Hugo Questions Answered

[kevin_standlee]

I'm going to be recording a podcast this weekend answering more questions about the Hugo Awards, in particular those that popped up this year after the nominations were announced. See Cheryl's post for details and post any questions you'd like us to address there.

Because of some over-sensitive people, I will state for the record that I'm appearing there in my personal capacity and that my opinions do not necessarily reflect those of WSFS Mark Protection Committee, or the Hugo Awards Marketing Committee (I'm a member of both of these), nor of any Worldcon committee. I don't know how some people have got it into their heads that everything I say must be Official WSFS Policy, but it's not.

Comments

[bovil.livejournal.com]

Since you're speaking unofficially, could you please plug hugo_recommend? Getting more nominators active, involved and educated would answer the complaints about the low number of nomination needed to get on the ballot in some categories.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Done.

[bovil.livejournal.com]

I was thinking more of giving it a mention in the podcast. It may also be worth planting the bug in listeners' ears that their science fiction clubs should start doing nomination discussions a'la BASFA and NESFA to drum up interest.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see. I'll try to remember this.

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

Mentioning it on LJ was good too, of course.

[ceemage.livejournal.com]

In some ways, I guess it's flattering that, when it comes to the Hugos, some people equate "Word of Kevin" with "Word of God." But probably no bad idea to make it absolutely clear that it isn't.

[chocolatescifi.livejournal.com]

It's because when you do speak Official WSFS Policy, you do it so well.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Well, thank you, I think. :)

But I try and make it clear when I'm speaking officially for any of the groups on which I serve. I just wish people could see the distinction for themselves and not have to be constantly hit over the head with it. And I don't think I need to get some sort of official clearance from the MPC or HAMC before discussing things on which I'm conversant.

When a former US President famously said he didn't like broccoli, it didn't mean that he was saying it was the official policy of the USA to destroy all broccoli farmers.

[chocolatescifi.livejournal.com]

I would like to think that most SF fans would have enough sense to realize when you're speaking either as a member of the MPC or as just Kevin, but I keep reminding myself that ascribing common sense to anyone, let alone a group of anyones, can be dangerous.