Ron Gilbert (GrumpyGamer)Nov 23, 2022
Pro-tip: If you're a boss or manager, don't send email, Slacks, etc, outside of business hours. You might not intend them to be responded to until start of work, but it send a subtile message of "I'm working at 11pm or on the weekend, why aren't you?"
Show threadsagaNov 23, 2022

@grumpygamer 👏👏👏

The power dynamic is at play in an interaction like this that is hidden to the person holding the power.

I'd add - don't send your employees messages like "got a second to talk?" that don't also provide context! Anyone that's been in a toxic work environment likely has PTSD from such messages 😂

Show threadBerzerkraccoon
@saga @grumpygamer I had to unlearn my defensive reactions when my new lead used this to show me cool stuff only, while my previous lead was toxic and whatever followed those lines was always negative.
Nov 23, 2022 at 6:06pmWeb
Show threadsagaNov 23, 2022

@Berzerkraccoon @grumpygamer yeah absolutely. It's probably my politics but I find myself hypervigilant of labor power dynamics - the context and trust between the people engaged in an interaction like this plays a huge part in the level of anxiety that something like this triggers which is why I prefer to avoid it altogether.

"Got a sec to chat about something cool?" Is the same level of effort but in the context of a power dynamic has less of a chilling effect!

Show threadBerzerkraccoonNov 23, 2022

@saga @grumpygamer Due to previous very negative experiences, I do care about those dynamics a lot, and I love to see your posts on this subject, and also, what you do to avoid those dynamics and effects.

Just like your example, I’ve tried to be more explicit about the “why” - “Do you have a minute to talk about [x]?”. And sometimes, be even more explicit about “Nothing to worry about, I just need your input on this.”

Show threadsagaNov 23, 2022
@Berzerkraccoon @grumpygamer ♥️ little things like this compounded over time/across studios and the games industry will become so much more humane!
Show threadBerzerkraccoonNov 23, 2022
@saga @grumpygamer Well said! I love seeing this shift, and learning from everyone who is actively supporting this shift. We can make great games without being toxic.