[Deptheads] Re: GM complaint

[Ryan McMullan]

Ultimately, this is a decision for the con ownership.  If our goal is to
grow the con, we don't need to go out of our way to make the con
environment more comfortable and welcoming to middle-aged white guys.  If
we really, truly want to make the con welcoming to folks who aren't the
majority, then we need to go out of our way to make it welcoming and safe
to women, minorities, kids, and anyone else who might show up at con, feel
out of place, have a bad experience and never come back.  This isn't to say
that a particular individual in these demographics won't come back, but if
we're going to err, err on the side of what will grow our hobby and grow
the con beyond the stereotypes we are trying to disprove.  If you don't
care about any form of social equality, at least care about the success of
the con.  To try to make this event go away is to miss an opportunity.

As a side note, Kryssie might have admirably thick skin and be willing to
suck it up -- but she shouldn't have to.  If she has to, the con is not
succeeding.

Ryan


On Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 5:13 PM, Dean Taylor <deanatay at gmail.com> wrote:

> I saw one that said, "Yes, my shirt says 'c**t'.  It also says 's**t',
> 'f**k', and 'machine-washable'."  (There were no asterisks.)  I don't
> recall who wore it.
>
> If I went aggro on everyone who wore an offending t-shirt, I wouldn't go
> to cons.  Cons are one of the places people can wear shirts that would get
> them kicked out of respectable establishments, that's part of the charm.  I
> understand some people will take offense, but banning them altogether would
> be a mighty shame (not to mention damn near impossible to enforce - and
> don't get me started on defining 'offensive').
>
> -Dean
>
> On Wed, Sep 5, 2012 at 1:58 PM, Shane Sauby <ssshanucon at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Hey everyone,
>>
>>     I am forwarding this to see if anyone else saw or heard anything.  I
>> would really like to know how his shirts were offensive.  I didn't even
>> notice.  Did anyone else see or hear anything?
>>
>> Shane
>>
>>    *From:* Ryan S. Davis <ryansdavis at yahoo.com>
>> *To:* Shane Sauby <ssshanucon at yahoo.com>; Eric Burgess <
>> erburgess at gmail.com>
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 4, 2012 4:29 PM
>> *Subject:* GM complaint
>>
>> Hi guys!
>> Thanks for a good convention!  I had fun.  I do have a concern, not about
>> you guys though.
>> Roderick Lee was wearing antagonistic political shirts all weekend, while
>> also running games as a GM.  That's pretty not cool in my book and I don't
>> think it should have been allowed.
>> I'm not saying people can't wear those shirts to a convention--I'm saying
>> that a GM should not be allowed to antagonize potential players who are
>> just trying to play games.
>> Thoughts?  Agree, or am I overreacting because I'm one of the people that
>> was antagonized by his shirts?
>>
>>
>> *Check out my latest movie and "thrill" attraction reviews at
>> http://www.media-geeks.com/!
>> *
>>
>>
>>
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