Atlanta news- 2
If you read this from outside the Atlanta area, you might not know we have a big name sci-fi con.
Its nowhere near the media event calibur of San Diego Comicon, let alone the size. It would be better to think of it in comparison to a flea market of fandom. However, even though there has been talk of this organisation padding its numbers for years, just based on the hotel blocks they sell out, they have been in the 30,000 person range at least for a while.
But not knowing about this con, Dragon*con, would be nothing unusual for people in other locales.
However, more surprising is, despite this event running close to 25 years, the fact that even sci-fi/fantasy types, or even people just generally aware of things in the city of Atlanta, have no idea that Dragon*con exists.
There could be several contributing factors, such as it taking place on Laborday weekend in a heavy "college sports town." I personally think its because despite its size, local mass media does next to ZERO reporting on the matter.
But aside from all this, many may not be aware that shennanigans have been called multiple times on one of their founders, Ed Kramer. Since the early 2000s, chatter has been around of the accusations levied against him for questionable behavior with young boys that led to charges in Gwinnett.
Its been difficult to get a complete timeline of the events in question and the case against founder Ed Kramer, but its been discussed in back-halls of local fandom for years now.
Davemerrill, former AWA con chair, shared a link that gives a coherant picture of the situation, including Kramer violating a bond by leaving jurisdiction up to Connecticut, and arrest/bond revocation. It bears reviewing if you ever attended any kind of conventions, ever. Especially if you've attended the for-profit Dragon*Con.
http://www.atlantamagazine.com/features/Story.aspx?ID=1764014
Its nowhere near the media event calibur of San Diego Comicon, let alone the size. It would be better to think of it in comparison to a flea market of fandom. However, even though there has been talk of this organisation padding its numbers for years, just based on the hotel blocks they sell out, they have been in the 30,000 person range at least for a while.
But not knowing about this con, Dragon*con, would be nothing unusual for people in other locales.
However, more surprising is, despite this event running close to 25 years, the fact that even sci-fi/fantasy types, or even people just generally aware of things in the city of Atlanta, have no idea that Dragon*con exists.
There could be several contributing factors, such as it taking place on Laborday weekend in a heavy "college sports town." I personally think its because despite its size, local mass media does next to ZERO reporting on the matter.
But aside from all this, many may not be aware that shennanigans have been called multiple times on one of their founders, Ed Kramer. Since the early 2000s, chatter has been around of the accusations levied against him for questionable behavior with young boys that led to charges in Gwinnett.
Its been difficult to get a complete timeline of the events in question and the case against founder Ed Kramer, but its been discussed in back-halls of local fandom for years now.
Davemerrill, former AWA con chair, shared a link that gives a coherant picture of the situation, including Kramer violating a bond by leaving jurisdiction up to Connecticut, and arrest/bond revocation. It bears reviewing if you ever attended any kind of conventions, ever. Especially if you've attended the for-profit Dragon*Con.
http://www.atlantamagazine.com/features/Story.aspx?ID=1764014