Given everything that’s happened over the weekend, I feel it necessary to write this out, which is sad in its own right, but moving on.
So you’re at your LGS, playing FNM, and you’re witnessing someone harass another.
To clarify, when I say “harass”, I mean anything and everything; talking down to the other person, using insulting language in regards to the other person’s sex/gender/ethnicity/etc., making unwelcome advances on the other person – basically, if one party is showing discomfort at the actions of another, chances are they are being harassed.
And you need to act as if no one else will. Here’s how:
1. Let the harasser know that their behavior is not accepted by their peers And when I say “peers”, I mean “you”. Whether you like it or not, you share this space with that person, and you need to speak up. No one’s saying that you need to get onto a soap box and go into a full blown speech that you prepared the night before. A simple“Hey, dude, that’s fucked up” will do. Chances are that behavior is being witnessed by others who are just as uncomfortable as you, but if no one else is speaking up, then it falls to you to let that person know that what they’re doing isn’t welcome.
2. Get a judge or store owner So the person in question isn’t willing to change their behavior. In this case, get someone of authority. If the store has a judge, remind them of rule 5.4:
5.4 Unsporting Conduct
Unsporting conduct will not be tolerated at any time. Tournament participants must behave in a polite and respectful manner. Unsporting conduct includes, but is not limited to:
Using profanity
Acting in a threatening manner
Arguing with, acting belligerently toward, or harassing tournament officials, players or spectators
Failure to follow the instructions of a tournament official
All incidents of unsporting conduct are subject to further DCI review.
Not only are you incurring the rules and explaining that what they are doing is wrong, you are bringing in a third party with more authority than you, and more importantly, the harasser.
Of course, this doesn’t work if the harasser in question is a judge or store owner themselves. Tbh, I don’t know what to do in this situation. The only things I can think of are to spread the word – either through social media or word of mouth – that the people in charge of the store in question deserve no business. I have been trying to look into the possibility of getting Wizards involved and removing the store in question from sanctioned events and official support of WotC – no more prereleases, no longer keeping track of tournament results for the purposes of competitive play – basically anything that will deter players from going to that store in favor of a more “official” and welcoming LGS.
3. Get evidence If nothing else – if you’re not sure that what the person in question is doing is actually harassment, or if you are simply too afraid to get involved yourself – take out your phone, open the camera, and start recording. You can take the evidence to your local police if you feel that’s your only option, and they will take it from there.
4. Support the victim After all is said and done, let the person suffering the harassment know that they are not alone and that you are willing to help. Standing up to harassers is all well and good, but it’s also important to let the victim on the other side of things know that there are people willing to stand up for them, and that you are that person. That you are right there with them and not just rooting from the sidelines.
Please support your fellow players who don’t know how to support themselves. Stand up to harassers and let them know that they, and their actions, are not welcome. Magic is a game for everyone, pure and simple.
magicpotatolover 