The Broads with Swords programme item description was even worse than the title. Apparently women have only recently started writing fantasy novels. *headdesk*
I understand that Juliet McKenna (jemck), Trudi Canavan and others have agreed to be on the panel (with the intention of making clear what bullshit it is). I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall for that one...
Please don't feel that any shame attaches to you. This is very specific to a certain very small subset of people with very set views. (WIll say more when I next see you.) What winds me up is that some of those working on this are lovely kind people who wanted to run a good con and are trapped by, well, others -- and it's the nice ones who will be put in the frontline roles. The harassment policy is complicated by the fact that there's an official WFC policy which is very basic, but which binds all iterations of the con. The reference to UK law does demonstrate a commitment to anti-harassment which exceeds the official policy (the latter was drawn up after the appalling problems at WFC in 2011). The programming issues, however...
Kari, I know there's always backstory. But these things are not acceptable, from any convention anywhere, and lovely people or not, they are complicit.
I know that people are put off fandom by some things that happen on the fantasy scene. You'd have met me a lot sooner than you did, had that not been the case.
Taking just one aspect, the convention is probably in breach of the DDA. I see no attempt to remedy even that, and I know it's been pointed out to them. I hope someone who is affected can come up with the resources to take them to court. I'd contribute.
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I understand that Juliet McKenna (jemck), Trudi Canavan and others have agreed to be on the panel (with the intention of making clear what bullshit it is). I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall for that one...
Reply
The harassment policy is complicated by the fact that there's an official WFC policy which is very basic, but which binds all iterations of the con. The reference to UK law does demonstrate a commitment to anti-harassment which exceeds the official policy (the latter was drawn up after the appalling problems at WFC in 2011). The programming issues, however...
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I know that people are put off fandom by some things that happen on the fantasy scene. You'd have met me a lot sooner than you did, had that not been the case.
Taking just one aspect, the convention is probably in breach of the DDA. I see no attempt to remedy even that, and I know it's been pointed out to them. I hope someone who is affected can come up with the resources to take them to court. I'd contribute.
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Re the kinder types, all I can say here is that bullying is involved.
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