That's just disgusting. It shows these people's idea of 'charity' extends only to those they consider somehow 'acceptable.' GenCon should take that money and give it to a real charity instead.

Well . . . for the click resistant the company line on this is:

"As [with] many non-profit organizations, CCF is selective in its endorsements or support in order to maintain the integrity of its name and logo. We cannot lend our name to an event for which we have no involvement. This decision should in no way be interpreted as CCF holding an opinion on Mr. Gygax, gaming enthusiasts or the game Dungeons and Dragons."

Which in a round about way, looks like they're trying to lawyer their way out of looking like jerks.

Jerks.

Oh for crying out loud!?

Where do I start? Bigotry? Ignorance? pretty much everything that's wrong with the human race?.

I think I'm go with Intorelance. I can't belive how certain people can be so intolerant as to refuse a sizable amount of cash just because it comes from something they don't know or understand.

I'm gonna leave before this turns into a page long rant

I find this ironic especially because the same people who would agree with this ideology are the ones who say other Christians pick and choose what they want to believe from the bible, while only they are true 'bible believing Christians'. Meanwhile these types have no recourse to behave in this manner when it suits their political or social agendas.

As a D&D veteran, it's probably because of all the poodle-raping we're known for.

Also, who tells the kids? Does it go like this: "We'd like to help you out, but we're ABOVE that."

Where's Major Barbara and her dad when you need them?

{face palm} And people wonder why I went from being Catholic to being agnostic ... it's because of ridiculous attitudes like this. Oh, and Harry Potter is evil, too, at least according to the local missionary right down the street from me. Truly sad.

I know, I know, not all Christians believe that, but it's people like CCF that make the rest look bad. I guess the parable of "the good Samaritan" only holds sway when orcs and magic aren't involved.

Nobody expects the CCF!

So give it to a real charity for curing cancer or AIDS or something.

I donate about $1500 annually to CCF. This is a little disheartening, especially since one of their primary mission statements claims that they respect different cultures and religions in the countries in which they operate, and that evangelism is not one of their goals.

I'd say I'd stop giving to this charity, but then I've personally seen the impact it's made on a number of children's lives.

Can I have some? I figure it's good for a refund on 3.5 anyway :|

Give it to the PCF: Pagan Children Foundation.

As someone who is very religious and is a Christian, allow me to personally apologize for the retarded, self-absorbed, disillusioned, self-righteous, arrogant, idiotic pricks that claim to believe in God out there. I feel sorry for these disgusting human beings.

So, people who dont need money stop kids who do need money from getting money, and still say they are helping them get money? Sounds silly to me.

Turning down a charitable donation for any reason is disgusting. This is just disgraceful.

This seriously pisses me off.

As read from the CCF official reply:

"This decision should in no way be interpreted as CCF holding an opinion on Mr. Gygax, gaming enthusiasts or the game Dungeons and Dragons."

Hereby I declare Jim Sterling, THE MASTER OF SPIN!

Just another good "article" in your list of "objectivity", Jim

daCuk:

Please don't put "objectivity" in quotes as if I've ever claimed it, as I have not.

And as for your little quote, yes, I am perfectly willing to believe what CCF's PR said. Yes. Of course they're not discriminating, THEY SAID SO!

Politicians must love you.

@Cyberxion

Would you have expected charitable donations from Pablo Escobar? He was a great philanthropist after all.

WTF... expected = accepted.

"I'd say I'd stop giving to this charity, but then I've personally seen the impact it's made on a number of children's lives."

No, indeed, you shouldn't. I mean, they're going to turn down other perfectly good sources of money, so apparently, they need all the "legitimate" help they can get.

/eyeroll

Donations from Escobar? Sure. The law can make their own beef with what he did while not donating money; fed is fed. Warm is warm. Sheltered is sheltered.

I wouldn't care if money came from Satan himself. Need doesn't care.

@daCuk:

You can't be serious, or else you're too young to understand the history of Christianity and AD&D.

Many, many Christian organizations have been condemning AD&D as "evil" for decades because of things like dealing with orcs, demons, and other types of creatures that are considered to be "evil". Many of them still associate AD&D with "the Occult" even though they really don't have anything to do with each other.

And, no, I was NOT kidding when I said that a local missionary group right down the street from me regularly distributed pamphlets and publications that the Harry Potter books/movies are evil and that you soul is in danger if you read the books. I'll never understand how "magic" by a human is so evil but "magic" by a deity is is blessed. (This coming from someone who used to be a devout Catholic!)

I'm sorry, but after seeing how Christian groups have treated AD&D over the past three decades, I cannot take CCF's "explanation" at face value.

I would understand if the organization turned down a donation from maybe a condom company, a cigarette manufacturer or the porn industry, but I really don't get what's wrong with accepting a charitable donation from a person who happens to like their charity... but I guess if some christians found harry potter anti-christian then i guess that goes for most fantasy worlds filled with evil little things.

Wow, fuck those people. Hopefully, they'll just burn in that lake of fire they so hold dear.

(BTW the Community Rules Quickie is hilarious. First time I've seen that.)

"I would understand if the organization turned down a donation from maybe a condom company, a cigarette manufacturer or the porn industry."

See, this is what trips me up - I wouldn't understand that. I could understand what their REASONING would be, and it would go along the lines of, "OMG, people we've been bashing and putting down our whole lives might actually be decent people - quick, REVOLT!" But I couldn't understand not taking the money. How is anyone so callous as to just turn down needed funds for children who are hungry or homeless or need clothing?

Money is money, and anyone who puts political/religious/personal objections before simply getting the job done and helping who they say they're committed to helping is just ludicrous. They're accepting money to help children, not accepting money to fund pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage television ads. Who cares where it comes from?

@daCuk...
yeah you just owned Sterling.

I would go on and on about how offensive this article is and how I'm about to take destructoid off my RSS reader... but I'm not going to let someone's opinion throw me off.

Honestly, Sir Jim, you've done a terrible job with this article. If Destructiod is a gaming community- then you've done a good job of trying to split off a certain group.

By the way- Christians do like that shit.
STEREOTYPES. FOOL.

Eh, I'll have to take their word for it. On the surface it looks like they're just being assholes, but I can't say that because I don't know.

All I will say to anyone who reads this; be careful how you respond. If you think that this charity views the game industry as "immature", be wary that you don't act like a jackass in defending that thought. If you're wrong... well, you'll look like an immature jackass.

@bioautographical: I meant I would also understand what THEIR reasoning would be.

I can understand why they turned it down. I don't like it, but I understand. I imagine they get a great deal of money from the sort of people who still see D&D and the like as Evil. They have to be careful with their endorsements because it might end up costing them a good deal of potential donation money which, in turn, will hurt their cause. I obviously don't know if this was their actual line of reasoning, but I can see how the decision was necessary. Which is unfortunate, since it speaks volumes about how a ridiculous 20+ year old issue is still alive and kicking.

"By the way- Christians do like that shit.
STEREOTYPES. FOOL"

Good grief, do people STILL have to post "now, that doesn't go for ALL of you" before making a statement about news? If you're not among the types of "Christians" who would refuse money to feed and clothe needy children, then good! Nobody's talking to you!

If you are - fuck you, I'm glad you WERE offended, and I hope you fall down some stairs.

Wow. That's just disgusting no matter how you look at it. I'd have thought christian organisations would have at least grown a little in the twenty or so years since I first heard of their hate of D&D.

As a devote Christian I am ashamed and sorry.
Christians have given D&D and other such games (and most video games for that matter) the terrible "Satanic" brand for years. While we are not the only ones who stereotype and hate on things they don't understand, here is a place that I fully have to step back and smack people around and say "seriously?"
I love how the picture caption shows the great double standard that Christians hold for Middle Earth.

In light of the supposed accuracy of a earlier post... they still rejected the money and no reason was given besides the original- 'D&D is the devil and we don't your money, but we will cover our butts by saying (I hope they say it honestly) that we don't actually think anything bad about you... but we still don't want your dirty money.' If they don't think it is evil then the should stand up and be an example to bigoty Christians instead of just shooing people away (the opposite of our teachings) because it will make them (and us) look bad.

Jesus Christ.

Who cares if they turned the money away? It's their charity and if they want to turn it away for moral or business reasons then that's their right.

If I had to guess one reason they turned it down is since they are a Christian charity most of their donations probably come from other Christian businesses and associates. By accepting money from Gygax they may lose donations from previous donors. That leaves CCF in an awkward position to actually lose money by accepting a small donation.

I really don't see the relevance of posting articles like this on Destructoid as it seems more at home on someplace like Digg.

Hell, people associated with Gygax's fundraiser and AD&D in general KNOW the history between Christianity and games of any fantastic nature (which is a bit stupid, since much of its inspiration is derived from Lord of the Rings, written by a very devout Christian man), so the fact that they'd at least TRY to donate to a charity regardless of its religious affiliation looks like an olive branch to me. One that the CCF just summarily pissed and stomped on. If you can take attacks from a whole group of misunderstanding people, yet still want to donate to their charity because you have a common goal in wanting to benefit children? That takes some pretty impressive character.

And CCF just waved it away. I don't think anyone realizes just how insulting that is. And what's more, they COULD issue statements, they could change their position, or they could simply say, "While we don't endorse D&D, we recognize that need is need, and what we don't agree on in philosophy, we can make up for in philanthropy."

It's saddening how many people are there who are just so afraid to actually do a big thing for a worthy reason.

@chadandjody:

It shows that video games and gaming of certain genres still holds a stigma that it doesn't deserve, and that those who play those games are "guilty as sin" by association. That's why it's on a gaming web site.

And it has no place on Digg because it has nothing to do with kissing Obama's ass. :P

@ John B

"And it has no place on Digg because it has nothing to do with kissing Obama's ass. :P"

Ha, tell me about it.

COME MY BROTHERS, LET US GRAB OUR D20s AND RAISE HELL IN THE STREETS!

Christians in the US have gotten to where they honestly believe that Jesus and Dinosaurs were walking the earth at the same time. Don't forget the nice people who believe that the United States Military is "God's Army" and we are to "exterminate all non-believers" it's true, I've heard the people say it in exactly those words. Damn Fanatics.. they should have their own section of the US called "jesus Land" where they can stone non believers or burn them at the steak or torture them until they admit false professions of Faith... Etc etc. welcome to AMERICA baby!

@John B,

"And it has no place on Digg because it has nothing to do with kissing Obama's ass. :P"

Ouch, you got me on that one :)

Cool ad hominen bro

Get out of the dark ages, assholes. That's unbelieveably pathetic, and makes me feel sad for human race that people like this even exist.

So I'm guessing they say they want to help kids, but in reality they just want everyone to believe their retarded little fairy tails and will stop at nothing to achieve their true goal, even if it means compromising their stated one.

The fuck what?

Seriously? What an asshole hole move on the part of those Christian Children's Foundation. Maybe now would be a good time to nail yourself to a cross. Oh snap.

Also, cocks.

THIS is the real reason why the CCF won't accept the donation!

@Bizznet:

What? So, they're allowed to paint with a broad brush but we're not? I'm not saying that it's fair to do that, but if they're going to act on a stereotype then no one should act shocked when it happens right back at them.

(My statement is obviously not directed at daddy gamer, zanthox, or others who realize hyperbole when they see it.)

I should point out that this article not about "Christians." It is about the Christian Children's Foundation, a charity group that just so happens to be associated with Christianity.

A few people ought to consider that before speaking for either side of the argument. <3

Screw the CCF!

I hope somebody crucifies the shithead who refused the money.