIF set of a scene from that show which, as you said, basically spelled the whole "the strong get it all, the weak get the scraps" thing out. Hard to believe it'd still be as relevant to this day, but here we are.

	Barack Obama Jun 7, 2020, 5:38 PM
	I randomly went by the TV screen of my little sister, with a message from Bethesda (TES Online) that they support BLM. Went to a random video game website to read that The Pokemon Company donates 100.000 Dollars to BLM/NAACP each. It's everywhere, Reddit, Twitter, etc. BLM is not only relevant to the US, but also to Brazil, France, China and many other countries which house racism within the authorities.

	Gaia Jun 7, 2020, 5:23 PM
	Does anyone remember adventure time where the show LITERALLY SPELLS IT OUT?! People used to believe that the strong get the good shit, and the weak get the scraps... Once the strong got everything they wanted, they made sure to keep it that way, with the ball in their court. When the people realized there's strength in unity, the old world's leaders were overthrown.

	SpritZ Jun 7, 2020, 5:19 PM
	Why can't everyone just get along? இ௰இ

	Gussprint Jun 7, 2020, 3:10 PM ^*
	Alright, you know what? I think I've mulled over this long enough. First of all, allow me to say I'm not usually the guy who tends to comment on real-life happenings on the web. I'm also not the kind of guy who looks at the actions of one and condemns an entire group of people for it, either. I've seen what THAT brings out. That being said, however... to all of you peeps who're seriously throwin' a fit over this update and the one before it, I'd just like to point out the simple fact that someone out there actually legitimally thought causing a literal Ferguson 2.0 would be a good way to spend an afternoon. Right in the middle of all the other crap (Like, oh I dunno, a global friggin' pandemic?) the world's been facing so far, lest we forget. Just sayin', maybe there's a good reason why people are more than a little upset right now. ...So yeah. Crazy times we're livin' in, huh. LAST-MINUTE EDIT: Just so we're clear, yes. Law enforcement in general desperately needs a fix of some kind, that I agree. I'm just pointin' out how tossing the whole basket out because of one rotten apple might do more harm than good, I'd think.

	You Gotta be Joshing me Jun 7, 2020, 3:02 PM
	I stand with SonicStorm478. I feel like these past two updates opened a can of worms.

	SonicStorm478 Jun 7, 2020, 2:15 PM ^*
	So I guess basically anyone that doesn't want a political discussion like this on the site is "on the wrong side of history" and therefore instantly a racist and should leave? That literally makes no sense. There's also the statement that cops in general are racist. Quite a few cops are black, so I don't really understand why you would specifically call out the police in general as being racist. Yes, the police brutality of Floyd was unnecessary and violent, but that was just a few cops, not the entire police force. Frankly, I never expected this site of all places to become basically filled up with heated political discussions. It honestly feels rather strange coming here and seeing this stuff whenever I come here since I'm so accustomed to everyone being friendly to each other and such. I'm personally not a fan of the growing rift in this community with people being at each others throats either. I personally believe a mention about the current events and then a general rundown of what's been added to the site, ala many earlier updates that talked about recent events, would have probably been less controversial overall in comparison to this full-blown political discussion. Speaking of which, I've noticed that these political discussions are getting more and more heated, so I'm probably gonna leave this site, at least for a while if not indefinitely. I've never been a fan of politics, especially on sites completely unrelated to the matter because of this. This place is going pretty crazy.

	SpritZ Jun 7, 2020, 1:16 PM
	@Firejoker54 Who on earth said I was offended by anyone's opinion? I was never offended by them at all, and you shouldn't ever assume that. I just think that the way a lot of you are expressing your opinions is a bit ridiculous, don't you think? Oh sure, people can talk about serious topics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, even. But if someone talks about serious topics on here? You should be ashamed! (￢︿̫̿￢☆)

	GigaX Jun 7, 2020, 12:19 PM
	I'll say it again, all lives matter equally. This statement is not an attack, it is a fact. It's a statement on par with "It's okay to be white", which some horrible people choose to disagree with. One on par with "It's okay to be straight", which again, some horrible people disagree with. However, the update comments on this site are not the proper place for a discussion on this topic. This issue was brought up in the previous update's comment section, and I wholeheartedly agree with it. This is not a political website. It is a museum, as stated before. A museum dedicated to artwork on pieces of technology upwards of 40 years old. Thus, the update's main text, similar to a museum's placard in front of an exhibit, should be about the update, and nothing else. If there was a difficult time in the office a certain game was created (say, unreasonable crunch time put on the developers), then highlighting that issue would be reasonable. BLM and everything they stand for are completely unrelated to this site's topic, and thus should not be put on the placard at the front of the update, unless a game within the update was created for, or affected by, their views or actions. If you wish to talk about these topics, creating a space related to those topics would be more prudent - say, a political section of the tSR forums. I find it hard to see these views as arguable.

	Gaia Jun 7, 2020, 11:03 AM
	@Viscera: Because america's oppressed was finally able to stand up and fight back after 400 years, it inspired those around the world as well to do the same. In the Philippines, people are fighting to junk the terror bill knowing how dangerous the bill itself is. People are now realizing just how awful everything is around the world, starting with (ironically) the supposed world police.

	Mysticus Jun 7, 2020, 8:03 AM
	America really went through a lot.

	Mr. L Jun 7, 2020, 5:31 AM
	The violence and prejudice of the police are endemic to every country that uses that flawed institution, not just America. This isn't a case of a uniquely American problem inciting violence across the world, it's American resistance to the violence of the system of policing inspiring others to similarly call for an end to the brutality that is inevitable within such a system.

	Viscera Jun 7, 2020, 3:27 AM
	Wow, you actually took my criticism to heart. Or did you even figure out for yourselves, that the way you went on about it last time was pretty terrible? If so, I'd nearly feel something like respect for you. Although I find it hard to take someone seriously, who unironically uses phrases like the "wrong side of history". One thing that bothers the hell out of me about the whole thing is that everyone outside of the USA is dragged into this mess, one way or another. Just because it's America. If something like that happened in any other country, barely a fraction would even care. How did such a horrid, violent, downright savage country become the center of the world? It boggles the mind, really. @Gaia: If it had been America, he'd be dead already, so there's that. With the USA essentially being a third-world country (culturally) that pretends to be civilized, it always comes off worse when compared to an actual first-world country. Those have certainly their fair share of issues, but aren't anywhere close to the hell that is the USA.

	NMarioMaster7 Jun 7, 2020, 8:47 AM
	Thank you for the message.

	GloverMist Jun 7, 2020, 6:29 AM
	Thank you for addressing this and making such a positive statement - this is absolutely the right thing to do and say at a time like this. It's good to know that this site is run by the right kind of people, and I've finally got to make my first comment on the site in support of this! Anyone who takes even the slightest bit of offence to this needs to really look at themselves and think about what's important in the world. Keep it up, staff team.

	GYTNPJulie Jun 7, 2020, 12:58 AM
	I'm so proud of you, so glad you're doing this, you're amazing

	Gaia Jun 7, 2020, 12:35 AM
	Narrow minded American views? Have you NOT SEEN JAPAN, WHERE MOST OF THESE SPRITE RIPS CAME FROM?! A man was arrested there because he was a foreigner, and the police there did not like that at all. This is what inspired solidarity as Japan isn't an apolitical paradise as everyone thinks it is!

	Firejoker54 Jun 6, 2020, 11:25 PM ^*
	@Sketch_Turner95 - I disagree with the fact that Petie and Ton brought politics to the front page of a video game sprite museum of all things. Do I think it was done clumsily? Yes. However I have to say you're the narrow minded one here if you state your opinion and then run away, deflecting all cristicism. What you're doing here is cowardly. You can disagree with people without throwing a tantrum. Won't be a big loss for the site I guess..

	Sketch_Turner95 Jun 6, 2020, 11:08 PM
	Way to go and cause a divide in an international community of artists with your narrow minded American views, which are nothing more than attempts to virtue signal. Please don't waste your energy with my comment either, I'm never returning to this site now because of this stunt.

	Firejoker54 Jun 6, 2020, 9:16 PM ^*
	This wasn't directed at you Petie but yes, one thing I do think needs to go are police unions. The way they stood outside and applauded the 2 cops being released after being charged for assault on that old man was disgusting. They're bringing all the good cops down in the public opinion.

	Petie Jun 6, 2020, 8:31 PM
	@Firejoker54 I'd like to point out that I also never stated that most cops are corrupt. I believe that most of them are probably good people and as always, a vocal minority is all we truly see. But just because not all cops won't randomly pull people out of cars and beat them or kill them in the middle of the street in broad daylight doesn't mean that police forces as a whole don't need serious reform. Any "good" cop that stands by and allows the bad ones to act unchecked is a part of the problem as are police unions protecting all of them, lawsuits being paid out of tax dollars, lack of training for deescalation and mental health care, and of course, a visible trend of discrimination against people of color. For a little context about me personally, I worked for a county police department (in security, not as a sworn officer) for 5+ years and consider a number of good cops friends because I've seen them do the right thing when it counts. I definitely don't think they're all bad but I think the system is broken and that is what Black Lives Matter is truly fighting to change and why I, personally, proudly stand with them.

	James816 Jun 6, 2020, 8:08 PM
	Thank you for recognizing an important and necessary movement. Stay positive, folks.

	Firejoker54 Jun 6, 2020, 7:45 PM
	@Petie - Fair enough, my mistake. The way you worded that made me think you meant something else @miyabi95 - 26 here and I'm still waiting for that so called "privilege". Assuming most of the cops are corrupt is dumb and a disrespect to their service. Is there a minority that needs to be held accountable and taken off the forces? Yes of course, I believe so. A minority. Believe me you won't say the same thing when they come to your rescue in time of need. @SpritZ - Why are you so overly offended by people sharing their opinions about serious topics in a civil manner?