Who’s going to DragonCon?
Hey, so um, who’s going to DragonCon?
I’ve been so excited about London and Stratford that I haven’t given much thought to D*C. I’m not sure what I’ll be doing this year; I’ll probably divide my time between the Doctor Who panels on the BritTrack and the music panels on the Dark Fantasy (formerly Goth) track. I might also drop in on some of the YA Lit track’s Harry Potter panels, although the fact that they allow plagiarists as panelists is not winning them many points in my mind. And I might even peek in on Gareth David-Lloyd or James Marsters, assuming the lines aren’t too long. (Although I was permanently traumatized by that woman who ran onstage with Marsters and took her shirt off in 2003, so maybe not.)
Given the DragonCon community’s wanktastic reaction to the OSBP (which more or less amounted to “STFU, feminists, and stop being so uptight; you should be flattered that strange men want to grope you”) I’ll probably dress conservatively and go to bed early. The whole thing has left such a bad taste in my mouth; in part I’m dreading the con, and thinking about not attending next year. Which makes me really sad, because this will be my sixth year in a row, and I’ve always really loved it. But it’s something about knowing the sexism and objectification that’s going on in the minds of so many of the people around me–it was always there, but now that I’ve seen it out in the open, I can’t unsee it.
Anyway, but I’m going to try to have a good time while I’m there. I’ll keep my eye out for my LJ friends; say hi if you see me. :)
Tags: dragoncon
12 Responses to “Who’s going to DragonCon?”
Blue Rose on August 11, 2008 3:39 pm | Link
See, for me it’s easy: “Ok, you have a right to grope me? Then I have a right to bitchslap you and kick you in the groin.”
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rusty-halo on August 11, 2008 3:51 pm | Link
Yeah, that’s very clear. (Although I’m a wuss and I’d totally fail at slapping or kicking anyone!)
It’s more the insidious “Look, this is totally fair. We won’t grope you unless you give us permission. Here, see, we have this whole system of colored buttons so we know who does and doesn’t want to be groped, and we’ll even ask first before groping the ones who wear the green buttons. It’s sexual utopia!”
Which totally ignores the incredible wrongness that the entire system is set up to present women as objects and men as aggressors, and to present sex as something women “give” and men “take,” and to reinforce the notion of women as guardians of a precious resource, and that the undercurrent of anyone who chooses not to be groped is that she’s a prude/unliberated/not open and free/hoarding a precious treasure instead of “sharing” like she should.
And it totally ignores the social forces of peer pressure that are bound to coerce women who really don’t want to participate (because they think it’ll make them more “popular”/socially accepted), the fact that those initiating the project can’t control the men who are bound to go around groping without permission, and the fact that our society is already set up so that women have to guard their bodies against overly aggressive men on a pretty constant basis–there’s nothing new or liberating here for women! And that the only benefit to the women in this scenario is the “self esteem boost” that comes from a strange man wanting to grope her–as if that’s a healthy place for a woman’s self-esteem to originate!
Gaaaah. The whole thing gives me hives.
And so many people see nothing wrong with it. *headdesk times infinity*
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Kita on August 11, 2008 6:10 pm | Link
IF YOU GET A PIC OF MARSTERS AND DAVID-LLOYD I WILL KISS YOU ON THE MOUTH.
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rusty-halo on August 12, 2008 1:35 am | Link
LOL. I’ll bring my camera!
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violet_lane on August 12, 2008 2:39 pm | Link
I’m definitely going! I’m doing some panels, so I’ll keep an eye out for you! :D
I’m so horrified and pissed off about the OSBP and I can’t believe there’s even a debate as to whether this is wrong or not.
Why can’t people understand that it’s messed up to ask people questions like that in public? What if someone did that to their mother, their sister, or best friend? I bet they wouldn’t find it so “empowering” then. It infuriates me that this crap is going down in 2008. But I’m not taking it lying down. If someone asks me, I’m reporting them to con security. If I see someone else get asked, I’m reporting them to con security.
Last year was my first Dragon*Con and I never felt uncomfortable or harassed. BUT THIS:
But it’s something about knowing the sexism and objectification that’s going on in the minds of so many of the people around me–it was always there, but now that I’ve seen it out in the open, I can’t unsee it.
IS RIGHT ON. Now I’m going to feel creeped out by the people around me. Most of them probably won’t have the courage to ask, but the thought that they would if they could infuriates me.
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rusty-halo on August 12, 2008 2:46 pm | Link
Which Doctor Who panels are you doing? I’m looking forward to meeting you.
I only felt uncomfortable a few times at DragonCon in the past, when people asked to take my picture and I said no because I was in a hurry to get to a panel. They (men) got all huffy because they felt I owed them a picture on account of the way I was dressed. Like they couldn’t fathom that I was dressed up for me, because I like the clothes. *sigh*
I’m not taking it lying down. If someone asks me, I’m reporting them to con security. If I see someone else get asked, I’m reporting them to con security.
Awesome. I will do the same.
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violet_lane on August 13, 2008 11:11 pm | Link
For now the one that I’m 100% doing is the British Costuming Panel. I’m excited as it was my first choice, but the other ones I wanted to do were already full! I got put on the waiting list for them so I still might be in them. Hopefully if I do well this’ll give me a foot in the door and I can do my Companions Panel next year. xD
I’m definitely attending some of the DW panels though like the Gay Themes in the Whoniverse, the Torchwood panel, Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey: Doctor Who New Series, and some other ones maybe. We’ll definitely have to meet up! I want to meet you as well. :) I’m also happy to report that there’s at least one woman on the major DW panels, which is awesome.
I only felt uncomfortable a few times at DragonCon in the past, when people asked to take my picture and I said no because I was in a hurry to get to a panel.
I hate when that happens. Dragon*Con is a way for people to wear things they normally don’t get to wear in normal life, it’s definitely not for so they can have a picture they can fap to. >__<
Awesome. I will do the same.
I just can’t believe they can’t see that this is asking for trouble. A 30,000+ convention + lots of alcohol+ families during the day + disgusting boob grabbing ritual? Oh, I can’t imagine what could possibly go wrong! *roll eyes*
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rusty-halo on August 17, 2008 3:56 pm | Link
Aww, man. Well, I’ll try to make the costuming panel. I was hoping to see you on the DW related ones since I’m dreading the inevitable fanboy babble. Alas.
I’ll definitely be in attendance at most of the DW panels, so if I see you in the crowd I’ll say hi. :)
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violet_lane on August 18, 2008 7:09 pm | Link
Yeah, I’m dreading the fanboy babble as well, but I’m being cautiously optimistic because at least there are women on the panel at least. Also, I plan on speaking up, so here’s hoping they’re fun regardless. Next year though, I’m definitely applying early! :D
I’ll definitely keep an eye out for you (thanks for the pic, it always makes it easier). I’m finally almost finished with the Third Doctor and I’d love to discuss it with you! Delgado is rad.
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rusty-halo on August 17, 2008 4:06 pm | Link
Oh, and here’s me at DragonCon last year (with 10zlaine; I’m the one with the giant boots–my hair will be longer and brown this year). Say hi if you recognize me. :)
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EvilJade on August 16, 2008 3:07 am | Link
Hey there! I’m going to D*C again this year, as usual.
(Finally got around to registering!)
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rusty-halo on August 17, 2008 3:54 pm | Link
Awesome! I’m looking forward to seeing you. Hopefully we’ll actually run into each other this time. :)
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