Con Behavior: Clues for Free

[rm]

The following is a list of things I should never, ever have to say. As someone who attends many, many cons for professional and personal reasons, it should be noted that I, in fact, almost never have to say them.

Yet, every single one of the issues raised below transpired at this year's Lunacon (either to me directly or as reported to me by

Comments

[laughingacademy]

I’d ask if these people were raised by wolves, but that would clearly be an insult to canids.

And this - “Do not raise your hand and keep it up for twenty minutes starting before the panelists have even introduced themselves” - just bewilders me. What were they so desperate to ask?

[rm]

I don't know, but the individual in question apparently did it at EVERY SINGLE PANEL he attended.

[gardenwaltz]

Without knowing anything of the situation, I would guess the question was:

a) Would you read my book?
b) Can you tell me how wonderful it is?

[luke_jaywalker]

Out of curiosity, did the panels he attended include "Economics of Fantasy" - or did the con have *two* of them?

[mangosteen]

Wow. That's pretty much a "collect the set" listing, there.
Certainly, between any 3-4 cons I've attended, I've seen that whole list played out.

The question I'm mulling over is "what's the common thread"? Solipsism? Lack of empathy? Something else?

(I'm leaning towards 'solipsism' at the moment.)

[cheshyre]

Wow. That's pretty much a "collect the set" listing, there.
I was thinking bingo card, but anyone who wins, loses...

[baby_rissa_chan]

As someone who spent some time working a job where I graded standardized test essays and always ended up creating a bingo card at some point in the project...so true.

[idunn]

I'm bewildered and saddened that this list even had to be written. Most of the stuff on here should be painfully obvious. Ew.

[brewsternorth]

Er, yes.

And considering that the most recent Gallifrey, inebriation at times notwithstanding, was relatively well-mannered, saddening indeed.

[rm]

I encountered almost none of these issues at Gallifrey. And when they happened they were quickly resolved.

[phaenix_ash]

child sex robots???

[rm]

Yeah. There's a story there. I'll get to it.

[puppetmaker40]

Oh I heard about this from another panelist. It was apparently rather uncomfortable for a number of people in the room.

[shadowravyn]

If I do a very good job of programming next year, may I pretty please walk around with a stick and hit people with it?

[herself_nyc]

Good heavens. Knowing nothing else about what went on at this con, my imagination is now, uh … walking wild.

[auroraceleste]

Sadly, it could be any number of conventions I've experienced. I'd have a hard time narrowing it down.