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The Arisia Code
Most of my friends didn't go to Arisia this year. I, of course, haven't gone for the last two years - not since I was banned from the Programming track because the Head of Security didn't like my cosplay.
But one friend did go this year, and for some reason he asked a lot of people why I was kicked out. I would have rather he hadn't done that, but I didn't know until I was too late. Anyway, here's what apparently all the Arisia people he spoke to agreed on:
I broke the code. I did the unforgivable, by speaking out against Arisia in a public forum. Program participants represent Arisia, and by going on the record complaining about Arisia, they commit the unforgivable sin and will be banned forever from being a program participant.
I had several thoughts when I heard this. First, who the hell are all these people who know me and why I was kicked out? Are they seriously that obsessed with revenge, considering that they're dealing with a scandal-plagued con that's in a death spiral? At what point did Arisia adopt the code of Omerta - the Mafia code of silence?
Also, given how hostile Arisia has usually been to ANY criticism, it seems that their approach is to basically stifle any and all critiques. That isn't new, of course. Arisia has always had a problem with that. Still, it seems surprisingly absolute - and stupid. How can they improve if they attack anyone who dares speak out about a problem?
Then another thought occurred to me. Top people in Arisia went public about the con covering up allegations of rape and harassment. Have those people been banned by Arisia? Obviously not. So does this code of silence only apply to "lesser" people? Which people? Is this code written down somewhere? Shouldn't program participants be warned about it?
Hey, won't I be double-banned for writing this?
Okay, seriously. I don't want to go back to Arisia. Not as long as it is what it has become: a sanctimonious bunch of hypocrites eager to punish those who complain about bad treatment. People who proudly proclaim how tolerant they are, while using their own biases to shut down inoffensive topics that they don't like. A vengeful clique with an enemies list. People who are more concerned about having enough ribbons listing the wearer's preferred personal pronouns than about producing a safe, fun, welcoming convention for everyone.
I was at the first Arisia, and never missed one until I was kicked out two years ago. This isn't the Arisia I loved in the old days. The current management are not the sort of fans I want to hang out with - much less spend a thousand dollars or more to see. They've driven out most of the best people. I only hope that when Arisia implodes a new, better con is created in its place. If that happens, I'll support it to the best of my ability.
But one friend did go this year, and for some reason he asked a lot of people why I was kicked out. I would have rather he hadn't done that, but I didn't know until I was too late. Anyway, here's what apparently all the Arisia people he spoke to agreed on:
I broke the code. I did the unforgivable, by speaking out against Arisia in a public forum. Program participants represent Arisia, and by going on the record complaining about Arisia, they commit the unforgivable sin and will be banned forever from being a program participant.
I had several thoughts when I heard this. First, who the hell are all these people who know me and why I was kicked out? Are they seriously that obsessed with revenge, considering that they're dealing with a scandal-plagued con that's in a death spiral? At what point did Arisia adopt the code of Omerta - the Mafia code of silence?
Also, given how hostile Arisia has usually been to ANY criticism, it seems that their approach is to basically stifle any and all critiques. That isn't new, of course. Arisia has always had a problem with that. Still, it seems surprisingly absolute - and stupid. How can they improve if they attack anyone who dares speak out about a problem?
Then another thought occurred to me. Top people in Arisia went public about the con covering up allegations of rape and harassment. Have those people been banned by Arisia? Obviously not. So does this code of silence only apply to "lesser" people? Which people? Is this code written down somewhere? Shouldn't program participants be warned about it?
Hey, won't I be double-banned for writing this?
Okay, seriously. I don't want to go back to Arisia. Not as long as it is what it has become: a sanctimonious bunch of hypocrites eager to punish those who complain about bad treatment. People who proudly proclaim how tolerant they are, while using their own biases to shut down inoffensive topics that they don't like. A vengeful clique with an enemies list. People who are more concerned about having enough ribbons listing the wearer's preferred personal pronouns than about producing a safe, fun, welcoming convention for everyone.
I was at the first Arisia, and never missed one until I was kicked out two years ago. This isn't the Arisia I loved in the old days. The current management are not the sort of fans I want to hang out with - much less spend a thousand dollars or more to see. They've driven out most of the best people. I only hope that when Arisia implodes a new, better con is created in its place. If that happens, I'll support it to the best of my ability.