Sometimes I think fandom has a self-destruct switch.

[lil_shepherd]

The World Science Fiction Convention takes place in London this August. The committee have, seemingly, got their act together, and have been coping well, despite having their British SF guest of honour (Iain M Banks) die on them last year and the usual hotel registration difficulties. This weekend, many of the staffers have gathered at the site to

Comments

[secritcrush]

It was definitely unnecessary. It also can't be undone. Even if they get someone new, it will always be out there that they thought Ross was an appropriate guest and all that implies.

[lil_shepherd]

Indeed. Ross has actually offered to withdraw (if that twit was actually from him) but the damage is done now.

[catsittingstill]

I can certainly understand people being a bit put off. I wouldn't be suprised if the Hugos were an especially sensitive point, given past incidents.

I'm sorry that it is complictating your life, though.

[lil_shepherd]

Not my life, but that of many of my friends. I think I know everyone on the con committee at least to nod to - but as oreouk put it, if this weekend's gathering can keep their minds on the task, we'll both be astonished.

[dickgloucester]

I've never liked Jonathan Ross. I wouldn't have chosen him on these grounds alone. But yeah - not a good start.

I'm not sure about the Hugo ceremony. I'll have two teens with me who've barely brushed the surface of SF so far, and I'm not widely read. One of the reasons I'm going to Worldcon is to find out more about a genre I like.

[lil_shepherd]

Well, Ross has voluntarily withdrawn. We will see who actually gets the gig! Personally, I find award ceremonies boring and will probably be having dinner or actually, you know, doing something. However, I would not put anyone off. (The first worldcon I attended was in 1979. I had booked tickets to the banquet -- no longer a feature -- and the Hugo ceremony, but saw none of it. I spent the whole time watching videos of Blake's Seven. The VHS was a brand new thing... I also made some of the best friends you could possibly ask for, including inamac at that convention.)

Worldcons, like Eastercons, are pretty wide ranging. You could, for instance, spend the whole time going to the science stream or the film stream or the comics stream or you could spend the whole con gaming (people do.) Most kids of school age and above like conventions, among other reasons because they get to be treated pretty much like any adult attendee. This one is supposed to be particularly inclusive and cosplay, not a feature of most SF cons, is being encouraged.

[shiv5468]

I know he can be a dick, but he isn't always a dick, and when he's being serious about fannish matters he's least likely to be a dick.

[lil_shepherd]

But he is a totally divisive figure and therefore should never have been considered in the atmosphere that currently pervades fandom. Loncon 3 has pledged to support diversity and to implement a policy that makes everyone feel safe at conventions. Furthermore, there will be unaccompanied teenagers, probably in skimpy costume, and very young children at this convention. Ross is an entirely inappropriate choice. His wife now, who has far better credentials than he has, would have been a much better choice.

[inamac]

This is true - and I feel sorry that, as a result of what was apparently genuine offer to help the con out on his part (he must have been looking forward to attending) was not handled more sensitively by the con chairs. A simple 'thank you for the offer but we need to consult' or even a 'sorry but we already have someone else in mind' would have been more politic.

Ross's reputation (like that of Harlan Ellison) is not one that gives any confidence that he would abide by the diversity rules that are now a part of con culture, and, sadly celebs don't often get second chances.

[shiv5468]

Er did anyone discuss that with him? Or did we just leap to the conclusion he'd misbehave?

Shakes head. It's like people don't recognise that most individuals have different registers of behaviour in different circumstances. Ellison has been a pig at cons is my understanding. Ross is someone I dislike and I think he got off too lightly with the phone call debacle with that even bigger dickhead brand but... It's a bit harsh to assume axiomatically that he wouldn't behave properly.

[catsittingstill]

I was happy to see he had withdrawn. May the con go more smoothly as a result.