An idea I've been trying to convey for a while, I think.
In the car on the way to the new Pirates movie, I am explaining what WisCon programming is like to childhood friends, who probably understand me, my interests, and my faith better than most people.
"So like....everyone who comes enjoys science fiction, that's a given. But then on panels, we dissect the things we love. You talk about your favorite book or your favorite show, but you try to examine how it could be better. Like you talk about a sci-fi TV show, and how there aren't any people of color in it. Or how there are people of color, but their storylines are always sidelined for the white people's. And people debate these things! But mostly it's caring really deeply about social justice but also this thing you love, and trying to reconcile it and talk about how to make it better."
"So it's like religion."
".....YES. Holy shit, YES."
"So like....everyone who comes enjoys science fiction, that's a given. But then on panels, we dissect the things we love. You talk about your favorite book or your favorite show, but you try to examine how it could be better. Like you talk about a sci-fi TV show, and how there aren't any people of color in it. Or how there are people of color, but their storylines are always sidelined for the white people's. And people debate these things! But mostly it's caring really deeply about social justice but also this thing you love, and trying to reconcile it and talk about how to make it better."
"So it's like religion."
".....YES. Holy shit, YES."