Comments | rm: Con Behavior: Clues for Free

Con Behavior: Clues for Free

Mar 22, 2009 20:22

The following is a list of things I should never, ever have to say. As someone who attends many, many cons for professional and personal reasons, it should be noted that I, in fact, almost never have to say them.

Yet, every single one of the issues raised below transpired at this year's Lunacon (either to me directly or as reported to me by ( Read more... )

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JFYI / Edification folklorefanatic March 26 2009, 02:55:33 UTC

I'm in agreement with both the purpose and usefulness of this list and with 99 percent of the arguments made herein. That said, I have an observation that I think is a valid --if pointed-- one.

4. Cons attract diverse audiences, including people living with disabilities.

is in conflict with

Do not fall asleep. If you are about to fall asleep, go to your room or the Con Suite.It's an ableist assumption that people are falling asleep because they can't be bothered to move or wake up ( ... )

Re: JFYI / Edification folklorefanatic March 26 2009, 02:58:32 UTC

I cannot enumerate even half of the ways in which narcolepsy has devastated my physical health, my social life, and my academic career. I can and do tell many people, all of the time, that there are people out there with disabilities you can't

Augh. Post Fail. Should have said ... "see with the naked eye or pick up on within minutes of meeting someone."

Re: JFYI / Edification rm March 26 2009, 03:00:10 UTC

This is all good information, and I thank you for taking the time to post it, as you could have easily been pissed (legitimately) and not provided this level of detailed information. This is something I should have caught, having worked with people with severe and frequent epilepsy and having dated a fellow with Tourette's many years ago, so I'm sorry for that. I'll be sure to include it in the (eventually to be better phrased) "how not to fuck up because there are disabilities you can't see" section.

FYI, I've linked down to this and a few other threads in the original post now.

Re: JFYI / Edification folklorefanatic March 26 2009, 19:29:24 UTC

Thank you, and thanks for linking so people know more about narcolepsy. I tend to over-explain rather than under-explain, simply out of experience. I'm glad you're addressing the manifold issues that come up at cons as a result of ignorance/lack of common sense by people, and I hope your article reaches many people who need to hear its message.

Re: JFYI / Edification darthhellokitty March 27 2009, 02:21:26 UTC

(That could be sleep apnea! Tell your friends!)

Good advice! I used to fall asleep at meetings, in movies, once in a while driving... it turns out it WAS sleep apnea. I got a CPAP machine and I'm staying awake really well now.

I can only imagine how hard it must be to NOT be able to fix it like that.

Re: JFYI / Edification folklorefanatic March 27 2009, 08:00:33 UTC

I'm glad you got diagnosed! I'm still bugging my dad to get tested -- someday he's going to fall asleep in traffic the way he does every few seconds in the early evening. Not saying he has it, but he has some kind of breathing problem that interferes with his sleep ( ... )

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