Feeling Badgered

[kevin_standlee]

Prior to last night's BASFA meeting, much deconstruction of the fannish train wreck that was Con-X-Treme happened. Among the foolish things the convention reportedly did was to use wristbands for admission rather than badges, and to require that every member have their photo taken, and that photo was made part of their convention membership credentials. When I expressed extreme incredulity that a convention would do what I consider such an incredibly stupid thing, jorhett (who I should make it clear neither worked on Con-X-Treme nor was even there at the con and didn't even know it was happening) told me that having a photograph as part of your membership badge -- to make it "impossible" to share badges -- was standard operating procedure at "East Coast" cons.

I said, "When did that start? I've attended Boskone, and they don't do that there."

The reply: "Boskone? Is that in Boston? Well, I meant south of New York."

I raised an eyebrow, "So Massachusetts isn't on the American East Coast?"

But I digress. I find the idea that you would have to have a photo-badge to attend a convention absurd, for many reasons, but most notably because of what it tells me about the organizers' priorities. See this posting from last year and read my article "Feeling Badgered" in Argentus #6. In that article, I set out what I consider the main criteria for a convention membership badges are, and I make ticket-to-admit the second priority, not the first.

In my opinion. photo-badges for all members sets ticket-to-admit priority to stratospheric, and everything else to insignificant. It sets off all of my hot buttons. I know that Lisa isn't the only person I know who would refuse to attend a convention that required photo-badges for all attendees. Remember, I'm someone who doesn't think you should have to show government-issued photographic ID to collect your membership if you have one of the good alternatives such as your original membership receipt or convention publications received by mail or can be personally identified by a trusted convention staff member. I detest the "your papers pliz" culture that we've become.

Note that there are certain specific applications where a photo badge is justified. I wouldn't issue them to the entire convention staff and committee, but if there are certain very sensitive areas -- in particular ones where the Treasury Office That Does Not Exist is located -- there might be some justification for a small number of photo-badges, particularly if security is being provided by paid guards who don't know who the individuals involved are.

But requiring every member of the convention to have their photo taken and that photo appear on their convention badge or other token-of-admission-to-event? Not for me.

Edit, 13:50: Clarified that the person who brought up the photo-badges issue as "routine at east coast cons" was neither associated with Con-X-Treme nor attended it. My apologies if my earlier wording implied otherwise.

Comments

Done.

[jorhett.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I'm done. Kevin, you and yours can find someone else to attack. Just because you aren't standing in front of me gives any of you the right to be as rude as you've been. And almost every bit of this is because of not what I said, but because of how Kevin has misquoted me and misinterpretted my statements due to his own self-admitted hot-button.

The vast majority of you need to take a step back and chill out.

I won't be discussing anything serious with any of you, anytime in the future.

Re: Done.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I'm saying exactly the same things I said to you in person at BASFA last night, and I mean them, and I'll say them again whether in person or in print. The forum is not important. I quoted what it sounded like you were saying to me. When I saw the most obvious misinterpretation (that you were working on those conventions), I attempted to correct it. Indeed, if you want to give me the exact quote of your words you think you said, I'll correct them and say I did so.

Now you appear to have taken the attitude that everyone who disagrees with you has to "chill out." Perhaps the depth of emotion on this subject ought to tell you something about how strongly people feel about it. It's one of the few things that nearly everyone here seems to be able to agree upon. And if you've been reading my LJ very long, you may notice that sycophantic agreement with me isn't really a common thread here.

If you think such a procedure was justified, you should justify it. If you don't think it was justified, then why did you speak up for groups that did such a stupid thing?

Re: Done.

[(Anonymous)]

You know, I had considerable sympathy with you to begin with, because I know how excitable Kevin can get over such issues. But it has become increasingly obvious that your entire position can be summed up as follows:

"I'm right. I'm so obviously right that I don't have to justify myself to you morons. And anyone who disagrees with me is a raving lunatic who I will refuse to speak to."

I'm afraid you are not going to convince many people that way.

- Cheryl