Monthly Archives: February 2020

The young couple beaming in the square-shaped image of their big day could be just another post on Instagram but the snap was also a personal finance lesson in disguise.

I wore a second-hand dress that was 70, Steph wore a free dress that her mum had worn to get married two years earlier, we DIYed and made the best of what we had, postedLisa Garwood-Cross, the 28-year-old behind the @living_thrifty account.

Making a bouquet of paper flowers from a vintage comic book (cost: 1.58) is one way shes been sharing the story with her 11,000 followers on the picture-sharing app of how she stuck to a 2,500 wedding budget.

The Instagram generation may be criticised for loving consumption-fuelled images of designer clothes, expensive brunches and exotic holidays, but the platform is increasingly providing the inspo for those looking to save money, learn to budget, start a retirement fund or get out of debt.

Amid the deluge of selfies, content creators around the world are bringing financial education into the social media mainstream.

FT Money swiped through the growing online finance community to see how it is transforming young peoples relationship with money and the underlying tension of the platforms growing commercial potential.

In the early days of Instagram, there was more of a focus on discussing new products and taking the perfect shots, but that has evolved, says Eva Caiden, a trends expert at Instagram.

Tips on how to budget, start investing or bridge the gender pensions gap might not be what youd expect to encounter scrolling through your Instagram feed but these topics are finding traction with young people seeking to nurture better financial habits.

Facebook acquired the platform for $1bn eight years ago and Instagram now boasts more than 1bn active users, 500m of whom use the platform daily.

Far from viewing discussion of money matters as a social taboo, users are captivated by posts from people happy to share their real-life experiences of managing their personal finances warts and all.

The vast majority of creators find that content which gives a realistic view of everyday life performs best with their followers, adds Ms Caiden.

Nevertheless, a platform where top influencers can make big money endorsing products or services (see below) might seem an unexpected place for this to evolve.

The growing Instagram money community in the US and UK is friendly, casual and typically positive. It is formed largely of people with zero professional interest in managing money sharing their insights with like-minded people. In any case, the young age profile of Instagram users means they would be unlikely to be able to afford a financial adviser.

The dominant cultural message is that we should be spending our money, keeping up with the Joneses and showing off all our expensive things, says Lisa, who started posting as @living_thrifty in resistance to this.

I found myself thinking: no. I should save up and get that a bit cheaper because I want to share positive things with my followers so that they can see it is possible.

Thrifters, scrimpers and frugal types who promote tips and ideas about how to live well for less are just one example ofwhat buzzword-loving content marketers like to call Instagram tribes.

Tribes are micro-communities on social platforms that share similar goals and values, spreading their ideas using hashtags (it is now possible to follow hashtags as well as individual accounts on Instagram).

Many use colourful stationery and calligraphy to get their message across or Inspo-gram as some call it.

Others use tangible budgeting methods such as the envelope system, apportioning a set amount of cash to cover different monthly expenses.

On a visual-centric platform, these savings strategies resonate with audiences.

Washington-based Kumiko Love, aka @thebudgetmom, has an Instagram grid filled with colourful doodles and inspirational quotes (such assmall steps to success are still steps in the right direction) designed to spark an emotional response.

I think we are all looking for motivation, to feel something as we navigate finances in our lives, she says.

Her 450,000 followers love her open approach to money she even lists her savings balance on her profile (currently $404,000 and rising).

She recently posted pictures of hergoals board showing her financial aims for 2020, which include saving $20,000 towards herdream house, another $10,000 into her seven-year-old sons college fund.

One follower replied #teachmeyourways in response. Visitors to the Budget Mom websitecould pay $3.99 for aWhere did my money go? print-at-home worksheet to track their income and expenses.

Annie Atherton from @thefinancialdiet, which describes itself as a media/news company and boasts a similar number of followers, says she doesnt think that people are actively seeking financial content on Instagram.

Instead, by using visual inspiration, money advice is like a Trojan Horse or the medicine in the cheese.

Its less that people are seeking money content on Instagram and more that they are already there, and we are giving it to them in a way that feels natural to the platform, she says.

One of Instagrams most popular financial hashtags is #debtfreecommunity which has featured on more than 850,000 posts. Users sharing their experiences of paying down debt are a powerful tribe. Many use Instagram to document their journey towards a debt-free life, recounting how arduous, but ultimately rewarding, this process can be.

Financial blogger Lynn James posts as @mrsmummypennyuk and shared her #debtfreejourney on Instagram as she spent two years paying down 16,000 worth of credit card debts.

She says that even when posting a simple message that she had paid off a small chunk of her debt, the level of supportive comments from users on the site kept her going.

I still have so many people in my DMs [direct messages] saying that they have just seen my story and that I have inspired them to add up all their debts and make a plan to start paying it off, she says.

Micro-influencers with between 10,000 and 50,000 followers on the platform have deeply connected audiences with high engagement rates.

Other money-centred hashtags that have originated from these communities include #financegoals #frugallife #budgetlife and #totalmoneymakeover.

Parents are an important part of the community, posting how they manage money while bringing up children.

British money blogger Ricky Willis who posts as @skintdad has devised a1p savings challenge for his 14,000 followers, saving tiny amounts every day to amass nearly 700 by the end of the year.

Francesca Henry, aka @the.moneyfox, shares posts with her 22,000 followers on budgeting, being a parent and paying off her debts.

A few years ago I was in a really bad place financially I was in a really unhappy marriage, I had a little girl, and I ended up getting in debt, she says.

She decided to use Instagram to share the personal finance advice she had to teach herself advice that is not always easy for people without wealth to access.

When I went looking for something to help me, a resource, I couldnt find anything that could help me specifically, she explains.

Her most popular posts all with a pink theme detail her budgeting process and beautifully illustrated spending diaries, which she also sells via her page as aside hustle.

If youre afraid to look at your bank account, taking these steps will be a game changer for you, she recently posted alongside a list of how to start budgeting:

Income minus expenses =? Any money left over needs a purpose.

In interviews with Instagrammers for this article, four words came up frequently: honesty, vulnerability, authenticity and, more surprisingly, loneliness.

The link between money problems and mental health issues is now well established, but many micro influencers say they started posting about their money problems to combat feelings of shame, social isolation or not knowing what to do.

I think when youre in that place, it feels quite lonely and everything feels like doom and gloom, says Francesca.

Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, who posts as @thefiscalfemme, adds: We dont realise that other people dont understand [their personal finances] either and are trying to figure it out. [Knowing this] can make it feel a lot less lonely.

Instagrammers also offer plenty of ideas for those looking to take their finances to the next level through learning about investing or starting a retirement fund.

Popular hashtags include#investing101 and #wealthbuilding but one that really resonates is#financialindependence. This stems from the US Fire movement (financial independence, retire early) that encourages extreme forms of money-savingwith the aim of stopping work or achieving a better work-life balance.

Its adherents may well be earning a big salary or have considerable wealth behind them, showing the many shades of the Instagram money community.

San Diego-based Jeremy Schneider posts as @personalfinanceclub and has 55,000 followers. His emoji-strewn profile says he retired at 36, loves index funds, frugal living and is an avoider of debt. Like many investment bloggers, it also includes an invest at your own risk disclaimer.

I havent had a full-time job since I was 36, I think retired is a corny-loaded word, but I put it there on my bio to pique curiosity, he says.

He sharessmall, bite-size infographics such as his rules of building wealth which includelive below your means andinvest early, and often.

One of his early posts, headedHow to become a millionaire is still among his most popular:Invest $250 a month in an S&P500 index fund...and then wait 40 years.

I think that sort of bite-size, compelling message speaks to people, he says. Theyre like, wait, $250 a month, thats not a crazy number...its selling with curiosity.

Whereas some content creators are selling an idea, others find that as their followers soar, they can sell much more than that.

Larger accounts commonly link to blogs and websites offering everything from personal coaching, linked promotions for fintech apps and even subscription investment services.

Bola Sokunbi, @clevergirlfinance, has moved from an interest in frugal living and saving into investing and recently published her first book one of a growing number of Instagram finance faces in the US to do so.

As a child of immigrants in the US, she says learning about personal finance gave her the opportunity to create the sort of wealth her family did not have when she was growing up.

A certified financial education instructor in the US, she decided to start a blog to share personal finance tips that worked for her. I have continued to save and invest over time, and my friends are always asking me questions about investing and money, she says.

Arecent post asks: Why should you want to be financially successful? She tells her 249,000 followers:Its not all about acquiring things its about giving back, helping others and leaving a lasting, positive impact for those you care about.

As well as her blog and social media accounts, Bola has been able to monetise her brand by offering courses where she provides one-to-one mentorship.

One of the reasons people turn to Instagram for financial inspiration is because of a lack of financial education elsewhere.

Even though personal finance has been on the national curriculum in English schools since 2014, four out of five students still say they are not being taught enough practical money lessons.

By sharing their own personal finance journeys, Instagrammers are seen as real and relatable. They have a powerful influence, but social media posts are a far cry from regulated financial advice.

Its striking how Instagram is bringing together people the traditional financial services world has overlooked, especially women and young people, says Jason Butler, the FTs Wealth Man columnist, who has worked as a financial adviser for over 25 years.

While its great that people are engaging with their finances, never forget that the internet is the Wild West. A lot of the advice is style over substance, with similar ideas being shared, but these wont be right for everybody and people might not be who they say they are.

Always ask yourself, what are this persons intentions honourably sharing their experience or turning me into a customer?

Annie from @thefiancialdiet stresses that her posts are by no means financial advice, but explore the emotional side of money, trying to take out the taboo and encourage conversations.

Ashley, @thefiscalfemme, who was previously an investment banker in New York, admits that despite her background she was at a loss when it came to her own finances.

A lot of the materials [provided by the finance industry] were very daunting and boring and I felt like they were keeping me out of the club, like they didnt want me to understand, she says.

If we are going to be on Instagram to keep up with our friends, we might as well follow things where we can learn, get inspired.

Damien Fahy, who posts as @moneytothemasses, set up the free website of the same namebecause he believed that his financial qualifications were being wasted on affluent people who could afford his services.

He uses Instagram to connect with an audience hungry for free tools and tests, such as hisMoney MOT, sharing a wealth of financial knowhow.

Its empowering to ask why and allow people not to feel stupid, he says.

He thinks Instagram could be used to close the financial advice gap and that the regulated advice industry needs to be more willing to engage with people, at least at the beginning, for free.

There is also akeeping it real theme to the sites paid-for subscription service offering investment research, which tracks the progress of Damiens own 50,000 portfolio albeit with heavy disclaimers stating this does not constitute regulated financial advice.

For now, mainstream financial brands are gaining limited traction with the exception of app-based challenger banks.

Monzos highly Instagrammable coral pink payment card is a popular focus point for the 50,000 @Monzo followers, but the banks posts have evolved into data-based insights into young peoples spending habits.

The UKs Starling Bank tags #sidehustle in posts promoting the moneymaking side projects of its users, including selling cupcakes and an RnB themed kitchenwarebusiness.

Whether youre spending money, saving it, investing it or earning it, Instagram is set to have considerable influence over our finances in the future.

Instagram has been criticised for spawning the cult of the influencer celebrities in their own right who flog products to their armies of followers and make money through advertising revenue.

Plenty are willing to boast of their success, but real financial dangers lurk in the pursuit of the Insta-perfect dream.

A joint investigation last year by HuffPost and BBC Radio 5 Live found young people were getting into thousands of pounds of debt trying to recreate an Instagrammable lifestyle.

Images showing the trappings of wealth are also a potent tool for scammers who have used the platform to promote fraudulent get-rich-quick schemes.

Last year, UK fraud authorities warned that hundreds of Instagram users aged between 20 and 30 had been suckered with the promise of high returns, losing nearly 9,000 each on average.

Instagrams help page contains reporting tools for users to flag anything that looks suspicious. It details eight common types of fraud including false investment scams promisingunrealistic monetary benefits, loan scams offering a low interest rate for an advance fee and job scams usingmisleading or fake job postings to try and get your personal information or money.

See the article here:

Finance on Instagram: what's not to like? - Financial Times

Queen's grandson Peter Phillips and wife, Autumn, separate

Updated: 1:19 PM EST Feb 11, 2020

Peter Phillips, the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, and his wife Autumn are divorcing after 12 years of marriage.The couple said in a statement Tuesday that the separation was sad but amicable. They plan to share custody of daughters Savannah, 9, and Isla, 7.The 42-year-old Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and will be the first of the queens eight grandchildren to divorce. Three of the monarchs four children had marriages that ended in divorce, including Anne, who split from first husband Mark Phillips in 1992 and married naval officer Timothy Laurence, her second and current spouse.Peter Phillips married Canadian management consultant Autumn Kelly at Windsor Castle in 2008.Announcement of their separation comes after a tumultuous few months for Britains royal family. Last month the queens grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan quit royal duties, saying they wanted to seek financial independence and spend more time in North America.The queens second son, Prince Andrew, stepped down from royal duties in November amid controversy over his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Peter Phillips, the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, and his wife Autumn are divorcing after 12 years of marriage.

The couple said in a statement Tuesday that the separation was sad but amicable. They plan to share custody of daughters Savannah, 9, and Isla, 7.

The 42-year-old Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and will be the first of the queens eight grandchildren to divorce. Three of the monarchs four children had marriages that ended in divorce, including Anne, who split from first husband Mark Phillips in 1992 and married naval officer Timothy Laurence, her second and current spouse.

Peter Phillips married Canadian management consultant Autumn Kelly at Windsor Castle in 2008.

Announcement of their separation comes after a tumultuous few months for Britains royal family. Last month the queens grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan quit royal duties, saying they wanted to seek financial independence and spend more time in North America.

The queens second son, Prince Andrew, stepped down from royal duties in November amid controversy over his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The rest is here:

Queen's grandson Peter Phillips and wife, Autumn, separate - WXII The Triad

Housing does more than provide physical shelter: It gives people a sense of belonging, a safer living environment and a community to call home.

Without stable housing, financial security is usually out of reach. Without an affordable place to live, accessing job training, higher education, childcare and even medical treatment can be impossible. Yet right now, millions of Americans lack access to a safe and stable supply of affordable housing. In fact, the United States needs a minimum of 7.2 million more affordable housing units (and potentially as many as 12 million units), according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

As an investor, developer and operator of affordable housing, I see firsthand every day how creating and sustaining affordable housing can positively impact individuals and families. At Lincoln Avenue Capital, were working to do our part. Though our company is only a few years old, weve already taken actions to ensure that 9,000 units of affordable housing remain affordable for decades to come. We have also rehabbed thousands of affordable units in just the last three years. And were just getting started our budget for construction and rehabilitation work is projected to triple over the next 12 months.

Our experience has given me insight into how leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors can further address this growing challenge. What do we as Americans need to know to understand the current affordable housing crisis?

1. There is not enough affordable housing supply to meet demand.

As striking as it is to hear that the U.S. needs 7.2 million to 12 million more affordable units, the percentage of affordable homes available is even more concerning. Only 35 of every 100 extremely low income families have access to available affordable housing. That number rises only slightly to 55 for very low income families. (Extremely low income is defined as at or below the poverty line or 30% of area median income (AMI), whichever is higher. Very low income is defined as households with income between 31% and 50% of AMI.) These numbers do not include the more than 500,000 Americans who are homeless. This lack of affordable housing supply means that more and more households are putting a high percentage of their income toward rent.

2. We must pay attention to the percentage of Americans who are rent-burdened and severely rent-burdened, and understand what these terms mean.

Rent-burdened households spend at least 30% of their income on rent, and severely rent-burdened households spend more than half of their income on rent. A 2015 study from Pew Charitable Trusts found that nearly two in five renters are rent-burdened, while nearly one in five are severely rent-burdened and the share of rent-burdened households continues to rise.

While these terms have technical meanings for our government, they are important indicators that are relevant for all of us. Being able to afford health insurance and medical expenses, car or public transit costs, food, and other basic necessities is incredibly difficult when so much of a households paycheck goes toward rent. In these situations, rent truly becomes a burden that prevents households from long-term planning and becoming financially stable.

3. Households can budget better when their rent is stable.

Affordable housing can help people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck build a future for themselves and their families. Ive met with residents of our properties across the country who have shared how access to affordable housing completely changed their ability to budget. Residents can now pay down high-interest borrowing debt that is often accumulated from purchasing common household items. I remember sitting down with one family who explained to me how housing assistance enabled them to pay back loans on things like mattresses and kitchen appliances that were accruing at double-digit interest rates. Affordable rent helps tenants avoid taking on high-interest loans for recurring expenses like food, medicine, school supplies and gas, and instead start saving for their long-term goals, like job certifications, higher education or a down payment on a house.

4. Affordable housing isnt one and done it needs to be maintained.

All buildings need upkeep, and that includes affordable units. Too many forget that affordable units arent truly available for tenants unless they are properly maintained. The affordable housing industry has a responsibility to maintain quality standards for all properties and each and every tenant.

Private activity bonds (PABs) are a critical source of financing for affordable housing construction and repair. PABs are not only used for affordable housing, and applications for this financing in each state are subject to a volume cap, set by the IRS. For the first time since before the Great Recession, demand for these bonds is exceeding supply in multiple states. Volume cap issues are forcing developers to delay or reduce capital investment and thus reducing the quality standards within existing affordable housing. The challenges in securing this bond financing are exacerbated by the fact that construction costs continue to grow.

5. Solving this crisis requires long-term commitment and public-private collaboration.

Addressing the affordable housing crises will require the public, private and nonprofit sectors to work together. In California, for example, leaders proposed plans to build 3.5 million new homes by 2025 by offering tax credits and funding for private developers to build affordable housing units. The private sector can bring scale and innovation to this problem.

Affordable housing is an essential component for making the American Dream accessible to all. It is more than simply bridging the divide between the number of units we have and the number of units we need. This is about giving people a place to live in their communities and the stability required to achieve financial independence, often serving as a critical component in breaking poverty cycles. But most importantly, affordable housing is a long-term investment in communities one with immeasurably high returns.

Excerpt from:

5 Things To Know About The Affordable Housing Crisis - Forbes

The opening scene of Zoey Deutch's new film, Buffaloed, features the 25-year-old star sprinting to an unspecified location, screaming, and brandishing a gun as she says in a voiceover, "My unathletic ass just ran halfway across Buffalo because an assh*le in that building f*cked with my money. Do not f*ck with my money!" That's all it takes for the movie to grab your attention, and it doesn't let go for the rest of the hour and a half.

The comedic drama follows the complete and total spiral of Deutch's character, Peg Dahl a Buffalo, NY, native whose penchant for taking monetary risks and accumulating debt lands her in quite a few sticky situations. Determined to escape a life of poverty, she takes matters into her own hands by becoming a debt collector (ironically) and residing in a moral gray area as she scams, sweet-talks, and bucks her way through the shady business. And you know what? We can't help but root for her.

Deutch, who also served as a producer on the film, found the character to be oddly likable and relatable. Not because of her deceitful tactics, of course, but because of her ambition and steadfast desire to make something of herself. "It's a funny and poignant story," Deutch told POPSUGAR over the phone on Feb. 14. "It's about a young woman who's obsessed with financial independence and obsessed with making enough cash to get out of her blue-collar existence. It's about somebody who will do anything to escape their dead-end life. But she finds herself in this ethically debatable industry, which can destroy her chances of becoming somebody to begin with. When I read the script, I was really attracted to her greed and drive."

Throughout Peg's journey of hustling, she's constantly told to settle down and find a man to take care of her. And even when she proves that she has the gall to be a leader in the male-dominated world of debt collecting, she's belittled by her male peers. But make no mistake, Peg can hold her own. "I love her sharp mind and even sharper mouth. It's fun to play that type of female protagonist," Deutch said.

Image Source: Everett Collection

Deutch also believes that Peg gives voice to women who feel stuck in places that discourage them from achieving financial stability. "You can call it greed, but the greed is, at its core, coming from a place of wanting freedom," she said. "Peg has seen her mom and everybody else in her life, so she knows that if you never have financial stability, you'll never be free. She really goes against the traditional expectations of women, and she embodies the feminist idea of providing for herself without being reliant on a male figure."

That firm stance against being the damsel in distress is evinced by Peg's strong-willed nature and rough-around-the-edges mannerisms. "I hurt myself a lot because I kept falling and hitting my leg on a car door or something," Deutch revealed with a laugh. "And I was screaming so much, I kept getting laryngitis. It was a very physically demanding experience. I did not hold back at all."

Still, Peg's personality has its nuances. Juxtaposed with her tenacious attitude is her soft spot for her late father and resentment toward her mother, Kathy (Judy Greer). But she later discovers that her family dynamic growing up wasn't all that it seemed. "You get a window into the image that Peg has of her father and the reality of what he was really like," Deutch said, describing a potent scene between Peg and Kathy. "It's a moment where you see truth and it grounds all of Peg's humor and chaos." The emotional exchange between Peg and her mother ended up being Deutch's favorite scene to shoot, and once you see it, you'll probably understand why.

The evolution of Peg and Kathy's relationship is something Deutch really worked to perfect as a producer a job she enjoys quite a bit. "An element of why I love producing so much is that I think more information and more details make me a better actor," she said. And to her point, she is damn good in this film. So gather your coins and head to the nearest theater to see Buffaloed, which is out now!

Read more:

Zoey Deutch Dishes on Her Witty, Money-Driven Character in Buffaloed: "I Did Not Hold Back" - POPSUGAR

Adult visual novel maker Winged Cloud has gained quite the reputation for their Sakura line of titles. The popular visual novel series has managed to make Winged Cloud a recognized name in the VN market, and also the target of typical criticisms from todays woke crowd. Recently they had an interview with The Gaming Ground where they talked about branching out into consoles, working on sequels for certain games, and even offering some advice for developers and publishers on dealing with cancel culture and the cult of censorship.

The interview was published on TheGG on February 14th, 2020, where they got to fire some questions at the manager of Winged Cloud, Exilim. Near the end of the interview the question of censorship and cancel culture came up, and what sort of advice could be offered to gamers, developers, and publishers dealing with those pressing issues. Exilim responded, saying

Well about censorship Obviously, we like to have all our games uncensored. Usually, platforms are under too much pressure from groups of people which became significant enough to force their view of the world onto other people.

Most platforms lack the power or financial independence to follow through with what they want to do.

There are also platforms that have those things, but lack integrity. So about cancel culture. It is tragic indeed that these days emotional manipulators have it easier than ever.

The access to the superpower named public opinion is accessible by a lot of people who lack the responsibility to wield it. What could gamers do? Be more responsible but lets be honest, that wont happen. What could publishers do?

Did you like the product/people before it was attacked? Then work with them. Otherwise, its giving in to fear or financial gain. I mean, sure, this is understandable, as most people are not mentally strong so I would consider that as a normal reaction.

I think the publisher issue is two-fold, since on one hand publishers who dont espouse the views of cancel culture/censorship apologists usually are small or independent and have an uphill battle to fight through in order to maintain brand integrity. The advice of not giving in is sound advice, and any publisher dealing with that sort of backlash needs to learn how to grow a backbone and trust in catering their product to a demographic that will actually buy their product.

On the other hand, though, the dangerous part in sticking to their guns is when the product is untested or original and it starts getting attacked, because at that point how do you know that your game will land well or that the audience will stick by you? I can see where some publishers will get cold feet and start thinking about the accounting sheets and whether or not theyll get a return on their investment.

However, for tried and true concepts like the retro-inspired FPS Ion Fury the developers nor the publishers should have given an inch to the SJWs complaining about the games content. Back in the 1990s those crazy Twitter spergs would have been given the finger and some of their complaints likely would have ended up on marketing posters for Ion Fury to poke fun at the critics. They also would have made Shelly look hot instead of kowtowing their designs to feminist whims. But I digress.

Anyway, Exilim continued on to offer up-and-coming developers advice about cancel culture, SJWs, and censorship advocates, saying

What could developers do? Educate yourself on a few things, hopefully before it happens:

emotional manipulation, so you know what you are dealing with.

resilience and mental fortitude

emotional stability

make your statement without justifying or discussing anything.

deal with it. Things like that happen in life. You still have a lot of projects to make so dont let that distract you from your own future.

And dont forget. They shout loud, rage a lot, but forget very, very fast. You are it today, tomorrow its already someone else. [sic]

This is too true.

If you attempt to placate the loud minority by undermining a popular or highly anticipated product aimed at a targeted demographic, then all youre doing is shooting yourself in the foot. Worse yet is when you shoot yourself in the foot and the people you shot yourself in the foot for dont even support your product like everything on the Get Woke, Go Broke Master List.

I also really like the suggestion of making a statement without discussing anything.

We see so often a developer attempt to justify or explain the reasoning behind a decision, and usually all it does is make things worse. Like when 343 Industries tried to reason with SJWs why Cortana was naked, and it only made the SJWs hungrier for change, and so from Halo 4 to Halo 5 they slapped Cortana on some lazy Mass Effect-looking armor.

Anyway, I think most developers who have been following the trends of cancel culture know whats up, but for those who dont this is good advice from Winged Cloud to follow.

Obviously if developers are willingly engaging with SJWs and constantly kowtowing to their demands, then it probably means they associate with SJW-centric politics than not. When revelations like this occur it means that as a consumer you get to save yourself some coins instead of supporting a studio that aligns with the enemy.

If you want to learn more about Winged Cloud and the companys philosophy on development you can read the rest of the interview over on TheGG. Alternatively you can find most of their games on Steam or on the NSFW Nutaku store.

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Read the original here:

Winged Cloud Offers Advice On Dealing With Cancel Culture, Censorship - One Angry Gamer