I’ve been pro mask. But it can’t be left to individuals. And frankly everyone knows the rules we expect to have. If I had a medical concern then I would simply decide not to attend rather than expecting everyone to make an exception for me. The same way I expected the no mask people last year to either not attend or mask up. Because that was the policy.
I just see a lot of problems if it’s left up to individual GM’s.
If Gencon does allow individual tables to set their own rules, can we at least get an option put in the event search engine to screen out either for masks required or not required on events?
I personally don't want anything to do with the drama once it comes time to sit down and game. The last thing I care for is a poisonous atmosphere in one of the places I expect not to have to tolerate it.
There is an important difference.
The question is whether or not you can request people to wear masks in your event description.
Mike
A few questions involving allowing EO's to put "mask requested" in the event description:
1) What happens to the individual who shows up to an event without a mask that has it requested in the description? Will they be denied access to the game, or is it the EO's responsibility to ensure they have extra masks available?
2) If it is not in the event description, is the EO allowed to request it at the time of the event?
3) What should the individual do should they be mistreated for showing up to an event in either situation?
I ask these because they are potential issues that could arise if EO's are allowed to add that to the description.
Also, do GMs get to edit their events after the maskless people have already signed up for them? That could be a mess as well.
With no mask requirements I won't be wearing a mask. Having said that, if 10% of the events have 'mask requested' in them, I'll just move along to another event. Out of 17K events, that still gives me some 15K+ events to pick. It's a mixed blend of me not wanting to deal with it and respecting their wishes to run events with masks. (Mask requested is going to be a not so subtle 'mask required')
However... if it gets to where it is like 30%+ I'll have to make a different determination.
My gut says 10-15%-ish. Last year all the events I did people were wanting to ditch masks. Granted, I do board game events so, that might be different than what people experience in RPG events.
I am mostly worried about events going poisonous due to arguments on masks. Then GM retaliations when players aren't acceding to their wishes.
I was asking if there are going to be "masks requested" (then enforced by players/GMs unofficially) can we get a search option to weed these events out so those of us that don't want any part of it cannot get these events to even show up when we are building our wishlists?
I don't know programming well enough to know if that can even be an option or not at this point in the year. So, my Apologies (again) if I am asking for something that simply isn't possible.
It would just be a way of requiring masks through social pressure instead of convention policy.
The issue is that people want to use their own wording to signal that you are not welcome at their event unless you are masked.
Honestly, I'd rather 'masks requested' be put in there. Right or wrong I'll take it as 'masks required' and I'll avoid the event. Not out of spite or anger, but If it improves someone's Gencon experience to only game at 'masks requested' event descriptions I'll find events that people don't care and allow Gencon's overall 'masks encouraged' policy to dictate their event.
It should be as simple as "This event is asking for masks please, I don't want to wear a mask so pass" or "This event is asking for masks please, I don't want to wear a mask but really like their games so I'll put one on for the 2 hours then take it off." I imagine like 99.8% of attendees would handle it one of those ways and there'd be 0 issues from them as long as the policy from GenCon is clear and events are transparent.
People are going to be citing the policy as the required standard. If the game doesnt go their way, they might feel the GM was punishing them for not wearing a mask.
At least potential GM's know now and can plan. And if there are too few GM's such that an event cant run, it can be taken into account next year.
It’s that simple.
"You spin me right round baby right round"
Don't get the reference, re-read this thread.
With that said, two bits time.
First bit. GC will have to announce by Sat. at the latest what this will be ether way. Come Sunday, with badges going on sale, any change in policy could cause a demand for refunds.
Second bit. I don't really see GC allowing EO to include anything to the effect of "Requested" "Required" "Encouraged" or so forth. This is opening a Pandora's box of problems for hall managers who will have to run to every event and settle disputes by those who want masks, and those who don't. It needs to be one simple policy, and that is all. Ether we all must wear mask, or it's not required (IE Attendee's choice and no one else's)
What are the consequences of the EO cancelling the event at start time?