Dragon*Con Official Post: Good Intentions, Bad Situations

[astralfire]

At times, good intentions can lead to bad situations. Dragon*Con has become aware of a potentially dangerous situation involving a self-started project that provides ribbons for fans identifying themselves as people who are able and willing to help another fan in the event assistance of any sort is needed in a difficult situation. While we

Comments

[arseaboutface]

You plan to continue to maintain these same practices, except the Back Up ribbons, which were in use during the last convention, which had fewer problems than ever before. Ok.

[eidolon_bird]

Correlation, causation, so on and so forth. To imply that the ribbons were solely responsible for the drop in problems while mentioning nothing of the badge checks and increased security that kept random folks and idle troublemakers last year is not giving D*Con the credit it deserves. I don't agree with their response to the Back-Up Project, but I'm not going to ignore everything they did to make the con better last year.

[arseaboutface]

Fair enough. That is, after all, exactly what I did.

[cetkat]

I like the Back Up initiative. However, this post makes a very good point. What if someone doesn't know the nature of the program and does think that more trust should be given to those to wear the ribbons - rather than them just being strangers who will want to help if asked? All the program is really saying is, "I won't ignore you."

I can definitely come up with a few scenarios of instigator/hero that would be very dangerous to someone who misunderstood that.

[marlowe1]

Ed Kramer for example. Ed Kramer getting money from DragonCon for example. Ed Kramer is a pedophile.

[benndragon]

What exactly is DragonCon doing to address harassment? Because this right here is solving the wrong problem.

[astralfire]

In the second Paragraph:
--We are increasing the badge/room key check at the hotels.
--We are increasing Atlanta Police presence.

If you or anyone else is being harassed, then report it. The hotel staff, Atlanta Police, and our volunteer staff are all there to help.

[rap541]

Yeah, I kinda doubt there's a huge screening process for the volunteers but it would be nice to know exactly how the volunteers are screened to keep the pedos, pervs and chomos out. I'd like to have some assurances that volunteers don't have criminal records.

eta I took a look at the volunteer requirements and I don't see anything that suggests that Dragoncon volunteers are screened for criminal backgrounds. Since its now an issue, how exactly are the volunteers screened to prevent someone from going to a volunteer with a problem and NOT taking their problem to a sex offender?

[harimad]

Can't, First Amendment applies. See Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971), wherein the US Supreme Court rules that a person wearing a jacket with "Fuck the Draft" in a public place was free speech and could not be restricted. Hotels are, by law, public places.

[thebitterguy]

No, I'm pretty sure hotels & convention centres are both pretty private places.

[pagemasterjim]

Yes, by law, they are in fact very private places. The streets outside, however, are fair game.

[soliscjw]

If it is taken "very seriously" then why when I was groped in the men's restroom at the Sheraton on Saturday during the MMO party and told a member of security and was given the "Well it happens to women more than men" speech and told "there is nothing we can really do". While at the time I bought it after thinking about it I do not feel it was taken "very seriously" they did not even offer to call for a uniformed officer for me to speak with. I spoke with the director of the MMO track after thinking every thing that could be done had been done and told him what had happened and that I had already reported it to security so he did not have to do anything I am not sure he will remember me talking with him about what happened. I wish I had told him first may be some thing would have been done and minus the speech. I am an eternal member and while I know that does not entitle me to any more privileges (other than the party on Thursday and going through the guest/VIP line during registration) than any other member but the staff member

[etcet]

As a member of the MMO track staff, I believe that if you had brought this to my Director's attention, he absolutely would have taken action (I can't speak for him, but know what kind of stand-up guy he is; he, and the rest of us, take our guests' safety and enjoyment of the event seriously).

I will be wearing a Backup Ribbon while working the con this year, and if you, or anyone else feels harassed or threatened at, near, or during one of our events (or anywhere I happen to be), please reach out to a staffer, and we will act.

[usernamenumber]

Does that mean that despite this post, Dragon*Con will officially not be trying to stop people from wearing the ribbons?

[grimthorn]

I can't speak for con management, but I would imagine that nobody is opposed, in principle, to the idea of backup ribbons except that it must be made abundantly clear that the Backup Ribbon program is NOT officially, unofficially, or otherwise supported or run by Dragon*Con