"Zero tolerance for harassment or violence against attendees."

[bhanesidhe]

Comics oughta be fun. Comic book conventions ought to, as well. But as long as harassment goes on and there is no clear-cut official written rules on convention behavior and what to do in circumstances or physical or mental assault, our hobby runs the risk of alienating and endangering those within it.

By John DiBello, and crossposted from his friend Bully's own site:

There is something about crowds in the thousands that makes a certain sort of person fall to their baser instincts. They become animals. They are easily facilitated by mass social irresponsibility and the negligence of applying something as common as courtesy.

This doesn't just disgust me. It angers me. At the sheep-like behavior of the victims as well as the victimizers. I know I'm unreasonable when I'm angry; it's why I don't got to big cons anymore, it's why I don't attend festivals, its why I don't go to Venues/Theaters without being fully aware of exits and travel options in the likelihood that I'll be leaving in a hurry or traveling home alone. And I'm a pretty ballsy self-reliant person. Smarter still, I travel in groups. Am I paranoid? Yes. Does that mean I'm in the wrong? Sadly, no.

I've been at Jones Beach amphitheater, mid-day, fully lit, more than half-empty and have chucked garbage, plastic bottles and soda cans at the heads of middle-aged men, pressing in on adolescent females, wearing ill-advised clothes they probably saved their allowance up for weeks just to look good for their favorite band. When my venomous temper could be marginally assuaged, several many minutes later, I lied to security and reported the men in Rows-Blah, Seat-Blah, has tried to sell me weed. I knew if I said they were pushing drugs they'd immediately be evicted and if I'd said they were dancing scandalously close to the fourteen year-olds nothing would have been done.

This is just an example with a happy ending. There are many-many more. Comic-Con's & Otakons of the past being house to worst of them. I would get angry, lash out and do something sinister to the culprits, never regretting it but never feeling good about it either. In the end, what did I do? I stopped attending conventions. Did this solve the problem? Sadly, no.

There has to be an even medium. Turning a blind-eye isn't an option...neither is going into a blind rage. This isn't a feminist thing, it's a humanist thing. Because we are human first. We should start acting like it. Cross Post. ReBlog. Do Something. please.

from http://girl-wonder.org/girlsreadcomics/?p=202

Comments

[mr-cutiepants.livejournal.com]

Know the feeling... :(

Having been barely saved by friends when sketchy old men attempted to give me "free speed" at goth clubs when I was 16 and too ridiculously innocent to really be out late (and indeed, it was illegal with my fake ID), I cannot FUCKING stand it when I see grotesque date-rapes-in-progress progressing in front of me. You are right that cons seem to be the #1 venue for this type of behavior. (At least most goths have the good taste to know that 16 year olds are probably pretty uninteresting... because I mean, seriously?!).

I like the "shine a huge spotlight on the situation" tactic that a 7-year-old girl on a southside Chicago bus used once while I was riding only a few seats back. She suddenly grabbed a very mortified, very guilty honky businessman's hand and raised it over her head, and without even looking at him, she proclaimed loudly, "who's hand is this that I just found on my ass?!". Hahah. Everyone on the bus just looked at him and thought "you fucking pedophile". Way to stop a molestation-in-progress. Somebody taught her right.

[bhanesidhe.livejournal.com]

I get scared to death to think of my nieces and what they'd do. Especially Aria who is overly friendly. Who preaches "If I know their name, then they're not a stranger anymore! They're my friend!" as she wanders off with random performers in various public parks.

It's a delicate thing not to crush the spirit but to teach awareness. I know I've grown lazy and jaded about the situation, and that's something I'm not proud of. I guess it's our turn to be that 'mature friend who knows better' :D

Anythings better than giving up.

[btchi-kitten.livejournal.com]

Fuck YES.

And, you rock.

[bhanesidhe.livejournal.com]

As Do You.