Official Mod Notice regarding Hogwart's Legacy discussion & rules regarding transphobia.

[Shadow1980]

Hogwart's Legacy is a title that has seen a lot of controversy, but it was also a commercial success. As a result of this success, some people are trying to downplay the controversy. Said controversy, and the ensuing boycott of the game, exists over concerns towards J.K. Rowling's history of transphobic comments.

Because of the inherently controversial nature of The Wizarding World IP due to its creation by and attachment to Rowling, as well as the fact that she continues to profit from it, the mod team has to decided to establish some rules regarding discussion of Hogwart's legacy, and to clarify other rules.

1) There will not be an outright ban on discussion of the game. It's a popular game from a popular IP. If people want to talk about the game itself—its mechanics, graphics, characters, etc.—that is perfectly fine.

2) If you state that you want to buy the game or that you enjoy the game, that will not be held against you. Merely enjoying content from The Wizarding World will not be interpreted as bigotry. Separating the art from the artist is not against the rules.

3) Discussion of the controversy in neutral terms is allowed. However, certain specific commentary regarding it is off limits. Dismissal of or insults towards the Hogwart's Legacy boycott will be interpreted as dismissal of or insults toward concerns over transphobia.

4) Bigotry of any kind is and always has been banned at VG Chartz. As with other forms of bigotry (such as that regarding race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, and sexual orientation), there is a zero-tolerance policy in place regarding transphobia. Transphobia of any kind, no matter how obliquely stated or espoused, will not be tolerated. Dismissal of or insults towards concerns over bigotry, including transphobia, will likewise not be tolerated. Violations will be met with appropriate moderation. First offense is a one-week ban. Next is two weeks. Third is 30 days. After that, it's a permanent ban. There will be no warnings. This post is the only warning you will receive.

Also, no more complaints about how other sites have entirely banned discussion of the game. We're not going to have any inter-site drama here.

Last edited by Shadow1980 - on 19 February 2023