In the coming few days it is likely you will see some major esports content creators announce their participation in the Esports World Cup.
It is important to note that these people DO NOT need the money and yet have chosen to take massive payouts, including some in the high six figures.
They are willingly becoming complicit in a Saudi effort to cover up human rights abuses.
Saudi Arabia has only increased their imprisonment and execution of political dissidents since they launched the Esports World Cup.
It is ethically IMPOSSIBLE to say that you care about women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, freedom of speech, democratic society, secularism, due process, or almost any other Western core values while working at or to promote the Esports World Cup.
It is even more despicable when it’s done by people who already have huge amounts of money and could easily turn it down.
It is also not possible to plead ignorance about the Saudi goal of sportswashing when people are clearly being offered sums of money far above reasonable market rate. The only purpose behind these huge payouts is to buy silence and promotion of the Saudi regime. If you can’t see that, you are a fucking moron.
Why should feminists be expected to build pedestals for men simply for not causing harm? That’s the bare minimum. Decency isn’t revolutionary, it’s expected. Feminists are not here to hand out gold stars for basic respect. "Good men" turns basic human decency into an achievement.
When I saw this tweet it struck me as ridiculous but I couldn't work out why. Immediately I pointed out the right-wing, manosphere aesthetics... but that's not it. It's ridiculous because it's out of place. This isn't the pose of someone who was terrified of losing rights..