The rules of engagement have changed.

Less than a week ago, Charlie Kirk was assassinated for the crime of being a moderate center-right talking head. Leftists have for too long felt completely comfortable and even justified saying whatever they want about whoever they want without consequence. Even Tom Fulp, the founder of Newgrounds takes to Bluesky to retweet someone's post about Elon Musk supporting the firing of those pushing for continued political violence. "What? We can't walk all over you anymore? Hypocritical, don't you think!"

The rules of engagement have changed.

I chose to feature a portrait of Charlie Kirk, a man I did not agree with, to gauge the response. By and large it was incredibly distasteful. Newgrounds was always an offensive site, hosting iconic games like Pico's School and Clubby the Seal. Newgrounds recently (being the past 10 or so years) became a place where you must file the edges, banning artworks of certain individuals seemingly without reason, retaining an ambiguous "hate speech" rule, etc. but this is wrong beyond reason. This feature and the post itself was met widely with hate, laughter, vitriol, jeering, and lies about Mr. Kirk.

The rules of engagement have changed.

The writing is on the wall. Users who post these things have names, addresses, and faces. The names, addresses, and faces of those unfit to participate in civil society where disagreement is not punishable by death. The names, addresses, and faces of those who wanted a moderate man dead for being far right, not realizing there are millions more to right of him. He was a 2000 Democrat. We are playing by your rules now. Start deleting your posts, start apologizing, start repenting. Your subversion will be crushed unilaterally. Boo all you like, I know what makes you cheer.

The rules of engagement have changed.