🎲 Big Discussion in the Board Gaming World Right Now

[Everything Board Games]

Big Discussion in the Board Gaming World Right Now

Recently, a longtime BoardGameGeek employee was fired after rejecting advertising for the upcoming game Possess Me, Satan, citing his personal Christian beliefs and experiences helping people he believes suffered from demonic oppression.

After the emails became public online, the situation quickly spread across Reddit, forums, YouTube, and social media. BoardGameGeek later stated the employee’s response “does not reflect or represent” the company and announced he had been let go.

This video from Andy and Daniel breaks down:
• the controversy itself
• the community response
• questions about faith and free expression
• and why some Christians view themes involving Satan and demonic possession very differently than others

Watch here:

Is Satan a Bridge Too Far The Board Game Geek Firing Explained - EverythingBoardGames.com

Do you want early access to our giveaways? Do you want to read our reviews before your friends? Join the COOL KIDS by subscribing to EverythingBoardGames.Com’s Email List Today!! Is Satan a Bridge Too…

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This has turned into a much larger conversation than just one game.

Some people feel the employee acted unprofessionally and improperly mixed personal beliefs with company decisions.

Others feel people of faith are increasingly dismissed or mocked for expressing sincere convictions—especially around topics they believe represent real evil rather than fictional horror themes.

What do you think?

• Should personal beliefs ever influence business decisions in the tabletop industry?
• Is there a line where certain themes become too much for the hobby?
• Should companies stay completely neutral on subjects like this?
• And do you think the response from the community was fair?

Keep it civil, especially since this touches on both personal beliefs and real people.

 

[Everything Board Games]

It looks like as result it made the #1 game in BGG's Hotness list too . Thoughts?

 

[Sharv]

FWIW, I am Christian, but I do not ascribe to any particular denomination, and I do not actively attend churches, though in the past I have attended churches of many different sects to learn more from each.

Opinions are like buttholes. Everyone has them, no one wants to see anyone else's (yes, I know there are exceptions, no, I do not want to know about those, either). My faith is exactly that - mine. I try to live my life following what I believe the teachings would expect of us in a modern world where we have advanced past the need for rules about mixing different linen, selling family members into slavery, and touching the skin of a dead pig. Above all, I try to be kind and love everyone. (I fail miserably at this, mostly when driving.)

There are too many people in the world who believe that their own belief implies others must also follow their rules and beliefs. That's not how any of this "society" stuff works.

• Should personal beliefs ever influence business decisions in the tabletop industry?

Sure. Your personal beliefs can influence your business decisions all you want, as long as you aren't discriminating against others. If you don't like games about demonic possession, don't publish games about demonic possession. If you don't publish board games, but still dislike this - great, don't support that publisher by buying that game. You don't have the right to say "This group of people I do not know cannot be allowed to buy this game because I dislike it."

• Is there a line where certain themes become too much for the hobby?

Personally, I would draw the line right around where the current president spent many of his vacations.

• Should companies stay completely neutral on subjects like this?

In general, I think it is usually smarter for them to do so, but as long as they are a private company, they have the right not to, as long as they accept that the decision can and likely will cost them followers, subscribers, customers, etc.

• And do you think the response from the community was fair?

Well, it looks like a lot of people also had opinions about the issue.

And also fwiw, I have no intention of buying the game. But if anyone out there does, I hope you enjoy it.

 

[Everything Board Games]

Appreciate the thoughtful response.

One thing I find interesting is how quickly this stopped being about the game itself and turned into a conversation about where personal beliefs, company values, and professional responsibilities intersect.

Feels like almost everyone agrees people are entitled to their beliefs, but there seems to be a lot less agreement on what happens when those beliefs collide with the expectations of a role or organization.

Curious if anyone else has thoughts on that side of it

 

[don_dad]

This is a bad situation all around. I 100% agree with the BGG admins stance, but the way he responded didn't help. It is a hard balance to hold your convictions but also work in a secular world.


The fact the game is now #1 is so sad...

 

[Everything Board Games]

This is a bad situation all around. I 100% agree with the BGG admins stance, but the way he responded didn't help. It is a hard balance to hold your convictions but also work in a secular world.


The fact the game is now #1 is so sad...

agreed. Do you think it is/was what BGG did that led to it's ranking?

 

[don_dad]

agreed. Do you think it is/was what BGG did that led to it's ranking?

100% the only reason. One of those situations where the person went on Reddit and got a slew of people riled up and everyone began talking about it.

 

[don_dad]

Big Discussion in the Board Gaming World Right Now

Recently, a longtime BoardGameGeek employee was fired after rejecting advertising for the upcoming game Possess Me, Satan, citing his personal Christian beliefs and experiences helping people he believes suffered from demonic oppression.

After the emails became public online, the situation quickly spread across Reddit, forums, YouTube, and social media. BoardGameGeek later stated the employee’s response “does not reflect or represent” the company and announced he had been let go.

This video from Andy and Daniel breaks down:
• the controversy itself
• the community response
• questions about faith and free expression
• and why some Christians view themes involving Satan and demonic possession very differently than others

Watch here:

Is Satan a Bridge Too Far The Board Game Geek Firing Explained - EverythingBoardGames.com

Do you want early access to our giveaways? Do you want to read our reviews before your friends? Join the COOL KIDS by subscribing to EverythingBoardGames.Com’s Email List Today!! Is Satan a Bridge Too…

everythingboardgames.com

This has turned into a much larger conversation than just one game.

Some people feel the employee acted unprofessionally and improperly mixed personal beliefs with company decisions.

Others feel people of faith are increasingly dismissed or mocked for expressing sincere convictions—especially around topics they believe represent real evil rather than fictional horror themes.

What do you think?

• Should personal beliefs ever influence business decisions in the tabletop industry?
• Is there a line where certain themes become too much for the hobby?
• Should companies stay completely neutral on subjects like this?
• And do you think the response from the community was fair?

Keep it civil, especially since this touches on both personal beliefs and real people.

Happy to see it's no longer on the hotness

 

[Everything Board Games]

Happy to see it's no longer on the hotness

good thing you keep up on things like this for us!

 

[NIMBALLtm]

On the face of it, before seeing the video and getting the full picture, I was going to say that he was an EMPLOYEE and it was his job to represent the employers' standards and values (not his own), but firing seemed extreme.
Then I saw the video and this gentleman handled the entire situation in the worst way possible.
He was in charge of approving what could be advertised, so he just could have denied it (it appears it would have been denied anyways, per company guidelines) but he took it upon himself to take it a step further - as a REPRESENTATIVE of the company.
He worded it as his own beliefs, but it was still on behalf of the employer and, whether the employer agreed or not, it gives the impression that this was a company tenet, if not policy.
He had no right to do this and NOT get fired - which he, himself, agrees with.
What he could have done is take it to a higher up and if they approved it (again, it appears it wouldn't have), he could have requested someone else take over that account, do it under protest or resign.
If it was approved, he would have to decide whether or not he could continue working there and, if he resigned, he could THEN inform the customer of his beliefs privately and with full disclosure that he was no longer employed - but he should NEVER have handled it in the way in which he did as an EMPLOYEE.
EVERYONE has the right to their own beliefs and the freedom to express them - as long as they are willing to accept the consequences of exercising that freedom in inappropriate situations.
Which this gentleman appears willing to accept, so while he shouldn't have done it, kudos to him for accepting the consequences for having the courage of his convictions.