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FDT

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Given our recent New Years 2026 post, you’d think we’d be all done talking about the calamities of the real world. It'd be nice to think we could all  be past the national and international events that are weighing so many of us down. We can’t, though. It seems almost impossible to slink away from the heinous news megaphoning from the media day in and day out. We’ve been told, in no uncertain terms, to reject the evidence we see with our own eyes. Told not to believe that Charlotte Renee Good was murdered. Told to believe that she had it coming. Told to believe that the bullies are the real victims.  We’ve been told to comply with those same bullies' demands, and certainly not question whether those demands are lawful. We’ve been told we need to learn our lesson. Called names, assigned societal roles that don't fit us, and called "domestic terrorists" for merely indulging in the freedoms everyone in our nation is supposed to enjoy. How very dare we! It feels like an echo of the Satanic Panic, but assigned so widely to include all "others" and taken to the extreme. As I mentioned in our New Year’s co-post, we can keep telling our stories... but how could we do that when the world is as it is, and why should we keep doing it?

FDT

It may seem frivolous to write and play games while our communities are torn apart. A waste of time when there's far more important work to be done beyond  our screens and our tabletops. You might think it's completely pointless to continue to carry those things on. You’d be wrong, though. The stories and games we all appreciate are hugely important in many ways. It almost goes without saying that they're a form of stress relief and mental break from the bleak reality we’re living in. Would you even consider taking away from yourself (and your friends) that chance to unwind? More importantly, though, it actually helps cement our communities. It brings us all to the table, be that in-person or virtually. It creates bonds, promotes teamwork, helps us become more empathetic, and mindful of our thoughts and actions. It can make us feel powerful when the world around us leaves a feeling of helplessness and powerlessness. It brings us together. What better way to protest ripping families apart than bringing people together? (Okay, there are probably tons of better ways, but that doesn't negate the point!) What better way to keep your friends together, and even turn strangers into allies, than shared storytelling? 

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FDT

So, what else can we do? Yes, we’re asking you to do even more! Give the people in your stories (and, as applicable, the ones playing them) opportunities for catharsis, be it though fighting a large smelly orange monster, or shooting vampire Nazis before you taking down mecha-steampunk Hitler. You shouldn’t focus completely on games and stories, though. Make sure to check in with your friends and family, see how you can deepen those bonds created through shared personal stories, whether or not they're the collaborative tabletop kind. Suggest and share books and movies. Bring food to people when they need it. Carry your whistles and alert your allies, known or unknown, to the dangers you see. 

None of this is to say that you shouldn’t protest in any way you see fit. Certainly, you should follow the advice Bugsy proffered in the previous post and push pursuing your passions in ways that helps others. That can even be a form of protest in itself, acquiring new knowledge in the face of a regime abhors it. As storytellers, though, we're not only communicators, but builders and keepers of community. Tell your stories because they helps others. Tell them because it brings communities together, helps people improve themselves, helps them relieve stress, and form lifelong bonds. Check in on your friends, family, and neighbors. To reference my portion of our post on Brazil, remember that we’re all in this together, even if not everyone believes it or wants to be. Until the next post, enjoy your dice, your tables, and our shared communities. Oh yeah, and Screw Flanders. FDT. 

- A

Send questions and comments to neversaydice20@gmail.com. FDT.

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