Why are global BGA players being penalised if they don't want to play games with Russian soldiers using BGA in their downtime?
I understand that BGA has taken a decision to continue to allow Russian players to use the site.
For those us us playing a live game, you can choose whether to go ahead once you see the players who have accepted, so if you don't want to play with Russians you don't have to. But in a turn based game if you create the game, a Russian can join and you have no choice but to play, unless they agree to terminate the game - this means that you are then forced to play the game or take a penalty if they choose not to terminate.
Even FIFA, which doesn't have the best track record has banned Russia - and for good reason - if you look at Russia's horrendous actions, it seems immoral to push them to one side and say "hey, how about a game of football, wouldn't that be fun?"
I feel the same way about BGA - it is true that there are those within Russia who may disapprove of Russia's current actions who use BGA, but it is just as true that Russian soldiers may be using it in their downtime in-between murdering civilians.
Unless BGA can do target these two groups, a blanket ban should be put in place. And if for some reason BGA thinks it has a better approach to sanctions than many governments that are resourced to think about these things, at the very least, non-Russian players should not be penalised for not wanting to play with Russian players at turn based games.
I understand that BGA has taken a decision to continue to allow Russian players to use the site.
For those us us playing a live game, you can choose whether to go ahead once you see the players who have accepted, so if you don't want to play with Russians you don't have to. But in a turn based game if you create the game, a Russian can join and you have no choice but to play, unless they agree to terminate the game - this means that you are then forced to play the game or take a penalty if they choose not to terminate.
Even FIFA, which doesn't have the best track record has banned Russia - and for good reason - if you look at Russia's horrendous actions, it seems immoral to push them to one side and say "hey, how about a game of football, wouldn't that be fun?"
I feel the same way about BGA - it is true that there are those within Russia who may disapprove of Russia's current actions who use BGA, but it is just as true that Russian soldiers may be using it in their downtime in-between murdering civilians.
Unless BGA can do target these two groups, a blanket ban should be put in place. And if for some reason BGA thinks it has a better approach to sanctions than many governments that are resourced to think about these things, at the very least, non-Russian players should not be penalised for not wanting to play with Russian players at turn based games.
