Posted on 04/01/2023 10:30:27 AM PDT by chuck allen
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (TND) — A teenager who plays the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) at a high competitive level was reportedly disqualified from a tournament after he laughed when an official asked for his pronouns.
Makani Tran was out $800, a couple of flights and missed school time after he offended a nonbinary Pokémon TCG judge, cutting his tournament run prematurely short "for a bizarre reason," according to Dexerto.
The teenager says in a Twitlonger post that he never meant to offend anyone and was close to tears when he was disqualified.
The Charlotte-based tournament was livestreaming the TCG matches online, and when Tran approached the livestreaming booth for his match, he says he was stopped by a judge who asked for his "preferred pronouns."
Tran says that he was set to face off against one of the United States' best Pokémon TCG players, Alex Schemanske, and nerves had him laughing "awkwardly."
On our way over to the stream area the judge asked us for our preferred pronouns," Tran says. "I said 'Um he or him or uh' and I paused trying to think of the third pronoun (the third pronoun being his). As I just stood there looking stupid trying to think of the third pronoun I felt embarrassed because I was failing to think of a simple word. "
Due to the nerves and me being embarrassed I let out a little laugh just a normal nervous laugh. My response together ended up being 'Um he or him or uhhhh haha his,'" Tran adds. "That’s it. That’s all I said”
However, the judge who was asking for Tran's preferred pronouns took offense to the laughter, according to the young Pokémon TCG player.
Okay just wanted to check to be safe," Tran says the judge told him. "I go by they/them so don’t be a jerk about it," the judge allegedly added.
After some more talking, Tran says that the head judge pulled out the tournament's rulebook on his phone and told the young TCG player that he was disqualified for "violating their inclusive policy," as he had made someone feel "unsafe and uncomfortable."
I was disqualified from the event. I was just in disbelief," Tran says. "I remember saying 'Wait what?' I was so confused I had just explained very calmly what had happened and he seemed that he was listening. At this point I’m at the verge of tears but I tried my best to keep my composure," Tran adds. "I just couldn’t understand what was happening." Tran says that he asked the tournament officials if he could appeal the disqualification, but they refused.
I have NEVER been treated so unbelievably unfairly and had such an opportunity just taken from me. For something I didn’t even do," Tran says. "The judge said that while he believed that I had no bad intentions, it didn’t matter because at the end of the day, someone was offended and upset."
Maybe this kids preferred pronoun is LOL.
Of course, the Judges question unquestionably made the boy uncomfortable first. This whole thing stinks especially at this age level.
Rubber hose treatment.
Road trip.
I agree
This young man’s only mistake was apologizing for giggling in response to a ridiculous question.
The iron clamp has been firmly fastened to minds. If you DARE to think unapproved thoughts, you will be destroyed. Ignorance of the officially-mandated correct thoughts is no excuse.
It’s expanding, and will at some point affect everybody.
Check out his gofund.me page, which was started to reimburse him for the entry fee and travel expenses.
This kid is laughing all the way to the bank.
Why the hell should he not laugh?
I sure would.
Should’a said “normal”.
“You find an attorney who’ll take you pro bono for the cause. “
I’m sure they’re out there. You’d probably find a unicorn first, though. Given the emotional investment I, at least, don’t think it’s worth it. My cases were civil, yet the other side attempted to terrorize me. I ended up moving forty miles away and the leader of the HOA gang continued to follow me home at night, and park across the street obviously masturbating. He made no attempt to hide it. He did everything the BTK killer did. He was also a deacon in the local Catholic church. The legal system was a hundred percent against me as they were all Democrats. I took videos to the prosecuting attorney who was older than some rocks. Although the Sheriff’s detectives declared what was happening stalking the District Attorney said, “Men, don’t stalk men.” Calling the cops on a stalker since they won’t do anything except shake their finger at him, is continuing a “relationship” by proxy. All stalking is about having a relationship. So, I bought a gun, learned how to use it. Eventually, as the literature suggested, he moved on to a new target.
Winning in court, other than bankrupting the HOA, was useless. After attorney’s fees there was nothing for me. The court system is not “just.” When it is, it’s an accident.
Such inclusivity displayed by the *tolerant* trans community.
I think I read that he did respond ‘he’ and ‘him’ and then giggled nervously.
That poor male child. MALE- he and him- and the POS who threw him out needs a blanket party.
“”violating their inclusive policy,”
Didn’t the judge violate the inclusive policy by asking him?
Forcing him, by intimidation, to reveal his personal gender choice to the judge?
We need to figure out a way to assist people like this is suing the event.
SHUT UP!!!!
SHUT UPPP!!!
Just SHUUUUUTTT UUUUUUUUUPPPPP!!!
You ask too many questions. That’s creating a hostile workplace environment and making people uncomfortable.
;’}
Pokemon is a tranny too?
Being offended is not a crime. It’s a personal reaction, in this case, where an authority figure went on a power trip to beat down something that wasn’t even intentional. Even if it had been intentional, so what? Unless a threat is explicitly attached, it’s nothing to turn into a tyrant over.
Did they investigate the judge? It would be an interesting way to pare down the competition. Any extra money suddenly deposited in his bank account? One can go into full conspiracy mode just as easily as going into fatally-offended mode.
If someone is into the multi-variant pronouns, they’ll usually volunteer that information loudly and proudly; if they don’t, assume what their appearance and registrations say they are. If unsure, just use the person’s name. Not a lot of reasons to use pronouns when one is a judge anyway.
Didn’t the judge violate the inclusive policy by asking him?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That’s a great question and one (or a variation of it) that everyone should have on the ready when asked similar such stupid questions. The other approach is to simply say “take your pronouns and shove them where the sun don’t shine... I’m out of here.” That’s a hard one to perhaps put out there by a 14 year old who just spent tons of money to get there.
Although this doesn’t work for a 14 year old, this kind of discussion reminds me to wear the T-shirt more often that has this message... “Don’t piss off old people...the older we get, the less life in prison is a deterrent!”
Excellent point.
Would the judge have thrown him out if he had just said, “Guess!” or “Whatever” (with eye-roll for the full effect)?
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