Support for Ukraine?

[Vasemir]

I've seen Paizo supporting many different causes, and sometimes I had difficult time understanding the "fuzz" behind them.
Now that yet another war has resumed, I cannot find any news regarding Paizo support for Ukrainian people.
I thought that maybe Paizo is recently inactive, but I see them posting on FB regularly every few hours. There are also companies that reacted swiftly, declaring both moral support and actual donations or at least some kind of promotion, auctions, declaring profit from the product going to the victims. It's also been several days already.

We know for sure it's not the case of "avoiding politics" when it comes to Paizo. So did I miss some news or is there something wrong with Paizo's priorities?

[The Raven Black]

I wanted to answer this with a respectful post, but then I read the OP's previous posts in their history.

[Vasemir]

Thank you, Raven, that says a lot, even though it's offtopic.

[TwilightKnight]

Is Paizo required to have an official public message on every global sociopolitical event that occurs? Do they need to make a statement about all the occurrences of malnutrition in the world? Do they need to have a public opinion on the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia? How about the treatment of the Uyghurs in China? They are a relatively small nitch-product book publisher who's priority is to run their businesses. No reasonable person should be expecting them to take a stance on anything/everything, especially something that has virtually zero to do with their market, or at least anymore than any number of hundreds of other issues.

If I/you/we want to make personal declarations in support of an event that is meaningful to me/you/us and share ways we can make similar support, that is excellent and should be applauded. However, its not our place to choose for other people (individually or collectively) which global issues they will choose to get involved in or even have a public-facing opinion on.

[Anguish]

TwilightKnight wrote:

Is Paizo required to have an official public message on every global sociopolitical event that occurs?

[More of the same]

No. But there's nothing wrong with asking.

If nobody encourages anyone - with any cause - nothing will get done about that cause.

[captain yesterday]

TwilightKnight wrote:

Is Paizo required to have an official public message on every global sociopolitical event that occurs? Do they need to make a statement about all the occurrences of malnutrition in the world? Do they need to have a public opinion on the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia? How about the treatment of the Uyghurs in China? They are a relatively small nitch-product book publisher who's priority is to run their businesses. No reasonable person should be expecting them to take a stance on anything/everything, especially something that has virtually zero to do with their market, or at least anymore than any number of hundreds of other issues.

If I/you/we want to make personal declarations in support of an event that is meaningful to me/you/us and share ways we can make similar support, that is excellent and should be applauded. However, its not our place to choose for other people (individually or collectively) which global issues they will choose to get involved in or even have a public-facing opinion on.

No, but it would be nice to see that they care.

[Tonya Woldridge]

I've removed a post with specific bank information, as it is an information security risk, as well as others containing payment links or baiting language. Paizo has a "no political post-policy" (which you can read here). That being said, we understand our community is global in nature and that individuals may want to support humanitarian relief efforts. Here are a few links if you choose to make donations:

Doctors Without Borders

Voices of Children Foundation

International Committee of the Red Cross

[Vasemir]

TwilightKnight wrote:

Is Paizo required to have an official public message on every global sociopolitical event that occurs? Do they need to make a statement about all the occurrences of malnutrition in the world? Do they need to have a public opinion on the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia? How about the treatment of the Uyghurs in China? They are a relatively small nitch-product book publisher who's priority is to run their businesses. No reasonable person should be expecting them to take a stance on anything/everything, especially something that has virtually zero to do with their market, or at least anymore than any number of hundreds of other issues.

If I/you/we want to make personal declarations in support of an event that is meaningful to me/you/us and share ways we can make similar support, that is excellent and should be applauded. However, its not our place to choose for other people (individually or collectively) which global issues they will choose to get involved in or even have a public-facing opinion on.

If Paizo had Uyghur Society community, then yes, I'd say it would be polite to show a little interest in that. Even if they don't have such community, it's nothing to be supported.

And I did see some posts from few years ago about UA Venture-Captain.

Of course they're not "required", no one will force them to do anything. I've asked about missing news, and as apparently there aren't any, It's the question of priorities and values, as Paizo clearly does have time and resources to support causes that are not related to the industry, but may be connected to their market.

I'm not choosing for anyone and I won't dwell on what I do to help, but the very least people could do is raising awareness in the West; if not for the political decisions being made, then because every penny counts.

[The Raven Black]

The awareness in the West is extremely high IMO. News on tv and websites. Social networks, including LinkedIn. Note that this is a first for the latter. Other tragedies did not meet such a resounding echo on the professional network in the past.

[Wintergreen]

I have just received a message from a Ukrainian Venture Officer asking about Paizo 's perspective on the current situation and how so many organizations are making a statement and taking actions.

[Vardoc Bloodstone]

For the record and FWIW - I would support Paizo coming out with a statement against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, and taking action such as refusing business in Russia.

[Wintergreen]

Various countries and organisations are making statements, imposing sanctions, refusing to engage with Russian teams in sports events, etc. Admittedly such things impact the ordinary Russian people more than Putin but that doesn't make such things meaningless or mean they shouldn't be done. I don't think it is unreasonable to ask about a Paizo response or an Organized Play Foundation response.

[Ignis Fatuus]

Refusing sevices and business to a nations civilians and corporations is way to build political presure in that nation. Remember what happened when Jhon Cena mentioned Taiwan by name?

It is a soft form of warfare.

[Vardoc Bloodstone]

I see Tonya’s post and have read the no political post” policy, and I don’t see that this issue qualifies as “politically charged current events”. Condemnation of the invasion has been fairly universal, and regardless of your politics, from what I have seen.

Anyways, my comment above was not intended to debate the issue, just to voice what I would appreciate seeing from Paizo.

[Wintergreen]

I am just passing on a message I received from someone who is on the ground and trying to protect himself and his family. I believe that asking for a statement from Paizo and / or the OPF isn't unreasonable or inappropriate.

[Themetricsystem]

This thread needs to be locked... yesterday. The company already stated this falls under the no politics guidelines and there is literally nothing of substance that Paizo can do or should feel pressured to say about this topic. If you want to donate or make some effort to actually help follow the links Tonya provided.

Seriously, not every company, organization, and online group needs to get involved and throw in an official 2 cents here, especially when doing so would stand to neither to anything to actually help the cause nor have any upside for Paizo to take an official stance.

[Tonya Woldridge]

Locking this thread for moderation.

[Tonya Woldridge]

I removed a series of harassing comments, as well as two that got in as I locked the thread for moderation. I'm keeping the thread locked at this time. I encourage any of our community that wishes to show support for Ukraine and to help out in this humanitarian crisis to make donations to the organizations listed in my previous comment or other vetted relief groups.