Condolences Statement from SDGT Entertainment
We mourn the tragic loss of a talented Black female cosplayer, Ashley Gail Paxton aka Squidkid1111 whose life was cut short due to the cruelty of anti-Black racism in fandom spaces. SDGT Entertainment stands firmly against (cyber)bullying, hatred, and discrimination in all forms. It is neither cool, amusing, nor respectable to unleash hate on anyone for their differences—especially those who are simply joining in on the cosplay fun. To feel as if someone could've pulled off a look better with material suggestions, that's one thing. You give pointers or showcase your own skills. To go to racism, that was just some evil waiting to be unleashed on someone.
Fact: when cyberbullying and online harassment lead to a victim's death by suicide, the perpetrators can face severe legal consequences. The consequences include felony charges like involuntary manslaughter, aggravated stalking, major fines, and prison time. They still boil down to State Laws, but ask yourself if that's something you really want to play with? Parents, Ashley was 19 years old, so make sure you remain connected with your children and give them an avenue to connect with you. Always!
To anyone who may find themselves in her shoes: you are not alone. Subjecting yourself to hate in the name of being accepted is never the way to live or to belong. Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated, and certainly not hated. Though easier said than done, building your own platform is far more fulfilling than being victimized on someone else’s. More for parents and content creators below!
Rest in peace to SquidKid1111! And to everyone else—remember, time is far too precious to waste on hate. Parents, it doesn't hurt to instill this into your children because a number of individuals wait until the consequences are staring them or their children in the face before they seek a better way to live.
Content creators can protect themselves from online racism and cyberbullying by combining platform tools (blocking, reporting, filtering) with personal strategies (community building, media literacy, self-care). The goal is to reduce exposure to hate, strengthen resilience, and create safer spaces where they are celebrated, not targeted. If a platform isn't safe, is it worth supporting the platform?
🔒 Practical Steps for Protection
1. Use Platform Tools Effectively
- Block & mute: Immediately block accounts spreading hate or harassment. Muting prevents further engagement without alerting the aggressor.
- Report abuse: Use reporting features to flag racist or bullying content. Even if platforms are inconsistent, reports help track abusive accounts.
- Filter comments/messages: Many platforms allow keyword filters to automatically hide offensive language.
2. Strengthen Digital Boundaries
- Limit personal exposure: Avoid oversharing private details that can be weaponized.
- Separate accounts: Maintain professional vs. personal accounts to reduce vulnerability.
- Curate your audience: Use moderation tools to approve followers or comments before they appear publicly.
3. Build Supportive Communities
- Go where you’re celebrated: Engage with platforms, groups, and communities that actively uplift diversity rather than tolerate hate.
- Collaborate with allies: Partner with other creators to amplify positive voices and drown out negativity.
- Create safe spaces: Encourage respectful dialogue and set clear community guidelines for your followers.
4. Develop Media Literacy & Resilience
- Recognize harmful patterns: Understand how racism and cyberbullying manifest online (casual racism, coded language, dog whistles).
- Don’t internalize hate: Media literacy helps creators see abuse as systemic, not personal.
- Practice self-care: Take breaks, seek therapy or peer support, and avoid doomscrolling.
5. Legal & Advocacy Options
- Know your rights: Racism and harassment may violate civil rights laws.
- Document abuse: Keep records (screenshots, timestamps) in case legal action or platform escalation is needed.
- Join advocacy groups: Organizations fight for stronger anti-racism policies and can provide resources or create your own.
⚠️ Risks & Challenges
- Platform inconsistency: Social media companies often fail to enforce anti-abuse policies consistently.
- Casual racism normalization: Hate speech disguised as “jokes” can spread widely and be harder to report.
- Emotional toll: Constant exposure to racism can cause burnout, anxiety, or depression.
- Harder to Connect: If you turn off comments, it may be harder to connect with fans. Consider an exclusive way for true supporters to connect with you.
✅ Key Takeaway
Protecting yourself online means combining proactive tech use with community support and personal resilience. Don’t fight hate alone—curate spaces where your creativity thrives, document abuse when necessary (it's a paper trail), and remember that building your own platform is more fulfilling than enduring victimization. How can you make this possible? Ever heard of MyBB?
🌐 What is MyBB?
• Open-source forum software: MyBB (originally MyBulletinBoard) is licensed under GNU LGPL, meaning it’s free to use, modify, and extend.
• Technology stack: Written in PHP, it supports multiple databases including MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.
• Longevity & stability: First released in 2002, it’s been actively maintained for decades, with the latest stable release in 2024.
🔑 Key Features That Make MyBB Ideal for Safe Communities
• User-friendly interface: MyBB offers an intuitive design for both admins and members, lowering barriers to entry.
• Customization: Hundreds of plugins and themes allow you to tailor the look, feel, and functionality of your forum.
• Multilingual support: Community-maintained translations in 30+ languages make it accessible worldwide.
• Moderation tools: Built-in features like user bans, post approvals, and reporting systems help maintain respectful dialogue.
• Community-driven development: Since it’s open source, improvements and security updates are contributed by volunteers, ensuring transparency and adaptability.
🛡️ Why MyBB Works as a Safe Space
Creating a safe space online requires control, inclusivity, and community guidelines. MyBB supports this by:
• Empowering admins: You decide the rules, moderation style, and membership policies.
• Encouraging positive engagement: Plugins can add features like reputation systems, private groups, or content filters to reward supportive behavior.
• Reducing reliance on external platforms: Unlike social media, where algorithms may amplify toxic content, MyBB lets you curate the environment.
• Scalability: Whether it’s a small niche group or a growing global community, MyBB can expand with your needs.
MyBB vs Other Forum Software
Ease of Use
• MyBB: Simple and intuitive
• phpBB: More complex setup
• Discourse: Modern but heavier learning curve
Customization
• MyBB: Hundreds of plugins and themes available
• phpBB: Large extension library
• Discourse: Plugin-based, but less variety
Safe Space Potential
• MyBB: Strong moderation tools
• phpBB: Good, but less intuitive
• Discourse: Excellent moderation, but resource-heavy
Cost
• MyBB: Free, open source
• phpBB: Free, open source
• Discourse: Free, but hosting can be costly
Community Support
• MyBB: Active volunteer community
• phpBB: Large but less personal
• Discourse: Active, developer-focused
⚠️ Challenges & Considerations
• Hosting required: You’ll need your own server or hosting provider to run MyBB.
• Maintenance: Regular updates and security patches are essential to keep the community safe.
• Learning curve for customization: While user-friendly, advanced customization may require some technical knowledge.
• Also consider Blogger if you just want to express yourself with the option of messages under posts or creating an online community with Facebook Groups.
SDGT Entertainment isn’t affiliated with MyBB, Facebook, or Blogger, but if sharing information helps create safe spaces that prevent future tragedies, we’re all for it! Stay safe, Be A Light, and as always… game on!
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 in the U.S. and Canada.
- Crisis Text Line: Text "HOME" to 741741 in the U.S. and Canada.
- The Trevor Project: Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
