(no subject)

[shadesong]

So hey. I have it on good authority that serial harasser Rene Walling is going to be on panels at Worldcon.

Personally, were I attending Worldcon, I would be deeply uncomfortable with being on panels with Walling or attending panels he's on. This is not a feeling that is exclusive to me! I know he's on panels, in fact, because a friend of mine was supposed to be on a panel with him and decided that that was not okay. My friend e-mailed the head of programming "and told them in polite but no uncertain terms that I will NOT do a panel with this person, based on the well documented events of Readercon, but that I leave it up to them as to how they choose to resolve this."

I was like well done and also friend, that is a great idea that I would like to share.

So. If you're uncomfortable with a serial harasser representing our community at Worldcon - if this means you will avoid being on or attending certain panels - you might like to let Programming know. They might be interested.

Contact info:
Bobbie DuFault
E-mail: program-dh@chicon.org
Webform: http://chicon.org/mailpop.php

Comments

[ckd]

Similarly, I didn't volunteer to be on programming the year Harlan Ellison was at Minicon because I didn't want to have to refuse panel assignments if I wound up on one with him. I also didn't go to any of OSC's program items the year he was Boskone GoH (I've never been on Boskone programming).

In this case, I'm not on programming at Worldcon, so I'll only have to adjust my panel plans if he attends and participates. (I don't know what his plans are, but it's at least a possibility that he won't.)

[ron_newman]

Is Harlan also known as a serial harasser? (I know very little about his reputation, other than that he cultivates a very abrasive persona.)

[ckd]

http://blogs.feministsf.net/yes-harlan-ellison-has-always-been-a-sexist-creep

[ron_newman]

Thank you. Being on the periphery of fandom, there are a lot of things I don't know, including this.

[fjm.livejournal.com]

At this stage my guess is that it was all in the database already (they've had the info for forever) and they just pressed Print, without checking.

Which is not to dismiss your comment, just to say that this was probably not in any way deliberate (the program is going out very late indeed--I haven't received one yet tho I am listed as a participant).

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

As a track manager at a con, I'm sure that's exactly what happened! What I'm concerned about is that, in the absence of complaints, the con might take the path of least resistance and leave him on panels.

[lightcastle.livejournal.com]

That

[crewgrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads up. I figure I'll be pretty busy with Hugo rehearsals and whatnot, but his would Not be panels I'd care to attend.

[miss-lisa-ma.livejournal.com]

Brava!

[encarmencita.livejournal.com]

Does anybody know anything about if he attends DragonCon?

[arianhwyvar.livejournal.com]

Well, he presumably won't this year if he's actually going to WorldCon; they're the same weekend this time.

I think I'll drop a note to them, yes; thanks for the suggestion.

[encarmencita.livejournal.com]

Thanks for dropping a note to them.