It's going further

Looks like the idea of a Code of Ethics has some traction.

Here is a sample of where it seems to be heading.

At the moment, a Code of Ethics on its own is a vague an nebulous thing. It doesn't need a regulatory body if everyone agrees to it, but the reason something like this tends to be put in place is because people aren't acting ethically and a community benchmark needs to be set. The closest analogue I can see here is the founding of the Comics Code Authority in the US, back in the 60s. The way I understand it, it wasn't really a watchdog, but more a show of solidarity and wholesomeness in the face of groups who wanted to shut them down. Arguably, something like this might have been useful in the moral panic of "D&D = satanism" back in the 80s. Maybe it will be useful if that sort of thing raises it's head further in the new right wing conservative political climate. Maybe.

The catch I see is that the whole thing needs a critical mass of people behind it before it becomes a recognisable force in the wider community. Getting those people involved requires something beneficial.

The OSR worked, and could arguably be a model for a loose affiliation of designers who follow a similar ethos. Otherwise we'd be looking at a paid subscription model, where registered members could use a logo on their work in exchange for annual dues (or a fee per product released), such dues might be used to fund awards, social gatherings, or newsletters. I don't think it's justified charging real money in exchange for something ethereal.

At the moment, the whole thing is still in early stages. We'll see how it pans out.


Comments

matterhorn said…
The language in the link reads like a code of conduct to me. If it's prescribing behaviour- do this, don't do that and refers to consequences then it's a code of conduct.

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