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To continue this entry....
Just one month ago today, some science fiction author (whose works I have not read -- there are a LOT of such authors, sadly) posted on Patreon that a fan forum on a book publisher's site was being used to advocate for political violence. I didn't hang out in that online forum myself, so I have no personal knowledge of this. But, fans being the type to pick over every detail of everything, started pointing out that the head of this publisher -- a Jewish woman named Toni Weisskopf, again, someone I do NOT know personally -- was scheduled to be the Editor Guest of Honor at Discon III. Being any kind of Guest of Honor at Worldcon is a HUGE deal within fandom.
It's getting late, so basically I am going to skip over a lot of the story. Somebody kindly made a Google Docs file with lots of links, and you can read it here.
The timeline, in case that document vanishes:
I mean, the vitriol. Just online screaming and flinging of insults and declaration that Worldcon is over, that fandom is over, etc. etc. etc. Some people bravely thanked the Discon committee for taking a stand to make fandom more inclusive. I hope they were not threatened in retaliation. Lots of people pointed out that, by withdrawing the huge honor, the convention is being anti-woman and anti-Semitic. The First Amendment got dragged in, even though it applies only to Congress and not to private organizations. And on and on and on.
The post on Discon's Facebook page got 521 comments. The post in the Discon FB group got another 69 comments. You can go look for yourself, if you want steam and smoke to start pouring out of the ventilation holes on your computer.
The controversy took a few days to die down. And then somebody posted something to the Discon FB group calling for the original Patreon post writer to be banned from Discon because of the content of some of his novels. The moderator took that post down and said that further group posts will need moderator approval to appear. So the group has lost its spontaneity.
And the hotel issue? No change. The Discon organizers seem to be making good on their promise to issue a status update every two weeks. The latest one came out yesterday and it is very much a non-update. The uncertainty must be wearying to a lot of people. I understand the silence from the lawyers' point of view, but at SOME point somebody needs to make a DECISION because people have to make travel reservations, ask for time off work, etc. Or possibly cancel the travel and vacation plans if the con ends up being virtual.
I really think it's going to be another 47 years before DC hosts another Worldcon, if Worldcons don't cease to exist in a few years.
Over and out.
Just one month ago today, some science fiction author (whose works I have not read -- there are a LOT of such authors, sadly) posted on Patreon that a fan forum on a book publisher's site was being used to advocate for political violence. I didn't hang out in that online forum myself, so I have no personal knowledge of this. But, fans being the type to pick over every detail of everything, started pointing out that the head of this publisher -- a Jewish woman named Toni Weisskopf, again, someone I do NOT know personally -- was scheduled to be the Editor Guest of Honor at Discon III. Being any kind of Guest of Honor at Worldcon is a HUGE deal within fandom.
It's getting late, so basically I am going to skip over a lot of the story. Somebody kindly made a Google Docs file with lots of links, and you can read it here.
The timeline, in case that document vanishes:
- Feb. 15: the original Patreon post.
- Feb. 16: the publisher takes the Web forum offline in response to the kerfuffle.
- Feb. 17: Discon organizers post, "We want to thank our members for your feedback and patience while we process the situation with Baen Books' forums."
- Feb. 19: Discon withdraws their invitation to Toni Weisskopf as Editor Guest of Honor.
- Over the next few days: HUGE blizzard of comments on the controversy.
I mean, the vitriol. Just online screaming and flinging of insults and declaration that Worldcon is over, that fandom is over, etc. etc. etc. Some people bravely thanked the Discon committee for taking a stand to make fandom more inclusive. I hope they were not threatened in retaliation. Lots of people pointed out that, by withdrawing the huge honor, the convention is being anti-woman and anti-Semitic. The First Amendment got dragged in, even though it applies only to Congress and not to private organizations. And on and on and on.
The post on Discon's Facebook page got 521 comments. The post in the Discon FB group got another 69 comments. You can go look for yourself, if you want steam and smoke to start pouring out of the ventilation holes on your computer.
The controversy took a few days to die down. And then somebody posted something to the Discon FB group calling for the original Patreon post writer to be banned from Discon because of the content of some of his novels. The moderator took that post down and said that further group posts will need moderator approval to appear. So the group has lost its spontaneity.
And the hotel issue? No change. The Discon organizers seem to be making good on their promise to issue a status update every two weeks. The latest one came out yesterday and it is very much a non-update. The uncertainty must be wearying to a lot of people. I understand the silence from the lawyers' point of view, but at SOME point somebody needs to make a DECISION because people have to make travel reservations, ask for time off work, etc. Or possibly cancel the travel and vacation plans if the con ends up being virtual.
I really think it's going to be another 47 years before DC hosts another Worldcon, if Worldcons don't cease to exist in a few years.
Over and out.
