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?

[filkerdave]

I'd love to know that myself!

[stardragonca]

Clearly these people were not raised by wolves.
They were raised by the Banderlogs.

[darthhellokitty]

What I wonder is, would anyone actually consider calling on someone who did that?

[the_magician]

As a frequent moderator, I would, and then as soon as they made it clear they were idiots, I'd tell them to sit down and shut-up or leave, as they were not asked to be on this panel, and the other people here are here to listen to the panellists not to someone in the audience.

I would expect applause and cheers from the audience, and the person to leave in embarassment or anger.

The court of public opinion having spoken, we'd get on with the item.

Yes, it's a sort of bullying, though I like to think of it more as the newspaper swot on a puppy to teach it not to crap in the middle of the floor. I could be wrong.