Gen_con_controversy

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Overview

Jeremy Hambly's Gen Con Assault Controversy refers to an alleged encounter in which Jeremy Hambly, known as TheQuartering on YouTube, claimed to have been assaulted by an attendee at the Gen Con 2018 convention.

Background

Gen Con is a North American table-top game convention founded in 1968. They describe themselves as "The Best Four Days in Gaming", as well as "the longest-running gaming convention in the world". [1]

Hambly's Alleged Assault

On May 30th, 2018, Hambly, an outspoken critic of social justice and Anita Sarkeesian, posted a tweet criticizing the inclusion of Anita Sarkeesian at Gen Con 2018 (shown below).

TheQuartering TheQuartering Follow Gencon is bringing this...as a guest of honor in 2018 instead I don't know... ne at all...good bye gencon Anita Sarkeesian About: Anita 8:56 PM-30 May 2018 50 Retweets 231 Likes4

On August 2nd, Hambly uploaded a video retelling an encounter he had with a stranger wearing a rainbow shirt with a four-day Gen Con pass hanging on his neck, walking with an affiliate he described as a "short-stacky guy" wearing pants and a black shirt. Hambly claims the stranger asked him if his name was "Jeremy" and upon confirming his question he was punched in the back of the head "5-10 times" by the unknown man. After the incident, Hambly claimed that the owner of the bar told him to not call the police and that the bar made no attempt to escort the stranger out or intervene in the conflict.

The video has since been taken down by the uploader, but a backup still exists on Hambly's BitChute account (shown below).

That day, Hambly called for the bar to release footage of the incident to the public (shown below). [13]

TheQuartering TheQuartering Follow The Tin Roof Bar In Downtown Indianapolis Needs To Release The Footage To The Public. We Will Find The Cowrard 1:25 AM - 2 Aug 2018 102 Retweets 494 Likes 55 t 102 ס494

Developments

Identification

On August 2nd, 2018, Jeremy posted a photograph on Twitter account of a man at the convention, who he claimed "matches the description" (shown below, left). Shortly after, Hambly tweeted another photo claiming that an eyewitnessed identified the man as Matt Loter, known online as "Matt Fantastic" (shown below, right).

TheQuartering @TheQuartering this man matches the description and was at Gencon Yesterday. I didn't get a good look at him but others did.. BATMAN
TheQuartering @TheQuartering Eye witness from last night confirming this man is the man who assaulted me. @prettiest_matt is his twitter profile. I need his name and I will call the police and have him arrested. on

Soon afterward, Matt protected, and then subsequently disabled, his Twitter account. However, viewers were still able to archive the main page of his Twitter account [2], including a tweet that challenged anyone who had issue with Anita Sarkeesian being invited to Gen Con to "fucking fight me" (shown below). [3]

Matt Fantastic Followv @Prettiest Mat Real talk; if you have a problem with @femfreq being invited to @Gen_Con f------ fight me. I'm easy to find. :44 PM-5 Jun 2018 1 Retweet 5 Likes

Gen Con Social Media Blockings

On August 2nd, Twitter user @grpeephole303 stated that he was blocked by the Gen Con Twitter account after mentioning the incident. [4] Twitter user @Deplorabl3 was also blocked after directly commenting on one of Gen Con's tweets [5] (both shown below).

Grpeephole303 @grpeephole303 Follow @Gen_Con it seems you blocked me from wondering why you would defend the Attacker of a @TheQuartering at your convention? Did you organize this attack? Are you complicit? Why would you block someone for your own acts? #GenCon2018 #GenCon #gencon 18 4:00 PM-2 Aug 2018
Gen Con @Gen_Con Aug 2 Welcome to Gen Con everybody! bit.ly/2vtBTzz (thanks @Visitlndy for the great video!) GEN CON OPENING DAY youtube.com 76ti5 50 Daniel Danzer @Deplorabl3 Aug 2 What is going to happen regarding the assault with @Prettiest_Matt Daniel Danzer @Deplorabl3 Follow Replying to Deplorabl3 @Gen Con and 2 others I got blocked for this tweet @TheQuartering 12:29 PM -2 Aug 2018 7 Retweets 49 Likes 6 49

Other Twitter users began getting blocked as well. On the same day, @MechAniki posted a tweet listing several screenshots of multiple Twitch users getting banned from the Twitch chat after mentioning the assault, as well as restricting the chat to only 3 month followers (shown below). [6]

RazorChiken Look. I love GenCon, I was actually planning on going this weekend for a card game I play. However. Can you not see how this is going to turn into the Streisand effect? Just an unfortunate situation, and I know you mods are just doing your job, but honestly. razorchiken has been timed out for 600 seconds.
phireitup: if i goto gencon can i scream nazi and start punching anyone l want? without repercussions? glorybangermirrorbreaker has been banned livingfailureguy has been banned flagshipsharkbite has been banned. phireitup has been banned.
snapdragon55: hey mods do you hate america and the 1st ammendment RazorChiken: <message deleted> This room is now in 30 minutes followers-only mode. This room is now in 3 months followers-only mode.

On August 6th, a Reddit post on /r/gencon by the user BoldGambit discussing the assault was removed. [7] On August 9th, the Gen Con Facebook page made an official statement regarding the incident (shown below). [8]

GE CON Gen Con August 9 at 12:06 PM S As we have received a number of requests for comment on a specific incident, we are releasing the following statement. We are aware of a reported act of violence that took place prior to Gen Con 2018 on Weds, August 1 in Indianapolis. Gen Con has received no requests for assistance from local law enforcement, and as always, will cooperate with any request. We are investigating the matter further as well, and condemn any acts of violence or harassment. Anyone found to have committed a violent act ora breach of our EthicS & Harassment policy will be banned from attending future Gen Con programming. We plan to resolve this matter as quickly as possible Gen Con is a world-class event, and is dedicated to providing a safe welcoming environment for all attendees 00 417 761 Comments 29 Shares Like Comment Share

Matt Loter Fired from Quinnipiac University

On August 13th, all mentions of Matt Loter have been removed from Quinnipiac University's website, including the "Introduction to Game Design" sections listed on their website, which now displays two blank spaces where there would normally be an instructor listed (shown below). [11]

Fall 2018 Section 01 Instructor Days Time Location M,W 5:00 pm 6:15 pm Tator Hall Room 129 Section 02 Instructor Days Time Location 6:30 pm - 9:10 pm Tator Hall Room 129

On August 14th, TheQuartering uploaded a YouTube video discussing Quinnipiac University's decision (shown below).

[This video has been removed]

Online Reaction

On August 2nd, Twitter user @shoe0nhead responded by making the conclusion that Matt assaulted Jeremy over internet opinions.[9] On August 4th, Redditor RedMonsterPowerBang made a post on /r/boardgames reporting the incident. [10]

News Media Coverage

On August 3rd, 93.1 WIBC posted an article reporting the incident. [12]

Search Interest

External References

[1] Gen Con website – Gen Con LLC | Gen Con 2018

[2] Matt Fantastic's Twitter (archived) – Matt Fantastic – @PrettiestMatt

[3] Matt Fantastic's tweet (archived) – Matt Fantastic on Twitter

[4] Grpeephole303's tweet – Grpeephole303 on Twitter

[5] Daniel Danzer's tweet – Daniel Danzer on Twitter

[6] Mech Aniki's tweet – Mech ''The Red Comet'' Aniki on Twitter

[7] /r/gencon – Update on the Alleged Assault : Gencon

[8] Gen Con Facebook statement – Gen Con – Posts

[9] shoe's tweet – shoe on Twitter

[10] /r/boardgames – Drama at Gen Con 2018! GAMA President and Iello…

[11] Campus Reform – Quinnipiac removes ‘Punch Nazis’ professor from website

[12] WIBC 93.1 – Popular Gaming Commentator In Town For…

[13] Twitter – @TheQuartering



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