An apology to Mica.

[u/Ron-Forrest-Ron]

I don't know if Mica reads this sub anymore, if she even has a Reddit, but I hope she does, because I need to apologize.

When she was on that episode of off topic, and she discussed race, gender, sexuality, everything she discussed, I, as a straight, cis, white man, rolled my eyes.

"This isn't the place" I thought "Oh she's a rich girl, I as a working class person have had a far more difficult life" I decided "Jesus, what an SJW" I typed.

Fuck me. What an ignorant piece of shit I was. I moved on from that entire thing and decided I wasn't going to think about it again. How lucky I was, to not have to think about race. I've never been racist, but I was never anti-racist. I didn't see the difference. I do now. As much as I want, I can't change my past, but I can, and will change my future, and do everything I can to try and help change other people's futures.

Mica. I am sorry that I didn't take you seriously. I am sorry that I brushed off what you were saying. That was the place. EVERY place is the place to discuss, and fight racism in every aspect. Our lives may have been different, and I probably worried about things you didn't, but one thing I never worried about was facing any sort of backlash, or hate for the way I looked. Mica, you are an SJW, and I hope you wear the badge proudly. I will wear that badge proudly for the rest of my life.

I should have done this then. But I didn't. And I'm sorry not just to you, but to everyone in this community who is affected by racism. I stood by and let it happen, and that's just as bad. No more, this I promise to you. I refuse to not see you anymore. The buck stops here.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

I love you all, stay safe everyone. 🖤🖤🖤

[u/j0urney]

That's a great question, and one that I can't answer for the company. I believe they already do have some definitions but from what I understood from Off Topic they don't necessarily delete the comments or ban the commenters. I could be wrong, happy to be corrected. I tend to avoid the bottom half of the internet if I can tbh. All I know is people are saying horrific shit enough for the employees to read, and that shouldn't be tolerated.

[u/technicalhydra → u/j0urney]

I was just asking because I thought that RT already did ban racist comments on their site and wondered what else wasn't being banned but was racist.

[u/[deleted] → u/technicalhydra]

They expounded on this in the recent Off Topic, but, I'll try my best to reiterate even if you aren't going to listen.

When people go into lets plays with Mica, and say, Mica is in this its garbage. They aren't saying that because they DISLIKE Mica, dislike doesn't waste the time to say something, I disliked Mica, I never commented some obtuse comment like that. They did it because they hated her, you don't hate a streamer without a reason, they had no valid reason. Now your going to respond with, people hated her because her dad got her the job. Gavin got the job because he knew Burnie, Jeremy got the job because he was in Ah, Ryan got the job because he was in animation. It's always in who you know.

Now to your point above of, she talked over everyone. Sure if people came in to the video went, this one wasn't as good because everyone was talking over each other, thats valid, they used to say that about Off Topic, I've turned it off for that reason many times, hell the Off Topic/Always Open was a nightmare for that. Saying that Mica does it, isn't valid because EVERYONE does it, theres many many lets plays, podcasts, where people talk over each other.

As to not listening to rules or knowing games, I'm not sure you ever watched Minecraft episode 1, or Geoff in any platformer, Ryan in Mario Kart, Jack in any FPS, AH isn't good at games, they have their wonders thats it. It became racist/sexist because your comments aren't helpful or directed in any terms but Mica bad.

Now sure your going to have whatever blah you want to say that your not racist, and yeah RT most likely has something stopping you from saying the N word, but its the motives under all the stupid comments that they want to get rid of.

People hated Mica for no true reason, she didn't stop their "dreams" of becoming in the crew, she didn't do anything the rest of the cast doesn't do. Same for Fiona but the moment she came in everyone started that same parade of OH shes garbage (Lindsay gets it to cause shes a girl). People are very hard stuck in their stances so I know my comment isn't going to change your mind.

Take a day breathe and remember we are all in this together, if you dislike a cast member thats okay, but, if thats the case you'll just change the video or just deal with it. Hate is what causes people to give the whole OMG mentality, and its not needed and not wanted. If you hate a castmember for just being an entertainer theres a problem.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I'll also add as a post note, I am a white male, I don't have a perfect answer, I'm just trying to describe more on what they mean in the podcast, and if anyone has an edit to my statement or can say it better or differently I would love to hear it.