The Ravens Nest

Where Have You All Been?

Well hey there, readers.

Listen, I need to come clean with some of y’all. I’ve been out a bit lately. Sometimes watching, sometimes commenting, mostly just getting up and walking away.

Why? Well that answer is simple but there are a multitude of answers. Let’s get to them.

1. Twitter: Contrary to what media may tell you, I’m not among the fictional people that “regret my vote.” I don’t. At all. However, there are a multitude of right-leaning people who are fuckwits whom have adopted the phrase “It’s Okay When WE Do It.” …and they will. I’ve spent some time detailing that but the only thing I didn’t factor in was how quickly it would have occurred. Most of them are extremely active on Twitter and I can’t blame them for being angry but I am understanding why they got the banhammer brought down on them. It’s not right but their behavior is such that they’ve failed to understand that the reason they’re enjoying the current administration is because people like myself got tired of the shit they now want to pull. The extreme fuckwits have taken over and are now poised for war with each other. Personally, I’m battening down the hatches and preparing. With Twitter becoming a cesspit (and let’s face it, it’s always been one to one degree or another) I just have not wanted to be there much. It’s a net negative and, being somewhat of an internet transient since the late ‘90s, I figure that Twitter and I have a better relationship at arm’s length these days.

2. All Around The World, Same Song: We have the usual bullshit arguments popping up lately. Gamers are toxic people, TTPRGs shouldn’t have character death, people shouldn’t play story games, if you play X game X way, you should feel badly for it, so on and so forth and to all of them I say that I only have two middle fingers, feel free to share. Honestly, the online spheres have become such that it’s one person telling another how they should live their lives, conduct their tables, etc in order to be deemed “more acceptable.” I’m not looking for acceptance. It was nice when I had it but now, everywhere I look, I’m doing something wrong and should feel badly for it. That alone made me withdraw from every “community” I could. They’re, at best, think tanks that go unfunded and do nothing and, at worst, a means for control. No, thanks.

3. Are You Capable of Enjoying Yourself?: That’s a question I had to ask myself and the answer was, honestly, no. I spent such a long time in rage chambers online that it became unduly burdensome to even be there so, I did the only thing that made sense, I shut it all down. I closed out the browser except where I needed it and decided to start doing stuff my own way. I cracked open a few RPGs and put a heavier focus on my Against All Odds substack where you can find the first post you see, an active Table of Contents for The Nocturneverse, a product of the games I’ve been kitbashing and playing along with ’s posts which are also listed in that mix. This was something I truly enjoyed doing. Still do. The stories have been getting more horrifying, more brutal. We’ve got Sex, Blood & Rock N’ Roll. Wanna join in? You can. Maybe you can enjoy yourself with us. Now, I find that I don’t want to be in the rage chambers. I want to play around and have some fun. Let’s talk about another bit of fun I’ve had lately. In fact, what brought this to mind was an In-Character moment between the main character, Draven, and his friend, Brian, who was diagnosed with cancer. Brian tells Draven, “The band was a lotta fun. No regrets there, I’d be Ebon Requiem’s bassist again and again, mate. We only get one go at this, don’t we? It’s short as it is. Stop taking this shite so seriously. Might as well have a laugh.” Granted, he doesn’t have any idea that his best friend is a vampire who will probably never die…a few bad dice rolls aside.

4. Second Life: I know some of you won’t have a fucking clue as to what that is and others need an explanation. Simply put, it’s one of those MMORPGs that has been around forever and lately, if I’m not playing a drug-addicted, alcoholic space smuggler (Think Han Solo without the charm) then I’m most likely helping with the smaller sims friends set up on the back end of things, ensuring smooth movement and I’ve just been made an admin of a friend’s sim last night so I can invite people to groups so that certain things work properly. It’s been an absolute blast, even if I don’t go in to play, hanging out with friends and discussing old TV shows, movies, music, etc or listening to my friend Anastasia sell my work on the Nocturneverse harder than I do. Alright, Ana, we get it, you’re a fan and believe me, I thank you. I hope she reads this. But to Vikki, Ana, Elena, Mike, Zzog, Philiberta, Angelique/Rosie, Tara/Ally, Julia, Megan and so many others, thank you because, honestly, every single one of you have done amazing work and you have no idea how much I appreciate every single one of you in there. I’ve taken part in some great RPs with you, had a great time hanging out with some of you at Fairweather Beach because goodness knows I can’t do that shit in real life. I do a lot on Second Life and I’ve been in there for well over a decade.

5. The Decision: I’ve had to make a decision and, afraid it’s final. I’m gonna go have that laugh. I’m gonna go have fun, so, if there are times where you don’t see me and you’re anxiously awaiting my thoughts on this issue or that issue, honestly, I think I’ve made my points pretty clear. Through and through, I’ve chosen my individuality again. I know that’s going to upset some people and I just don’t care. It’s a Mind Over Matter kind of thing. Those that matter don’t mind and those that mind, key point here, do not matter. At All. The cries of “You’re playing a storygame!” or “You’re playing a game made by someone who hates you!” Yeah, so what? What I find ironic is that Ocule’s List was really meant to inform people like us of how crazed some gaming companies and indie publishers are while showing us those that just don’t do that stuff. It’s not a blacklist and some from the red category have entered my library. I’m certain the publishers, authors and artists are now torn between sending my money back and demanding I return the books orrrrrr cope and seethe when the book either gathers dust, gets used anyway but modified to absolute hell or gets mined for material for other games. Since not one single one of them has ever wanted to send me the money and demand the books back, I guess capitalism wins again.

I think the whole fatigue on the culture war has long since set in and if there’s a question of “whose side are you really on?”

That answer is simple: Not Yours.