SIIIIGGGGHHHHHHHHH

Jul. 28th, 2012 at 8:09 AM

This is about the Readercon thing, and if you don't know what I'm talking about skip this for now and I'll explain later.

I'm not really ready to talk about it. I'm reeling, (also I need to leave for work) and still processing. I did leave this comment on the official statement though:

This coming year is my third year as a member of the programming committee for Readercon, and this is devastating. I don't care about Walling's redemption story. I mean, this is Readercon guys, we could have an entire panel about how male redemption stories in SF/F are super duper overdone and we're all fucking sick of them. I'm way more interested in the story of the awesome lady writer who bravely reported harassment and got shit taken care of.

Flipness aside, I don't care who the harasser is or who the harassed is, Readercon is actively making their attendees feel unsafe with this decision. I like Readercon, and I don't want to see it die. That's what will happen if new people don't want to come. Please stop making me disappointed in you, I know you're all better than this.
(end)

IDK I'm not bailing out of this thing just yet and I'll probably write more about this when I can catch my breath and stop just SIGHING everywhere when I think about it, and I will be sending something to info@readercon.org as well, and I'd like for everyone else who's pissed off to do so as well if you can. Readercon means a lot to me and I'm not willing to give up on it just yet, but I can't let people just run it into the ground either.

Like I said, not really ready to talk about it, just didn't want my silence to get too loud.

Comments

( 12 comments — Leave a comment )

wirewalking

Jul. 28th, 2012 02:47 pm (UTC)

I mean, this is Readercon guys, we could have an entire panel about how male redemption stories in SF/F are super duper overdone and we're all fucking sick of them

This.

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kythryne

Jul. 28th, 2012 04:18 pm (UTC)

I was sad when I had to go back home after meeting y'all for dinner this year. I was gonna go next year. Might have even taken out some advertising in the program book for WS.

Now it's on my ever-growing list of Local Cons What Are Not Safe For Me To Attend. Which sucks, because it sounded fun and lots of cool people go there.

WHY CAN'T WE HAVE NICE THINGS.

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emilytheslayer

Jul. 28th, 2012 04:22 pm (UTC)

Well, don't write it off *completely* yet, we're working on it. But yeah, I don't blame anyone who doesn't want to come because of this. There's a lot of behind the scenes stuff that is sort of slowly coming to light, and there's a big push from the Programming Committee and some of the ConCommittee to fix this bullshit. The fact that the Board is apparently not with us is, um, well. It's a process. My biggest hope right now is that the backlash will force them to fix it now, and that the fact that they've turned the con into a dang laughingstock for the second time in three years, this one over pretty serious stuff, will make them see? Or something? Like I said, I'll be talking about it more soon, I just need to sort this out in a my head a little more.

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kythryne

Jul. 28th, 2012 04:31 pm (UTC)

If they fix it, I'd reconsider, yeah. But there is an awful lot of bullshit going down in fandom around abuse and disability and racis... oh I don't need to be saying this, you know all about it already. I *want* to like cons, I really do, but they don't feel like safe space to me and they never really have.

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emilytheslayer

Jul. 28th, 2012 04:34 pm (UTC)

Nope, I get you completely, no worries. I'm not pushing for anyone to put aside their personal comfort to come to something that historically has had so many problems. I want to fix this though, and I WANT it to be safe for everyone. I can't do it without a lot of pushing though, and every stupid decision like this just sets it all back more. From what I've seen there are a ton of authors and editors, not to mention all the fans, that are pretty much dropping Readercon from their consideration or calendar right now. Which, good, it's probably the only thing they'll listen to at this point, but oh my god this thing that I love is crumbling because of stupidity and I can not stand it.

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kythryne

Jul. 28th, 2012 04:38 pm (UTC)

Sometimes money talks when nothing else does. I made a point of mentioning that they'd lost both my attendance and my business advertising. One voice, but hey.

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emilytheslayer

Jul. 28th, 2012 04:39 pm (UTC)

No, that's good. They'll pretend to be above such things but no one is, not really. Weirdly Readercon tries so hard to be such a serious con that I actually think all the "Readercon banning, so only for a minute" jokes might make some kind of impact.

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kythryne

Jul. 28th, 2012 04:35 pm (UTC)

I'm glad it's being worked on, though, and I'm glad people still have the energy to work on it. There's a lot what needs fixing, not just at this con but all over the place.

Feelings are hard. Let's go shopping.

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emilytheslayer

Jul. 28th, 2012 04:36 pm (UTC)

Feelings are the DUMBEST.

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weds

Jul. 28th, 2012 05:49 pm (UTC)

WHY ARE FEELINGS

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weds

Jul. 28th, 2012 05:51 pm (UTC)

I am trying to figure out how to even react, because of things and stuff and that other thing, you know, that. The contrast. The hell.

I can't even imagine how hard this must be for you right now.

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emilytheslayer

Jul. 28th, 2012 08:12 pm (UTC)

Stuff is happening. good stuff. IDK how much is public yet so I don't want to get into it BUT the people that will not let this rest are exactly who I would have expected and are finding ways to fight this and it is a THING. A good thing, obviously.

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( 12 comments — Leave a comment )

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