About war in Ukraine

[Pushkiin]

Ze Monstah, I'm really not sure what you are trying to achieve with your posts and again they are not helpful. They posted a statement on the war in Ukraine. Many have challenged it and provided their reasons, but the conversation will need to continue and this is my point. We are only two weeks into the war and many more people will die by being killed by Russian soldiers. I suggest with every 1000 killed civilians, we should should ask BGA to see if that's enough for them to take an action. I will post in this thread again when the next 1000 will die to see if they change their mind. Yes my recommendation is absurd, but so is BGA response to the war. If they don't want to hear about the dead civilians, then they will close this thread.

[Ze Monstah]

[KongKing123]

Man, getting yourself and all of us who disagree with them, banned on their site, will not help UKRAINE in any way.

I disagree with their lack of involvement, but it is their site and they cannot be forced to see things in a certain way.

I agree with all Kong said, and i find his aggression, beneficial, in this situation.

I will simply try to help outside BGA; there's nothing we can do further, on this subject, here.
I think we should be realistic.

I would hope they wouldn't ban people for respectfully denouncing the lack of action on their end; that would be a page out of Putin's playbook.

Shell were caught with their pants down buying cheap Russian oil and, after massive backlash, donated the profits to Ukraine and ceased their operations. Companies (and governments) can change their stands, but a defeatist attitude will only discourage this.

I don't advocate for aggression or intend to spam this everywhere on the site, but I will voice my dissatisfaction in the appropriate place and hope others will do the same. There is indeed much more that can be done outside of BGA, but their lackluster response shouldn't get a free pass.

I urge everyone to vote for this suggestion I found: https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=60490

[Kriplok_42]

Thank you for this post and support!

[Anton Babenko]

Dear BGA,

An open attack on another country is called war. At the moment 100+ kids were killed by russian troops. I can send you the proof, if you want.

Only civils (among them are users of BGA too) can stop putin and his crimes.

I see you are helping with money for Ukrainians, it is good and I appreciate this help. But take the example from companies, who are already exited from the russia (online, offline business is nvm).Any contacts with russians today is bad and toxic for the company reputation. Pls, notice it.

Best regards,
Anton Babenko

[BAK204]

Hello,

This was a reply when I asked BGA on February, 28th, if I can start to spread a solidarity action for Ukraine by changing flags.

REQUEST #5670113
Dear BAK204,

Thanks for playing on Board Game Arena.

BGA is a board game website open to all players; no matter what country, race, religion, gender, personal orientation, etc. We are not a political entity.

We ask that you remain respectful and kind when communicating in the chat, forums, and on other spaces on BGA. Changing your flag to show solidarity is an acceptable form to show your support, and to talk about with your friends about; however, spreading this in the Global Chat could be offensive to some others. We ask that you refrain from using BGA for publicising political content.

Thank you all for helping to make this an international community where we can meet others, play and talk about games... after all, that is what connects us all.


Thank you,
[Here was a name, I deleted]

BGA Support Team

Like every human being, I want this war to end now. But truth dies first in a war. So don't let us discuss about reasons. The only fact, we know for sure, is that Russia attacked Ukraine and not vice versa! To kill old people is to kill the past, to kill young or middle-aged adults means to kill the present and to kill children means to kill the future of a country. And that's the first thing to know - for ANYBODY! And it should be enough to know!

Ukranian BGA-Players: I understand your fears, your distress and your hatred against Russia and Belarus, I fully understand where your call for punishment for Russian and Belarus players comes from. I don't want to try to take this away from you, because it may help you to cope with your own helplessness. It must be unimaginable hard to persevere. I started to help personally and will go on helping as much as I can. We've heard your call - and we still do.
But I won't join a witch-hunt on Russian and Belarus players. I want to talk to them, if they let me (and I know some opinions are unbelievably crude). And remember: Playing on BGA means distracting yourself from doing much more important things. This is not a battlefield. Sanctioning Russian and Belarus players as long as they're not trying to aggressively propagating lies or hatred is simply not justified. This is specifically a fact you have to hold out when you are playing here. Finding ways is the outstanding talent of Ukranians these days. Please, find yours to stay here with Russians and Belarus peacefully - or even accept that BGA tries to, please. And yes: This is hard for you, too. I know, because it's hard for me, as well.

BAK204

[nyasalacant]

Ze Monstah, I'm really not sure what you are trying to achieve with your posts and again they are not helpful. They posted a statement on the war in Ukraine. Many have challenged it and provided their reasons, but the conversation will need to continue and this is my point. We are only two weeks into the war and many more people will die by being killed by Russian soldiers. I suggest with every 1000 killed civilians, we should should ask BGA to see if that's enough for them to take an action. I will post in this thread again when the next 1000 will die to see if they change their mind. Yes my recommendation is absurd, but so is BGA response to the war. If they don't want to hear about the dead civilians, then they will close this thread.

I’m 100% agree with you. BGA should do something about. Everybody here hates Wars and come here to play but I do not want continue Playing and Paying BGA if continues with sort of blind and deaf monkey policy. It is disrespectful. Of course some Russian players will be affected and may be against the war but how much of them? Nobody knows if it is 5% or 95%. And it is not possible to know. What we know is the number of civilians dying. And This is the main thing.

[Silene]

I don't think this matter is very simple and easy to say what an appropriate action would be (like some previous posters suggest). We do now and will forever live in the same world with russians. Many russians are already standing up against Putin and this is very important and hopefully will change something from within. We need more brave russians that are willing to risk their freedom to do the right thing.

As I understand it, the western world was painted as the enemy in russian media for decades and many people believe it. So this is a cricial point, to try to convince as many russians as possible, that we are not the enemy or hostile against russia or russians in general. We don't want to confirm the picture, russian media has painted.

While I believe putting economic pressure on Russia is very important - I'm not so sure about actions on the cultural side like BGA. I understand that right now everybody is very emotional and don't want anything to do with anything russian. But we cannot ban them from the world and we really need as many of them on our side as possible. I think banning from this place of cultural exchange is counter-productive for that and it doesn't put us a single step closer to peace in Ukraine. Those pushing for a ban are longing for retaliation - which I truly understand. But I don't think you're aiming at the right people here.

It is not easy. And not banning russians is not pro-war nor indifferent.

[Pushkiin]

If the war continues and civilians keep dying, Russian players need to be banned on temporary basis. There is no evidence of any significant anti-war Russian movement right now, saying that there is one is disingenuous. But, we do a lot of have evidence of the war crimes and children being killed by Russian soldiers.

BGA falls under the category of entertainment. Players play games to pass the time and be entertained. For instance, Netflix suspended its operations and streaming in Russia because, I suspect, they can't imagine entertaining Russian population by giving them access to movies and TV series while Ukrainian children and civilians are being killed and bombed. BGA, on the other hand does not even want to consult the Ukrainian community or continue the discussion and they are okay with continuing allowing Russian to be entertained. Saying that sanctions don't help to put pressure on Russia is disingenuous (they do help and there is no evidence that it doesn't). Your comments also trivialize the efforts and sanctions that were put in place by entertainment and media companies.

[Kahy]

Actually, Russian people need to be supported as well. They suffer from this situation as well - those who do not endorse this war. I have changed my flag to Russia for the support of those people.