Recently Jeremy from Unsleeved Media/The Quartering /MTGHeadquarters has started speaking out about pedophilia in the MTG judge community. He is behaving and insinuating that there is a huge scandal with regards to pedophiles in the MTG judge community, even going so far as to say that there is a ‘pedophile ring’. He is also accusing other MTG community members and Wizards of the Coast of covering up the scandal, of protecting pedophiles. His followers were quick to leap onto the drama, eat up his words, and go along with the assumption.

The problem is, there are, to my knowledge, which I admit is limited, NO MORE pedophiles in the MTG judge community than there is in ANY social sphere. Pedophiles are not over-represented in MTG, but occur at the SAME frequency that they occur everywhere in society.

Pedophilia is a real issue, that should be taken seriously. I was sexually abused as a child by a pedophile, so the topic is one I am familiar with (unfortunately). Jeremy’s hysteria is misplaced and naïve. He is acting surprised and outraged that there are pedophiles in the MTG judge program. But pedophiles are, unfortunately, literally everywhere in our lives. They have jobs, they have hobbies, they ARE monsters, but they are human monsters.

I very much doubt there is any sort of organised ‘pedophile ring’ in the MTG judge community for the simple reason that MTG is a game that is intended for those who are 13 or older. 13 and older is past the age that pedophiles are typically interested in, by that age my abuser started to lose interest in me, as I was ‘too old’ for him. There are not many young children, or young teens, who play MTG. Those that do, play it at school, at lunch time, with their friends. Some attend store events, but those are public events where it is harder for an abuser to have access to them privately.

I’m not saying it’s impossible that a young MTG player may be abused by an older pedophile in the community. This is something that has happened, and is a thing that may happen from time to time. We must do everything we can to prevent and minimise such occurances.

What I am saying is that it is not an especially large or prevalent problem. There is no true ‘story’ here. No conspiracy.

Pedophiles trying to target children would do better, and do choose to, join kids athletic, religious, or other such after school type activities, or become educators or clergy in order to gain access to children. Becoming an MTG judge would give a pedophile very VERY limited access to children.

There are pedophiles who play MTG, just as there are pedophiles in your workplace, your friendship groups, and your family.

There are not MORE pedophiles who play MTG than there is in the general population.

I think screening judges for criminal records or performing a safety to work with children check (in Australia it’s called a ‘blue card’) is a wonderful idea that should be implemented. I would encourage WOTC to require that, if they do not yet already do so.

If you ever witness or have concerns that a child in the MTG community is being abused, please bring the matter up with local authorities.

But don’t act like pedophiles are overrunning the MTG community. They occur at the same rate as they do elsewhere. Don’t try to paint MTG as a game where pedophiles lurk in any large or organised fashion, it’s simply not true.

It’s insulting to see jokes and fake outrage about pedophilia from my MTG peers. I, and many other MTG players, live with the long-term ramifications of pedophilia every day of our lives. It isn’t a joke, it isn’t a meme, it isn’t rare or surprising.

Pedophilia is a serious issue and any pedophiles in the MTG community should be dealt with in a swift, decisive, and mature manner. Making memes, jokes, and outraged proclamations is not a mature manner, and is hurtful for many survivors of childhood sexual abuse.