Nice Words about SF Conventions

[kevin_standlee]

Thanks to smofbabe for pointing out a nice column by Ben Bova about science fiction conventions.

I suppose it would be churlish of me to point out the factual error in his article regarding the frequency of non-US Worldcons. Alas, he's not the only person to make mistakes of this sort. For example, I met a fan a few years ago who confidently announced that Australia's 2010 Worldcon bid "wasn't allowed" because "the rules require the Worldcon to be in the USA in all even numbered years." She had never actually read the rules, but generalized from the only experience she had, which had the 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 Worldcons in the USA and the 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009 Worldcons in other countries. Having only encountered Worldcons from 2002 and never having looked at any history, she generalized from insufficient data and drew a bad conclusion.

Based on this same sort of generalizing-from-insufficient data, I suspect we'll see people making Bova's same mistake, as they'll only take 2010-2014 as their base set and assume that "the rules require" that every fourth Worldcon be off-continent, with the other three required to be held in either the USA or Canada.

Comments

[buddykat.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's churlish at all... that's why I commented to point out the two errors. The one about the "every fourth year" and the one about Australia's dates.

I'm just waiting for a staff member to approve my comments since I'm a new commenter.

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

It's up there now! Just read it.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Well, generalizing from insufficient data and then seeing if the generalization still holds when there's more data is how the scientific method works.

The only difference is, instead of having to uncover the rules of nature by trial and error, in this case one can look them up.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

Editorially, his "fourth year" could be fixed by adding the word "lately".

I love his story of St Louis. From my own experience you really may not know who you're talking to at a con, even if they have a name badge!

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

..."lately."

Well, only if you count Canada as part of the USA.

I do like the story about the St. Louis Worldcon. Real-life Revenge of the Nerds stuff in a sense.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

okay, so change US to North America too. :)

BB's Con Report

[glenn-glazer.livejournal.com]

I would have substituted "approximately" for "lately" or even better, something like:

"The World Science Fiction Convention is usually held in the United States, the voters select an overseas location about once every four years or so."

Because that shows that the location is not in a strict rotation.

I'd also like to say that I *don't* like the St. Louis story. It is rejoicing in vengeance, which strikes me as petty and mean. Comeuppance tales are particularly attractive to fen, because most of us did not grow up in the in-groups. Turning the tables on our aggressors means we have failed to learn anything from them.

Re: BB's Con Report

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

Regarding St. Louis, yeah, it's presented as a vengeance tale. And everyone likes those, not just us (e.g. Robin Hood, Rambo, many many others).

But seriously, if you heard of someone else's convention attendees being treated badly (or were treated badly yourself) by a venue, you'd be stupid not to consider your options before dealing with that same venue.

Bad service never deserves to be rewarded.

And I know you've had to consider those things in the not too distant past.

Re: BB's Con Report

[glenn-glazer.livejournal.com]

Not rewarding bad service is one thing, rejoicing in it is another. Yes, I've had to make decisions about facilities based on their track records or the way they've treated other cons. But I've never taken pleasure in it.

Re: BB's Con Report

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

I'd submit that not enjoying the process and enjoying the story are two different things. I never enjoy complaining to a manager (I'd much rather be complimenting them), but I allow myself to enjoy telling about it.

To me, its like getting stuck in a burning VW bus (yes, I was). It's not fun at the time, but if nobody dies it can make a good story after you can breathe again).