While browsing through my RSS feeds today, I came upon this great article about cons and harassment. Before you read the rest of my comments, have a look at the original article on Wired.com. Here's a brief excerpt of one of the key points:
Conventions need anti-harassment policies. Not because convention attendees are disproportionately boorish or creepy–they’re really not–or because of social obliviousness. Rather, the difficulty lies in the very thing that makes conventions conventions: the social phenomena that come into play whenever humans gather in large groups.
I have to agree with the author whole-heartedly. I have not personally been a victim of harassment at a convention, but have been witness to various creephats. When I was in that situation, I behaved much as Ms. Edidin described. Because there was not a well worded anti-harassment policy, I did not feel either empowered or obligated to bring the offensive behavior to the attention of convention staff.
I know that I will be contacting the conventions that I regularly attend to ask if they can update their anti-harassment policies to include both the bans on harassement and the appropriate response from witness. What are your thoughts? Share you comments or stories in the comments section below.
Looking for something to do this weekend? Want to get out and feel social in real life instead of just through a microphone? Then have I got news for you! CutthroatCon 2013 sponsored by Colorado Cutthroat Connection and NVGA (National Video Game Association) is back for its third year. Located at the Tivoli in Downtown Denver (across from the Pepsi Center). It runs from August 2nd at 7:00 PM to August 3rd until around 11:00 PM. Head over here to see a full schedule of what they having going this weekend.
