Idea: how to ensure awareness of Codes of Conduct

[major_clanger]

Loncon 3 seemed to do quite well with its Code of Conduct; it was available on the website and reprinted in the front of the convention pocket guide. As far as I'm aware, there were only a handful of incidents reported to the convention staff that required it to be applied

Comments

[cmcmck]

Well, you're the lawyer so you should know! :o)

What puzzles me though is constantly reading about this stuff going on at literary/fandom cons (which I don't attend, although I know a lot of folks who do both on here and in the 'real world').

It just doesn't occur in the kind of academic historical conference that I attend.

Just why this constant lack of respect of others' boundaries?

[major_clanger]

Well, bear in mind that Loncon 3 had something like 7,000 people in attendance over five days, with a handful of reported incidents. By and large litfandom is quite good for this, certainly as compared with gaming and comic conventions where there appears to be a serious problem with sexual harassment.

That being said, you do encounter it and (as happened at Readercon and Wiscon in the USA) it can involved very unpleasant conduct such as groping. It tends, in litfandom, to be older men (again, a contrast with gaming/comics events) and my theory is that to at least some extent this is a misplaced idea that somehow the more liberal approach to sexual mores in fandom meant that nobody was going to object to a friendly fondle. In other words, It's the Middle-Aged Male Fan Irregular Verb:

"I am comfortable in my enlightened tactile sexuality"
"You are a bit prone to wandering hands"
"He was prosecuted under Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act"

[bibliogirl]

I have to say that I have heard more about harassment issues at litfan-type cons than at gaming cons (and I have been to substantially more of the latter, both in the UK and the US). It's true that I'm usually attending them with my (male) partner, though.

[cmcmck]

From what I've read in other's blogs, it tends to be unpartnered women who experience problems and that opens up a whole potential sexist can of worms about assumptions, sexuality and privilege.

[cmcmck]

Although academic history is also full of middle aged men.

I love that definition- a DoM by any other name...........

Although I wasn't involved, I did get to meet Gill Polack for the first time which was fun. :o)

[major_clanger]

Frankly, the sort of man who would be put off by this isn't the kind of attendee any decent convention would want.

As for the idea that women would be put off attending, I have it on good authority that many anime/cosplay/furry conventions have very extensive and firm codes of conduct, with explicit warnings about compliance, and that this doesn't deter women at all - quite the opposite, in fact.

[major_clanger]

I'd use the analogy of the Highway Code: it's 136 pages long, but I'd suggest that most new drivers see that not as an indication that our roads are scary places, but rather as reassurance that there are meant to be guidelines and rules that they and other drivers follow for the common good.

[davidwake]

I think it needs to finish on a positive sentence.

"If you do agree, then open the bag, put on your badge and come and enjoy a safe and fun convention."

[uitlander]

in the same spirit I'd add the opening line "To make this a safe and fun space for everyone we have developed the following Code of Conduct."

[major_clanger]

I think these are both excellent ideas.

[alexmc]

Totally failing to come up with anything positive to say.

I seem to have fallen between the cracks. I want to chat to the Loncon3 chairs but doubt they have the time or can help - even if it is a solution for the future.