Fucking BayCon is at their goddamn "real name" bullshit again!

[ravan]

Name and Identification Policy
The BayCon Science-Fiction Convention is a community effort. As such, we do not sell tickets or admission, instead we sell memberships to individuals who are interested in experiencing what goes on at BayCon and in becoming part of our community. As a member based organization, we require our member's real names and

Comments

[bergtagen]

As you said, you can use whatever pseudonym you choose, and if you pay by cash or money order, who's to know the difference? You have the right to protect your privacy. This would piss me off too.

[dangerpudding]

Ugh.. I'm not sure it 'prevents terrorism' either- I'm occationally deemed a terrorist, and baycon's not turning me away. Very fussy. I don't mind using my real name, but that's me- I'm very open in that way. I don't think it should be required.

[law_witch]

stepping on the other end of the issue from dubhain
have you considered a fake id?? Downtown areas and swap meets have places where you can get one.

just a thought.

[ravan]

I have, actually, but I never seem to run into the type of person that sells them.

It would solve my problem, but it would still leave the principal being trampled on....

[bellacrow]

It would solve my problem, but it would still leave the principal being trampled on....

and then you wouldnt get to bitch ;-)

but look, have you ever tried not giving your legal name?

I've heard this rant from you over PCon. You went off before you even seemed to have tried not doing it. I know at PCon we dont ask for your id, we ask for your legal name and if you opt not to give it, then ... nothing happens.

I dont get the level of irritation here when you can easily sidestep it.

[ravan]

I rant on every convention that has this type of policy, and BayCon is the worst. Even if I can get away with using a second pseudonym for my pseudonym, it is a principal. When people didn't ask for my real name, I didn't bitch.

I didn't give my real name at P-Con, even though they "requested it", but it's still a form of lie. My badge name is a pseudonym, and I'm even willing to put it in quotes to indicate such. But lying about my real name being yet another pseudonym is, well, lying. Yes, I can get away with it usually, but...

And, quite frankly, their bit about asking for goddamn ID is WAAAAAAY over the top. I can see it, kinda, for pre-reg, to prevent someone from scamming your badge, but I always pay at the door, in cash. The pre-reg thing could be addressed by having it be either show ID or bring a confirmation card

[jilara]

Most "real world" organizations still don't require a legal name, as long as it's not being used fraudulently. You're not buying a house, you just want to attend a con. I'd be livid, too.

I guess terrorists are fine, so long as they use their real names.

[datapard]

Oh, shit. Not again.

I have as unique a name as you do ravan, as you know. Even if I had gone back to my birth name it would be unique. I have no idea where my ex is, or whether he has ever managed to get his head together and they want me to put my mundane name and city of RESIDENCE on the badge?? If he's still in fandom, he could find me with little or no trouble at all with just that info. And if he's still unstable, that's the LAST thing I would want.

So what they're saying is that if I am unwilling to be stalked I am not welcome at their convention. Nice to know.

In answer to bellacrow's question about the photo id. I have been to a fan convention within the last 4 years where, when I filled out the form with a variation on my name (my first name with patronymic) and they read my id, they started to change the form to match my id. I demanded the return of my money and left. I will NOT facilitate stalking! NOBODY has the fsking right to insist that I have to set myself up for that kind of danger.