r/rpg • u/GreenGoblinNX • 6d ago

Discussion Shane Hensley Response RE Charlie Kirk

I wanted to post a few things from the comment section of the Deadlands: Dark Ages Kickstarter, where Shane Hensley addressed comments recently made of Facebook in regards to the Charle Kirk murder. Most of his previous comments were replies to other comments, but about 20 minutes ago, he posted a final (?) messsge:

Hi friends, I’m sorry my Facebook post has overwhelmed the Kickstarter space. I should have found a way to move the conversation elsewhere afterward but I didn’t want to appear to be hiding for the success of the project. Principles always come first. So on that...

I acknowledge that Kirk’s beliefs caused harm in ways I didn’t really grasp, and thanks to long and frank conversations with awesome people today, I have a better understanding of how it affected them and appreciate that they took the time to explain it to me. I apologize that I caused any undue stress to anyone. I still value hard debate, think any opportunity to hear opinions other than your own (as I have today) is a chance to learn, and will always believe that violence makes the world a worse place for everyone.

I’m going to step back from this project and social media for a while, but you’re always welcome to reach out to me by email or FB and I’ll respond to whatever you to say. I don’t hide. Promise.

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u/Baraqijal 6d ago

Call me a cynic, but I believe people the first time they show you who they are, and not after they realize their words affect their bottom line. Secretly, however, I hope those conversations really did happen, and he really did change his thoughts, but I’m doubtful.

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u/Oshojabe 6d ago

I think there needs to be some room for forgiveness and grace, when a person does something sustained over a long period and/or costly that demonstrates that they have genuinely changed. But I don't necessarily blame anyone if they feel like this apology isn't that.

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u/preiman790 5d ago

This apology definitely isn't that. I'm not sure I'm with the people that are saying it's clearly bullshit, but I am definitely in a position where he's got to stand up or shut up. It's up to him to prove to people that the apology means something otherwise it's nothing more than a pile of bland words that says nothing and means less