The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team at Null Signal Games are currently undertaking a review of our code of conduct and will be publishing updates to that document in the near future. In the meantime, we provide the following information with regard to our policy on unwanted advances, which the EDI team felt warranted clarification, to act as reassurance and guidance for those attending Netrunner events and participating in community spaces.
The NSG code of conduct lists “The use of sexualized language or imagery and unwelcome sexual attention or advances, including when simulated online” as a form of unacceptable behaviour by participants in Netrunner events and community spaces. As such, reports of such behaviour should be taken very seriously by tournament organisers (TOs), admins, moderators, NSG staff and any other community members in positions of responsibility.
The code of conduct provides further guidance on how to handle unacceptable behaviour, and confirms that action up to and including bans from future events or community spaces may be taken if someone engaging in such behaviour is resistant to appropriate resolution.
It is normal for people who share a hobby to sometimes choose to spend time with each other outside of the context of that hobby. But there are many reasons why someone might not be interested in engaging with someone they met in a Netrunner space outside of that space, and that’s okay. Advances need not be romantic or sexual for someone to not want to engage. Always bear in mind that someone might have trouble expressing their interest or lack thereof.
If you’d like to see someone again or connect with them in a new way, the best policy is to straightforwardly ask, and always take anything short of a clear ‘yes’ as a ‘no’. Don’t keep asking; the offer can stand, and if they later change their mind, they can approach you. It can be really easy to misinterpret the vibe, but as long as we are all willing to be corrected, interactions like this don’t need to be anything more than just a little awkward.
If you’re worried you’re coming off in a way that you don’t mean to, just ask. If you feel talked down to or otherwise disrespected by someone, let them or a TO/judge/admin/mod know. NSG does a lot of work behind the scenes to keep our community safe. If anything happens between you and another member of the community that makes you feel unsafe, even outside of an official NSG space, please reach out.
Even if it’s just something minor, even if you don’t want to make a big deal out of things, or the situation seems settled, reaching out to us will both help us recognize potential patterns of behavior, and can help you to know that we take making this community safe seriously. We’re not cops. We’re not going to escalate things in unnecessary ways that endanger victims. We’re part of the same community, and we’re here to support you.
If you have any questions about the content of this article or the code of conduct, or you’d like to reach out in confidence about a particular incident, you can reach the EDI team at edi@nullsignal.games
