Comments on: Things I Learned On Vacation: It’s not that hard to do the right thing.

By: Diana S

Diana S — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:42:45 +0000

Sigh, the anime cons also react like the comic people… anytime you complain, you’re the bad guy. Even REAL concerns get you nothing but scorn. I’m amazed every time this happens and it’s ruining the cons for us since I’m getting old and I’m not going to be fucking quiet like I’m “suppose” to be.

Hell, they are trying to make most of the anime cons more “family friendly” but aren’t putting in the time and money to hire more security to deal with all the parents dropping their children off, in rather skimpy outfits, at a convention with zero parental supervision or knowledge of how they need to behave. And with the attendees age plummeting way below 15 there are less adults around to lead people to not do what the rest of the crowd is doing. This creates a bad situation for all involved.

By: Tom Spurgeon

Tom Spurgeon — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:34:51 +0000

I’m all for getting rid of the costumes. Down with costumes!

I think this whole thing actually is a slightly more complicated issue, and I’m not sure I know exactly how. Like for one thing, I’m pretty certain the harassment thing is a different beast, because I was robbed at CCI a couple of years ago, and I don’t see the PAX prescription against stealing as having anything at all to do with my situation. Does it? Shouldn’t I of all people be pro-prescription against steling?

I think my solution is going to be never going to any show of any kind ever again.

Especially if I can’t take drugs at them anymore.

By: maija

maija — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:00:50 +0000

I should have contextualized my (admittedly bad) example better. I was a fragment of an unfinished response to another argument that fell out of my brain. One of the protests I read against having a stated rule was a ridiculous argument something like “What’s next? Do we ask scantily clad women to cover up? Do we remove adult content?” Like a prohibition against sexual assault would be some kind of thin edge of a puritanical wedge. I was going for an example of a rule applied in a situation that isn’t puritanical, but instead opened another messy can of worms.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:15:22 +0000

Tom- I don’t really make the same distinction between detractors of the two issues, sorry. People can use intellect to come to incorrect conclusions.

And I don’t think I’ve quite thrown anyone under a bus here, even metaphorically… Maybe I’m giving a more generous reading to the post though?

By: Tom Spurgeon

Tom Spurgeon — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:59:30 +0000

I wouldn’t be so quick to throw all those people under the bus. While there are a ton of excuse-makers and not-the-boss-of-me people out there I do know some people that honestly, intellectually believe that codes and policies are more in the bullshit column rather than the solution column.

Now, I’m not with those people, and I’m for simple policies when my fellow industry members want them and believe it provides them with dignity and safety just as I’m against drinking in a place that makes people feel less safe and dignified. But I do see their point of view, and I wouldn’t want to lump that point of view in with the loathesome creatures that think the ladies want it or whatever.

That strip club example is hugely problematic. Ee-yikes.

By: maija

maija — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:14:11 +0000

*and, AS PAX demonstrates…

By: maija

maija — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:12:48 +0000

I commented on John DiBello’s column when it was re-posted at Newsarama. A lot of the other responses were quite demoralizing. I’m amazed at the defensive reaction against something that should be obvious and, and PAX demonstrates, simple and painless. I get the impression that some folks have the protection of personal safety and comfort confused with censorship. Strip clubs have “NO TOUCHING” rules, but you don’t see agonized debate about that online. (Then again, nothing’s out of the realm of possibility on the internet).

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:15:47 +0000

Yay, PAX!

Possibly of interest: http://www.cahp.girl-wonder.org/

By: Blog@Newsarama » Blog Archive » Revisiting convention rules and boycotts

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:09:44 +0000

[...] September 15th, 2008Author Kevin Melrose Retailer and commentator Chris Butcher returns from vacation, and revisits a pair of heavily discussed Comic-Con-related issues from earlier in the summer. [...]

By: Chip Zdarsky

Chip Zdarsky — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:46:06 +0000

It would also be a good idea to be more bold in spelling out for convention guests what their options are in these situations. Hopefully, that will remind women being harassed at events like this what their rights are and how to respond to shitty, potentially criminal behaviour. And especially that it’s perfectly fine to give a shout to security to give certain dudes a talking to/trouncing. Hell, when anyone’s picking up a pass they should all be given a quick speech about when to call security, how to do so, what to say to people that are being shitheads, etc. It’s good to have this kind of thing at the top of your mind whether you’re a con-goer or guest.

This kind of thing makes me especially sad when you think that there’s other people around that are, y’know, decent, that don’t step in and help when it’s obvious someone’s being harassed. They need to be reminded of their options and civic duties as well.