Readercon and me

[pocketnaomi]

This is the full text of what I wrote to the Readercon concom today. It's a long story, and one which many people who know me closely have heard the vague outlines of, but which I have not told to anyone in detail. Even the person who figures largely in the second piece of the story, the friend who helped encourage me back into fandom in the late

Comments

[rosefox]

I just saw this. I am so, so sorry you were so badly treated by that man and your friends. I hope we can make Readercon a place where you feel safe again.

[pocketnaomi]

Thank you. I hope so too. I've always been grateful to Readercon for being such a gentle introduction back into a world which was (and to some extent, still is) a scary place for me. I really want it to stay the kind of place which is known for being so safe that it's the con someone thinks of first when they want to give someone traumatized a safe and empowering experience. If it had been any other con, I probably wouldn't have written, but Readercon matters to me.

[rosefox]

We just released a statement that may address some of your concerns. We're working hard to make future Readercons better and safer.

[pocketnaomi]

I read it this morning. I think you did an excellent job of laying a framework for cleaning up the mess you were handed. If it's followed up, it has the potential to make Readercon a safety prototype other conventions can learn from. I've submitted a request to be allowed to volunteer for the safety committee.

Kol ha'kavod. You did a good job.

[pocketnaomi]

You're very welcome. I'm so glad that I could do a tiny bit to help people understand, maybe, what it's like when others don't support a victim. I really hope the concom will do the right thing about your case. Absolutely none of what happened to you was acceptable either, including the Board's reaction. You know that, of course, but I wanted to add to the chorus of those validating it.

[catalana]

*hugs if you want them* Some attitudes of fandom really suck. I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience - and I'm glad you could come back to fandom!

[pocketnaomi]

Thanks. *hugs* I'm glad, too. I found a lot that I love here, once I got away from that particular subgroup; I'm told by others who were there at the time that it was pretty toxic for everyone.

[peteralway]

You had mentioned this before, but I thank you for telling this story clearly and completely, and especially to people who need to hear it.

[pocketnaomi]

Thanks. Yeah, a lot of people knew the outline, but this is the first time in decades that I've told the detail. It needed to be heard. I hope the concom pays heed.

[clauclauclaudia]

If you prefer comments at DW, be aware that that post is locked. (You may not want comments from all and sundry--that's fine too.)

I am sorry you were assaulted. I am sorry you did not get more support from people you should have been able to rely on.

Thank you for telling your story here and now.

[pocketnaomi]

I don't care where the comments are, and I decided to only unlock the LJ post because most of the people who are only on one or the other seem to be on LJ rather than DW. If I hear from anyone who says they want to get to it but aren't on LJ, I'll unlock the DW one too. There are ways people can tell me that, via Facebook or through others; it'll work out.