Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Playmat Regulations?

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I will always err on the side of an offended family of young children over the return business of one or two masters....just the honest truth.

If I have positive word of mouth among families who attend, I will always have customers. If I cater to a few inflexible masters...I may as well get out of the game.

And if the store/venue has a problem with it...I can always take my events to another location. I would rather not be doing business with them...and I believe I can speak for the guys in Seattle...they would rather I did not as well.
 
I think you all are missing what I'm saying because I've never denounced your rights as TO/Judge to use your discretion. I think there should be CLEARLY DEFINED guidelines on what Pokemon states 'offensive' is dictated by. Some parent could be raising their child agnostic/atheist. If they are offended by a person wearing a WWJD or NoTW shirt, would you ask that person to remove their shirt? Would you tell them to tuck away their cross/crescent/star pendant? How about reversing that instance ; A wiccan is wearing Pentagram or has one on their mat. It offends a Christian. Do you ask that person to not use/wear the item? Remember, this 'arbitrarily obscene' standard or 'complaint based enforcement' doesn't just apply to scantily clad female depictions. Offense can occur for MANY reasons. A 'common sense' approach doesn't matter where people's sensitivities are concerned.
 
You can't have clearly defined rules because that will either just set up the opportunity for loop holes to be abused, or the line would have to be set so far from the edge that players would bristle at the rules. For example, look at the rules for sleeves.
Would you like them to set similar rules for playmats? Solid colors or official Pokemon mats only.
Be careful what you ask for!
 
Why does it have to be 'one or two masters' vs offended family of young children? That's a pretty thin eye to thread when framing the potential situation. Parents vs other parents is just as likely a scenario. Does an offended party automatically get 'right of way', even when both sides are concerned loving parents?
 
Years ago, at a State championships, I had a mat pointed out to me that was on the line. I had several PTO's that were judging the event, I was the HJ, so I asked them their opinions. I asked the player to not use the mat. He countered asking if he could cover the borderline part and that was acceptable to everyone involved.

After that, I decided to buy a third party mat for another game - one that I do not play myself, but liked the artwork on - so again, I talked with the PTO's I work with and got their opinions before I bought it.

That is the easiest thing to do, get the opinions of the people that put on the events before you pop $40 or more into a mat that you might end up not using...
 
PokePop said:
You can't have clearly defined rules because that will either just set up the opportunity for loop holes to be abused, or the line would have to be set so far from the edge that players would bristle at the rules. For example, look at the rules for sleeves.
Would you like them to set similar rules for playmats? Solid colors or official Pokemon mats only.
Be careful what you ask for!
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I blame my libertarian sensibility, but I'm very wary of the arbitrary application of one person's personal sense of taste. I'm not asking for anything, really. I'm just bringing to light the very real potential for good people to be off put regardless of any intangible line being crossed. I dont believe that ONE person's being offended by something should dictate the 'line' of acceptable. It should be a collective 'this is what our community as a whole deems acceptable'. And it's not so simple a matter as Jrs/Srs/parents vs obtuse masters. Heck, I'm a parent myself. So I understand the original spirit of the argument. But there are equally compelling reasons to be opposed to arbitrary censorship. Hence a community standard adoption. It wouldn't need be such that only blank/official mats are allowed only. Just something of a clearer nature than 'somebody got butthurt now you can't use/wear this'
 
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There's way too much libertarianism running around lately.
And I say that as an ex-libertarian.
 
Prof Clay said:
Actually...as an organizer, we do have the right to establish the standard for our events. If I ask you in a reasonable manner to put a playmat away or even change shirts, you can do so or not....but I do not have to allow you to continue play until you comply.

I have never had any player argue the point if something is questionable.

Also...I will generally do what I can to make parents of young children happy on this as I would like to have them continue coming to my events
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I have a Problem with this if I showed up to an event with a T shirt that was not OK in your eyes and am asked to change it I would have to ask how would you like me to do that ? It not like am going to leave the event that I have payed to get in to and go all the way home to change my shirt. I get that half naked women on play mats and shirts is not the best for a Pokemon event: however as long as my shirt dose not have any bad words or provocative images on it there should not be a problem. If I were to come to your event with a Shirt that said am not an alcoholic they go to meetings and you took offense to that because hypothetically you are in recovery and you ask me to change the shirt that would just be an abuse of your power.
 
My sons school is the arbiter of what is acceptable dress for the high school and lower. In fact the principal gives them an oversized shirt to wear if the shirt is the problem. If the dress is too skimpy or pants too tight or low (boys and girls) they are sent home or parents are called to bring something, one or two times generally the problem is taken care of.

chuzzoe
 
Dragonmaster said:
I have a Problem with this if I showed up to an event with a T shirt that was not OK in your eyes and am asked to change it I would have to ask how would you like me to do that ? It not like am going to leave the event that I have payed to get in to and go all the way home to change my shirt. I get that half naked women on play mats and shirts is not the best for a Pokemon event: however as long as my shirt dose not have any bad words or provocative images on it there should not be a problem. If I were to come to your event with a Shirt that said am not an alcoholic they go to meetings and you took offense to that because hypothetically you are in recovery and you ask me to change the shirt that would just be an abuse of your power.
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You can always turn a t-shirt inside out.

And there's no point in making up hypothetical cases and then getting insulted over them.

What's the alternative? Not giving TOs or HJs the power to turn people away if they are being inappropriate?
That's not workable. Pokemon is primarily a game that is open to children, if not down right targeted to them.
Pokemon needs to be able to make sure they protect that segment of the market. Toward that end, they give their representatives, which PTOs and League Owners are, the power they need to protect the brand.
 
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