01-05-2021, 01:22 AM
[align=center][div style="width: 400px; text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; font-family: calibri; letter-spacing: .6px; color: #494949;"]as staff, we are very aware of the lack of diversity within the new world, especially concerning race and ethnicity, and that it has been going on for a long time. i’m very glad you have brought this up now so we can make it another priority while trying to remodel and rebuild bearbones.
i know personally, i’ve been conscious about who i create and really trying to make meaningful characters who represent different backgrounds and are outside of the white, cisgender, hetero, able-bodied norm that is so often portrayed in media. i know other staffers have also been trying to do this, hoping in encourage others to make characters who are also diverse and unique, but it seems that it isn’t enough for the current community. so, after having a quick discussion to address this in a timely manner, much more time and effort will be dedicated to this, we have come to the conclusion that while we can’t tell people what they have to do or cannot do with their own creations, we can be doing a lot more to promote and encourage this. however, we don’t want to create an influx of new characters that are not genuine and made out of guilt/feeling like people had to, and for them to not stick.
firstly, we’re going to make a sticky thread in the character creation board discussing why this is important and offering some resources for research and finding faceclaims. we will also be displaying this on our front page in the “news” banner. next, we’ve been wanting to develop the loner lands more and an idea we had was to create groups and territories that inspire and foster diversity, for example: an indigenous tribe type of group. this will require much research to not do it poorly, but we’re very excited for the idea as well as the opportunity for growth here. we know seeing diversity within the main board groups is also desperately needed, so we’re going to work on some head cannons and things that hopefully can help.
we’re more than open to suggestions and ideas as well!
i know personally, i’ve been conscious about who i create and really trying to make meaningful characters who represent different backgrounds and are outside of the white, cisgender, hetero, able-bodied norm that is so often portrayed in media. i know other staffers have also been trying to do this, hoping in encourage others to make characters who are also diverse and unique, but it seems that it isn’t enough for the current community. so, after having a quick discussion to address this in a timely manner, much more time and effort will be dedicated to this, we have come to the conclusion that while we can’t tell people what they have to do or cannot do with their own creations, we can be doing a lot more to promote and encourage this. however, we don’t want to create an influx of new characters that are not genuine and made out of guilt/feeling like people had to, and for them to not stick.
firstly, we’re going to make a sticky thread in the character creation board discussing why this is important and offering some resources for research and finding faceclaims. we will also be displaying this on our front page in the “news” banner. next, we’ve been wanting to develop the loner lands more and an idea we had was to create groups and territories that inspire and foster diversity, for example: an indigenous tribe type of group. this will require much research to not do it poorly, but we’re very excited for the idea as well as the opportunity for growth here. we know seeing diversity within the main board groups is also desperately needed, so we’re going to work on some head cannons and things that hopefully can help.
we’re more than open to suggestions and ideas as well!