Hugos 2015 (Da-dee da-dee da-dee da-dee uh That's all Folks.. For Now)
"The price of liberty is eternal vigilance" - unknown
"He who lies down with dogs, wakes up with fleas" -Ben Franklin
So, it was a week ago today that I returned from Worldcon in Spokane, aka Sasquan.
I was also at the Hugo Awards.
My personal recollection is not one of animus or celebration of defeat, but relief. No one was absolutely sure which way the voting would go (though I had an idea, and as it turns out I was right). Perhaps applause at "No Award" was a bit much, but I noticed no celebration from the host when No Award was given, and all he did was ask people not to boo. I have seen from one data point that at least one of the booing came from a slate vote supporter, and they felt put upon, as the host was keeping them from expressing their displeasure. I think he was completely right, however - booing was not be appropriate in that venue.
To the slate-voters, I say: I'm sorry if you're offended, but you left the other voters with what they felt was no choice. One does not surrender to bullies and terrorists, and that is pretty much what this slate campaign amounted to.
It's not that people necessarily have a problem with the content you might have wanted. I for one can get a little tired of advocacy and identity fiction, even when I agree with it; perhaps especially when I agree with it.
And if you - or the slate-runners - had truly wanted to push a certain sub-genre of the genre, you should have pointed up the positives of that sort of sub-genre, or of the works themselves. It's always best to lead with - and stick to - the positives.
(You also would have been better served nominating better fiction; honestly, my problem with most of these things weren't their politics as much as the fact that they just weren't very good. I think that's because That Man just wanted to watch the whole awards burn…. he's said so before)
Instead, there were various attacks launched at the supposed make-up of the voters, the sexuality of certain members, and the political angles - supposedly - of the voting pool. Not a way to win friends and influence people.
As irrationalrobot put it to me, you can't poop in the punchbowl, loudly proclaim you pooped in the punchbowl, and then be outraged when no one will drink the punch.
I would suggest in the coming year, if you are unhappy with the stories nominated by the voters of Worldcon in the past, nominate other stories. But nominate stories you've read and enjoyed. Don't let anyone else make up your mind for you. That should be the only criteria for nominating stuff. And if your nomination doesn't make it to the ballet? *shrug* These things happen. But at least you can say you honestly nominated something you really liked, and you put your own opinion in.
And, also, please remember - this constant, divisive political conflict in EVERY aspect of our lives is not good for us, or our country. It has to stop, or it will end very badly. Talk to people, don't yell at issues.
Because, I guarantee you, who won the Hugo award this year, or next year, is not going to be important for the history of our country. Really. There are more important things to worry about.