This is the first time I've heard of the Backup Ribbon Project (though I've also been talking about the problem and think it's fabulous that someone is getting the word out about a social fix), but it seems like the ribbons specifically *don't* give anyone a free pass. It is simply a badge that empowers -- and reminds -- any passers-by to check in and make sure everything is okay if something doesn't look right. Nothing about this should change if the harasser is wearing a ribbon as well.
I can imagine a scenario where someone sees a ribbon on someone and thinks, "Oh, everything hunky-dory there, no need to check in," but the spirit of the project is for checking in on any potentially shady situation. I agree: D*C is not only overreacting, but misunderstanding the point of the project as a simple reminder for the community to pitch in to combat harassment.
Having it officially sponsored, with some guidelines for what the Backup folks should and shouldn't do, would be the difference between a community-sponsored neighborhood watch, and a bunch of independet vigilantes coming up with their own rules. I get D*C's problem, but if they previously had managed something like this, it seems like a massive screwup to not do so again, especially with a large population interested in taking part. :-/
I wouldn't say their bogeyman is completely bogus. I mean, I don't think it's as dire as they think, but it's a thing that would happen. I'm sure you're familiar with the "nice guy" trope, right? "Nice guys" those poor dears who can't get laid despite just being so gosh darned NICE... but are in fact kinda creepy boundary crossing jerkwads who aren't actually anything near as nice as they think they are. That's the sort of person I could see totally putting on a ribbon to get "nice" cred and then being a harassing jerkwad. Would this actually fool anyone? Not for very long. But for someone who is already in a vulnerable place and looking for help out of it, that "not long" could mean the difference between finding the support they need and having their day get even worse.
It could happen, but it's still a hypothetical. Nobody's reported any instances of the ribbons being misused. and they've been around for... a couple years, I think? Certainly they've been used at plenty of conventions. D*C is balancing a hypothetical problem over a solution to real-world issues, and is favoring the hypothetical. That's why I think their reason is dumb.
disclaimer: I stopped going to big/fancy cons years ago to save money. I only go to local, artist/author focused things. I'm not saying that they are hassle free, but they are often small enough that everyone kinda recognizes/knows everyone ( 100-200 people total
( ... )
The thing of it is, it's *not* supposed to be a policing group, which is what I think a lot of people are missing. The backup project has no authority to discipline anyone; that's not the point. As I understand it, the members are merely supposed to provide a visible sense of social support and (at most) an escort to a safer (public) space if necessary. The ribbons do not convey authority over anything. If they were supposed to, I'd have a lot more sympathy for many of the supposed problems, but that's really not the idea at all.
But how do you draw the line between an "unofficial support group", and vigilantism? Neighborhood watch groups don't have authority to make arrests or use force... that doesn't stop some of their members from getting delusions of adequacy. I think the D*C concom over-reacted -- and if it's true that in past years they coördinated something like this with the official security, it's nuts that they're not doing that again -- but they do have a valid point.
Well, again, the ribbons confer no legal/regulatory authority. If anyone *is* using a ribbon as an excuse to harass or physically assault con-goers, they should be dealt with by actual con security or Atlanta PD just like anyone else.
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I can imagine a scenario where someone sees a ribbon on someone and thinks, "Oh, everything hunky-dory there, no need to check in," but the spirit of the project is for checking in on any potentially shady situation. I agree: D*C is not only overreacting, but misunderstanding the point of the project as a simple reminder for the community to pitch in to combat harassment.
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