maevele: (Default)
maevele ([personal profile] maevele) wrote2010-09-22 03:13 pm

On Wiscon's Concomm's decision.

I'm trying to remember I trust my concomm. And that they have spoken with Ms. Moon, and I have no idea how those conversations went, so they have more information than I do. Maybe she said "hey, you're right, I fucked up and would love the chance to try to make this right by answering to people at the con" IT COULD HAPPEN.

I don't think there was any neat answer, disinviting her would have invited claims of silencing and slippery-slopes where we police con guests for politics, and would not have left an opportunity for her to be confronted face to face with the people she has offended. However, it would have made Muslim fans feel like the con as an official entity had their backs, which I would really prefer. I'm hoping that the community reaction and counterprogramming shows that Wiscon as a larger community does have their backs, even if the official comm didn't feel comfortable removing her for whatever reasons, they made it clear they disavow her statements and encourage people to take her to task for them. I'm not fucking happy with how they phrased the whole thing with believing her presence will contribute to the con, but if I choose to interpret that as her presence will encourage talking about this issue and confronting her, I can accept it better.

In a way, disinviting her would have silenced those who wanted to confront her face to face as much as it would silence her, so I don't think the comm took the least confrontational path. I am not going to be surprised if closer to the event she cancels out for other reasons so to avoid the confrontations.

Also, as far as I am concerned, My Wiscon has one Guest of Honor this year, who certainly rocks hard enough to deserve solo GoH status, and an "also featuring."
amadi: Text icon reading: "This makes perfect sense if you're a racist." (Racist)

[personal profile] amadi 2010-09-23 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
It's a rough thing, but I think perhaps the balance may have been struck by retaining her invitation, without the "Guest of Honor" title. The honor part is what is going to stick in a lot of people's craws and I can't fathom feeling safe in a place where someone who espouses such loathsome thoughts is considered honorable.
sophygurl: If you're not outraged you're not paying attention (outrage)

[personal profile] sophygurl 2010-09-23 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
Ditto.
brainwane: My smiling face, including a small gold bindi (Default)

[personal profile] brainwane 2010-09-23 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
An interesting suggestion!
urocyon: Grey fox crossing a stream (Default)

[personal profile] urocyon 2010-09-23 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
That suggestion makes a lot of sense. The "honor" bit would definitely get me. :/