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Message from the IFPA

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johnh

johnh

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Saw this on Reddit. Good for them. Given what's happening in the US at the moment, it's nice to see them taking a stand.

A Message From the IFPA​

The IFPA supports trans and nonbinary players in the competitive pinball community, and we want to make our stance on gender at women’s events very clear. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Nonbinary identities exist and are valid, and nonbinary players who wish to participate in women’s events should feel welcome to do so.

We expect IFPA-sanctioned tournaments and leagues to be free from homophobia, transphobia, and all other types of discrimination. This applies to both open events and women’s events. Tournament and league directors are encouraged to enact codes of conduct that reflect the PAPA/IFPA Complete Competition Rules related to player conduct (see Section III) and may do so at their discretion.

Please see our Gender Inclusion Policy for more information about eligibility in women’s events. Pinball is for everyone.

 
johnh said:
Saw this on Reddit. Good for them. Given what's happening in the US at the moment, it's nice to see them taking a stand.

A Message From the IFPA​

The IFPA supports trans and nonbinary players in the competitive pinball community, and we want to make our stance on gender at women’s events very clear. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Nonbinary identities exist and are valid, and nonbinary players who wish to participate in women’s events should feel welcome to do so.

We expect IFPA-sanctioned tournaments and leagues to be free from homophobia, transphobia, and all other types of discrimination. This applies to both open events and women’s events. Tournament and league directors are encouraged to enact codes of conduct that reflect the PAPA/IFPA Complete Competition Rules related to player conduct (see Section III) and may do so at their discretion.

Please see our Gender Inclusion Policy for more information about eligibility in women’s events. Pinball is for everyone.

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Good.
 
lukewells said:
I'm not very good at social interactions.

How do you know when someone is a real transgender or when it's OK to insult them?
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That's true Luke. For all we know Ian identifies as non-binary now, it's perfectly acceptable for Ian to enter the woman's. I'm not sure where all the hate for Ian's post is coming from?
 
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lukewells said:
I'm not very good at social interactions.

How do you know when someone is a real transgender or when it's OK to insult them?
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Cause I know Ian

UK scene is full of bigoted people it has been shown multiple times on this forum.

If your viewpoint hurts someone else you should keep it to yourself, everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin without the fear of being persecuted
 
Arv said:
That's true Luke. For all we know Ian identifies as non-binary now, it's perfectly acceptable for Ian to enter the woman's. I'm not sure where all the hate for Ian's post is coming from?
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And if Ian turns out to be trans and has simply forgotten to change his username then I'll happily apologise.

However, I suspect he is simply rolling out age old tropes for cheap laughs in a thread on a serious topic. And as we have actually trans people active in this hobby and on this very forum, then that needs calling out.
 
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jonathan said:
And if Ian turns out to be trans and has simply forgotten to chase his username then I'll happily apologise.

However, I suspect he is simply rolling out age old tropes for cheap laughs in a thread on a serious topic. And as we have actually trans people active in this hobby and on this very forum, then that needs calling out.
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It sounds like a dangerous minefield to me

I don't know of a scientific way of how to tell if someone is a real trans from their username

Maybe you shouldn't assume someone's gender identity?
 
Personally, I just interact with the person in front of me, with the societal tools I've been given. These may very well be outdated.

If I make a mistake, I expect to be corrected not demonised.
 
jonathan said:
It's amazing how many idiots come out of the woodwork when a thread like this is posted.
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OK, you seem like a really nice person.

I've not done anything to insult you.

Don't know why I bothered saying anything.

I'll leave you to insulting people, seen as you apparently have some secret way to decide who the real transgender people are.

Completely unnecessary behaviour 👎
 
PinballNoobie said:
Personally, I just interact with the person in front of me, with the societal tools I've given. These may very well be outdated.

If I make a mistake, I expect to be corrected not demonised.
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My grandad used to say the same when he referred to people of colour with very outdated language. I would argue that we have a duty to keep our societal tools up to date.
 
lukewells said:
OK, you seem like a really nice person.

I've not done anything to insult you.

Don't know why I bothered saying anything.

I'll leave you to insulting people, seen as you apparently have some secret way to decide who the real transgender people are.

Completely unnecessary behaviour 👎
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What are you talking about? It's already been confirmed above that Ian is a bloke called Ian.

Ian responding to this thread with a post that he's now entering the women's competition is the same boring trope that Clarkson and Gervais roll out about identifying as a penguin.
 
Of all the hobbies I've been into, and I've been into pinball for the last 40 years, it can be one of the most exclusive 'YOU'RE EXCLUDED' clubs you can be in, unless you're in the right clique (moneyed or connected).

Seriously, I've had people turn their backs on me because they just don't know me, because I don't go seeking acceptance. Yet I fix pinball machines, I program them, I've introduced the public to them via my arcade. What would I have to change to be accepted?

I'm all for getting more people involved in the scene but this just smacks of ticking a box when there are far more important issues to resolve, such as being welcome to anyone and getting more bleeding machines out there (at an affordable price) to catch people who've never touched a pinball table before!

I've never discriminated as to who can come and play my machines, I've never thought I needed to say or promote that either. It's just reminding everyone that some people need to divide us. Stop it!
 
I agree. Too much virtue-signalling going on here. Treat everyone decently and they will usually do the same to you, as most people are decent. I don’t need to wear a BLM tshirt to prove I’m not racist. IFPA didn’t need to release this self evident bolloc_ks for likes either. Live and let live. Oh, and stop having a go at people trying to lighten the mood or ask genuine questions (Ian and Luke for example) as the topic is *not* taboo and it is fine to talk about it.

At least we’re not in USA right now. They’ll be deporting Muslims and gays soon as they happily dig for more coal, close down all DEI activity, sanction the ICC and Green treaties and all their neighbours and trading partners.

Pinball is full of eccentrics and outcasts and the more the merrier I reckon.
 
@ianw
ianw said:
Great, put me down for the women's comp at pinfest
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I was only saying this to my Mrs earlier😂
I’ve gone from David to Davina, 6’ plus big bird, might have a chance.

@cooldan the world is full of different people but the straight blokes don’t put it in your face do they except maybe on love island which I have never watched by the way😂
 
cooldan said:
I agree. Too much virtue-signalling going on here. Treat everyone decently and they will usually do the same to you, as most people are decent. I don’t need to wear a BLM tshirt to prove I’m not racist. IFPA didn’t need to release this self evident bolloc_ks for likes either. Live and let live. Oh, and stop having a go at people trying to lighten the mood or ask genuine questions (Ian and Luke for example) as the topic is *not* taboo and it is fine to talk about it.

At least we’re not in USA right now. They’ll be deporting Muslims and gays soon as they happily dig for more coal, close down all DEI activity, sanction the ICC and Green treaties and all their neighbours and trading partners.

Pinball is full of eccentrics and outcasts and the more the merrier I reckon.
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Couldn’t disagree more re: this being “self-evident for likes” in the context of the President just two days ago signing an executive order with the intention to ban trans women and girls from women’s and girls’ sports which receive federal funding. This is real and couldn’t be any more topical for the IFPA to comment upon, particularly as a US-based organisation which sanctions competitions including trans people.

This is a serious topic. There is no need to “lighten the mood” in every thread
 
Taxiturn said:
Couldn’t disagree more re: this being “self-evident for likes” in the context of the President just two days ago signing an executive order with the intention to ban trans women and girls from women’s and girls’ sports which receive federal funding. This is real and couldn’t be any more topical for the IFPA to comment upon, particularly as a US-based organisation which sanctions competitions including trans people.

This is a serious topic. There is no need to “lighten the mood” in every thread
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Yes but, I think what people are trying to say (badly) is that pinball is a small hobby, trans and non binary are (currently) a very small section of society. Being supportive is fine of course, but it then will potentially put off other sections of society. I had to search to find their statement on race from 4 years ago.

A much better statement (and what I believe) is that (apart from obvious some disabilities) pinball does not discriminate, everyone has an equal opportunity and everyone is welcome.

Sorry I tried to lighten the mood earlier, because I guessed how this thread may go. There is almost always room for some comedy and always room for discussion and differences of opinion - just not abuse.

There are probably more introverts, ASD, ADHD and OCD people into pinball than almost anything else, we’re a special and generally lovely bunch of people.
 
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