Some thoughts

[catundra]

This should really be a post about how I spent today - my birthday - and yet it isn't because I have something else on my mind instead.  Fandom and more specifically the fact I am feeling totally disillusioned with giant aspects of the SF community right at this minute.  Not only disillusioned but really quite angry and really, is it worth being

Comments

[ariaflame]

I don't know about Ditmars. But I think Swancon was lifechanging for me. I'd been pretty much alone with nobody with similar interests around until I hit university. There I found MARS and some with similar interests, but it wasn't until Swancon that I was surrounded by people with similar interests. Some of the people I met there I still know and am friends with today. Others, in Swancons to come would become best friends, and change my life in ways I could not have dreamed of when I was that lonely teenager. Who knows. If I hadn't had Swancon and the friends I got through it I might not have made it through the last twenty years.

I do however acknowledge that however much we love having a place that seems like home, it is created by all of us, and we are all humans, and we all make mistakes. There is always politics, and the best we can do really, is to try and be aware of who we are and what we do, and not be one of the people that makes things harder for others.

[robinpen]

Do keep in mind that this Ditmar controversy is generated by an astonishingly small part of the community. And that YOU represent the community far more than they do.

[transcendancing]

Well said.

Thinking of you.

[callistra]

I agree with Robin too.
You far more represent what I see as important to Swancon than what the Ditmar discussees do.

I think you're awesome, all of you. A lot of your hard work has made this convention happen too, and while things didn't work out the way we would have all liked them too, your work helped make this con amazing.

[emma_in_oz]

Am obviously not in the network because who is accusing who of what? Thought the Ditmars were a lovely display of fannish celebration. Hate this aftermath.

[baby_elvis]

I don't know what happened during the year, but I hope that you are still able to find some pleasure in future Swancons.