[Closed] podima - repeatedly facilitates sexual violence in his forum games

The Something Awful Forums > Archives > Comedy Goldmine > The Goodmine > [Closed] podima - repeatedly facilitates sexual violence in his forum games

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

everythingWasBees posted:

recruitment was done on the forums for each and all the games were done on discords.

because any ooc chat about the games was against the rules, people never really knew what was going on until afterwards when they compared notes, or if they were already talking with friends and debating leaving.

was it a game where the players weren't all together seeing each other's scenes? like a werewolf game or something where the person running the game would do one on one RP with someone and the players had to solve some kind of mystery relating to each other?

If the dude was using that to spring weird sex stuff on people, that seems very much like taking advantage of the game's format to be a creep.

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 03:17

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ Apr 27, 2024 11:15

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

Meinberg posted:

The torture stuff happened during the playing of the Riven megagame, which you can find a link for here: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3851229

The worst stuff did happen off site though. I�ll see if I can find anything, but I imagine that I�ve been removed from any discords that have any specific receipts. I can say, though, that in the second game where bad stuff happened, I was assigned this character to play: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iqACiju_RoJtYaluMgI1ZSOzkZOtlT-AcX4KrtD0EW8/edit

Despite offering complaints in discord about the sexual violence of the character�s backstory, I was told to ignore the concerns and at the time I believed that was the best course of action, despite later events (as described above) leading me to regret that decision.

Okay, so, let me get this clear. Podima advertised for a Discord game of some variety on these forums, you joined. You were given a character with a giant backstory about sexual assault without your input (by Podima?) You were told (by Podima?) to ignore your discomfort with this. The fact that anything like this would be a part of the game was not mentioned to you before you joined. Is this correct?

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 03:28

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

Meinberg posted:

correct

Podima did not write the characters. He simply refused any edits from their original writeups, which were designed for a game of much shorter length and presumably one with some manner of safety tools and ideally content notes about the sexual content. Said game was one he had played in and thought was cool.

Okay, so, when you asked to like, tweak your character's backstory, which contained this paragraph

quote:

Look! I made a mechanical version of you, and of you, and of you. They are all clockwork, underneath the skin. You can open them up and see it. See? They talk like you and act like you, in a lot of ways. But I can understand them, because they are just machines, and not unpredictable like real people are unpredictable. They will be my girlfriends.

Podima got mad at you and refused to let you change any of it.

Because that's pretty loving weird.

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 03:38

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

actually if he wrote a giant backstory about loving computers that might be why jeff made him an admin

The Lord of Hats posted:

Characters are prewritten, and there's a casting process--which does include trigger warnings about what people feel comfortable dealing with in the course of the game

Yes but going by the experiences cited in this thread it's sounding less like this process was 'lets work with you to make this more comfortable with you' or 'yeah this is gonna touch on that stuff so it might be a good idea to bail' and more like it was 'shut up and deal with it'

if you're going to bring that stuff up in a group roleplay, even if its handled perfectly and tastefully (which going by the writing sample this 100% does not meet), everyone needs to be on the same exact page. this is happening, we have all agreed to it happening, etc. it sounds like some players were okay with it, some were pressured into being okay with it, and some weren't aware it was even happening in the same game they were in until other people brought it up.

this sort of thing is a group experience. if you're pressuring or tricking people into putting up with things they don't want to deal with, then that's not a group experience, that's you tricking people into roleplaying out weird sex stuff.

if podima wanted to play this stuff then he could have just made sure everyone was going to be cool with it. personally i think 'spoilers' in a discord RP are a much smaller issue than telling someone 'btw weird sex poo poo was happening offscreen in that RP you were in, constantly, and you didnt know about it' or just handing someone a character sheet about how an autistic kid made perfect sex dolls (as an aside even ignoring the sex doll thing that sheet talks about autistic people like they're grotesque aliens lol)

Meinberg posted:

I did manage to save a screenshot of that convo, actually, when discussing the matter with some friends at the time. I feel bad for not having done more to push back at the concepts of the character at the time, to be honest, but there was a fair amount of peer pressure to comply.

Admin edit: removing link for privacy

okay this bit specifically, yeah, gently caress podima. you're expressing a clear concern (isnt making perfect robo (sex?) dolls of people without their consent kinda rape-y, i dont wanna play that) and podima is going 'obviously WE know thats bad... but wouldnt it be cool to play... its deep. we'll handle it super respectfully. i promise.'

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 03:50

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

The Lord of Hats posted:

That was the character Meinberg was assigned. As I understand it, did raise it as a question, talked through playing it with the mods--and yes, as shown, Pod talked about what he thought the authorial intent was--and ultimately decided that they were fine going ahead with it as written. And I believe that there was a further check-in, to which Meinberg expressed that they were still fine with it. This is not a case of "change was requested, Pod was mad"

After the game began, rather than bring up with the gamerunners that "Actually, no, I know I said I was fine with it but I've realized that I'm not", they proceeded to privately message other players about "Hey, my character is actually terrible, and this is the mods' secret fetish". I can't really speak to why Meinberg made this decision. An offshoot discord was formed, which included someone spectating the game taking screenshots of other players' private correspondence with the mods ('confessionals', private channels for communicating concerns with the mod and generally making notes or working on characterization, and which some players choose to have open to spectators), and sharing it. Understandably, this created a significant schism in the community, which did eventually split

the base reaction to Meinberg expressing their discomfort was already hosed.

Like the moment Meinberg expressed that discomfort the response being two people trying to coerce them into going along with it was never the right move. It should have been something all players were aware of going in and it should have been something the group as a whole discussed.

That Little Demon posted:

It is Very Cool that one of the... uh.. 7 people dictating what is/isn't funny on this forum and what is/isn't allowed to be posted and who is/isn't banned for saying a bad word, or who lose access to 99% of the forums for a joke, or whatever, out of the thousands of people who post on this site, is the ONE person running a rapist Riven: The Sequel to Myst roleplay featuring sex dolls of posters. Jeff, my hat is off to you! I see now why implementing flags in Imp Zone is so difficult when decisions like this take awhile to sort out.

Thank you!

to be clear i think the sex dolls were of poster's characters, not the posters themselves. you know, which is uhhh, extremely normal, actually.

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 04:00

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

Fluffdaddy posted:

This normal for RP? A list of hosed up poo poo this long? I am being serious with this question.

Some things will touch on darker themes so it's normal to warn for that, but it's generally not the norm, no. And personally the very... tumblr-y vibes is kinda off to me too. Like I did a dark fantasy game once but i just said 'yeah this'll be like witcher or something, heads up' not 'neurodiversity and sexual diversity.'

and the issue at play here is that this list doesnt actually mention sexual assault or torture but those were apparently in the game.

The Lord of Hats posted:

There's all of two incidents at play here. If people want to think differently of Pod than I do, that's their choice, but it should at least be on the facts as opposed to a game of telephone that he's some kind of serial non-con ERPer who likes to drag people in unwillingly.

look. were people playing in this game without initially being aware the game contained this kind of thing? that is, at the moment play started, were there any people in the game who did not know about the girlfriend robots, or whatever the second 'incident' is? if the second incident happened after play started, were there people in the game who did not give permission for it and were not aware it happened? this is a yes/no question.

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 04:11

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

The Lord of Hats posted:

Yes.

Okay.

That is tricking people into roleplaying weird sex poo poo. Permaban Podima.

Fluffdaddy,, here is the sequence of events as I understand it. I wasn't involved but I'm familiar enough with RP and I was in a discord with Bees at the time and remember them mentioning it offhand a few times.

1. Podima recruits for a game on the forums.
2. The game contains the Girlfriend Robots.
3. The person assigned the girlfriend sex robots character does not like the character, but is told to 'trust' the people running the game.
4. Bees, Renessia, Meinberg (and possibly others?) make a group chat to discuss the game. At least one of Bees and Renessia (possibly both?) is not aware of the girlfriend sex robots due to the game's format and is creeped out by them when they learn of them.
5. They go through conversations they've had with the people running the game and try and corroborate other issues they've had. Someone with access to every channel in the discord is also creeped out and posts some creepy stuff that's gone on in the DMs between the people running the game and other players.
6. They try and discuss this with Podima and get this response.

renessia posted:

Even the person defending Podima acknowledges both

The Lord of Hats posted:

Yes.

1) There was sex stuff happening in the game that some players did not know about and were not warned about. (Which, even if their characters weren't directly involved, is still weird and uncomfortable)

and 2)

The Lord of Hats posted:

RP yes, ERP, no, save for the fact that that scene (which I do think was ill-advised, but I also never felt the need to go and read it).

At least one weird sex scene happened in the Riven: THE SEQUEL TO MYST game that Podima was involved in (and other players presumably also did not know about/were not warned about.)

I really don't know how you could interpret this as anything less but cause for permabanning. He recruited people from the forums into an uncomfortable sexual situation without warning them beforehand, and then when they tried to express their concerns he tried to pressure and coerce them into it and paint himself as the victim.

Like, even if you don't go and read it, it still happened in a game you are participating in. That would make most people uncomfortable!

Toalpaz posted:

I think pod did not handle that game well, and he his co-mod were not kind to us. They did a hilarious, 'heads down, those who think the game should end raise your hands.' and then removed all permissions from players who voted for the game to end while carrying on without them. Including any ability to communicate with other players.

lmfao

Endorph fucked around with this message at 04:31 on Mar 19, 2023

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 04:29

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

peramene posted:

I want to be absolutely clear about this, because I see that this is already devolving into the same inane nonsense it devolved into last time Bees tried this on my discord server.

I ran Riven. Podima assisted, often kicking and screaming, to make my dream a reality. It was, largely, still a tremendous failure.

He is not responsible. I am the OP on the forum thread. I am the owner of the discord server. (idiots)

Conflating these two games and hiding my ownership of Riven was willfully manipulative, of the exact sort of character I have come to expect from Bees et al.

oh hey, thanks. you're loving late. you started off with a misrepresentation that better served your narrative, and now you're walking it back. anything else you want to clarify?

well who to believe about this sex pervert situation... bees, or

peramene posted:

I purchased and 100%'d Huniecam so quickly that I still get friends shaming me over it. And I deserve to be shamed. But anything for Audrey.

quote:

In HunieCam Studio players take control of a sleazy cam girl operation. Rake in stacks of filthy internet money and attract as many disgusting fans as you can in this fast paced, click happy and thoroughly perverted take on the business tycoon / management sim genre!

Recruit cam models from an eclectic cast of cuties who have probably made some poor life choices. Manage your girls' daily errands/activities to keep them stress-free and productive. Invest in various aspects of your business to improve functions and expand operations. Optimize your cam shows by promoting girls who match popular trends/fetishes. Abandon your morals and disappoint everybody who cares about you!

Up to 18 unique cam girls covering a wide variety of perverse preferences!
Send your models to the strip club to increase their talent, the photo studio for more exposure, the day spa to relax a bit, etc...
Analyze important stats on your fans and performers to maximize revenue!
Purchase sex toys and other kinky accessories to aid the girls' performances and boost viewership!
Promote your studio on other adult sites and fetish communities all over the web!
Contract up to six horrific STDs including chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea!

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 04:39

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

Good soup! posted:

Obama: I want to be absolutely clear about this, uhh, because I want the record straight that, uhh, I am, in fact, the owner of this Riven Rape Project

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 04:55

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

thank you to the mods/admins for actually opening this thread and allowing discussion because as someone else pointed out if this had happened 'behind closed doors' like jeffrey wanted theres no way any of this poo poo would have been resolved.

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 05:05

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

these people really seem like the types that think using a bunch of HR inclusivity speak is a gateway to moral purity instead of the actual material facts of whats happening in a situation

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 05:15

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

The Saddest Rhino posted:

i can't believe i made a point in sagas discussion about "hey we maybe shouldn't go hunting down people's posts to find out the weird opinions they used to have in order to own them" and then this guy's post history includes "how do i make i sexy animal roleplaying more inclusive"

i'm so conflicted ngl lmao

imo it should be allowed if its relevant to the current bad opinion they're posting and its funny, which both the huniecam post and the petplay post meet

edit:

lmfao

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 05:26

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

very nice i like posted:

Listen I don't care if someone is wheelchair bound and chained to a beam in their basement or whatever other reason goons give for attaching their entire being to online activity, this is outside of reality and not healthy lol like come on

its not healthy but its easy for peoples brains to get tricked into unhealthy behaviors

especially if you have a social circle not only encouraging you to participate but using language that makes participating feel like a moral good

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 05:38

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

Staluigi posted:

I need to step away from this and have someone explain it to me later when the Sagas thread exists again

I need boomer terminology for this one, like "I'm totally gobsmackered on this one, it's a doozy" there is no other way to describe it

someone made a discord rp for riven 2 the sequel for myst and then inserted a bunch of weird sex stuff without running it by the players and then they and their friends were like 'wow you guys are kinda harshing the vibe' when people called it weird

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 05:58

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ Apr 27, 2024 11:15

Endorph: Jul 22, 2009

even ignoring the sex stuff it seems like an insanely hosed up and weird space tbh

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 15:16

The Something Awful Forums > Archives > Comedy Goldmine > The Goodmine > [Closed] podima - repeatedly facilitates sexual violence in his forum games