shit happens, but I don't have to like it.

[rhivolution]

Right, so, on the Elizabeth Moon WisCon issue. I suppose I will speak in bullet points, because I've had a long day and due to high school competitive civics, I now think that way 90% of the time. (e.g. concise and clear points with facts to back them up.)

Thanks, Mrs. Ratway. Thanks.

Carrying on, if you don't know what I'm talking about, consider ye deepad's post and link collection. I could go on for pages on why Moon's thinking is seriously fucked up on multiple levels (anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, assimilationist dogshit), but I don't think that's really necessary unless you aren't convinced by real people's feelings and need a privileged person to provide historical evidence for the incorrect nature of her screed.

- Firstly: Nisi Shawl is also GoH at WisCon 35. I am not using this as something to push people towards going, it is just that Ms. Shawl's work is very good (yes, I have read some) and she does not deserve erasure when we're talking about another person erasing people. EMoon is not THE GoH, she is A GoH.

- I'm basically sitting here writing a post telling you that I don't think what happened was right, but I don't know if rescinding the invite would have done anything effectual either wrt the big picture of SFF as a whole, and that Cat Valente's slippery slope analogy, while problematic, applies on one level (though not to the extent she thinks, honestly).

- So basically I'm being a fence-sitter as usual. Fabulous.

- Thing is, I'm leaning towards disinvite, though, because having her at WisCon seriously hurts a lot of people and discomfits many others. And I do not want her to be there if that is the case, because that is like a turd in the damn punchbowl. And then next year people sit around and talk about going to parties, and they don't want to go to the party where there was previously turd punch, regardless of any steps to ensure punch clarity. It might take ages to restore party reputation, or some other party having worse punch in the meantime.

- That metaphor simile went on too long, sorry.

- Speculating, though, my guess is that the concom did do this for a single reason: PR. Moon's work does well in mainstream SF. Publicly alienating her could quite possibly lead to mainstream SF writing off WisCon as solely radical fringe instead of far-left. Which is bullshit. The productive things at WisCon need to hit mainstream SF, because it is so often a bigoted minefield. But we all know how well mainstream SF likes to listen to criticism and how slowly, even when there is willingness to change, things actually happen.

- So we're at a quandary. I mean, I would have preferred disinvitation, but even so, I can't help but wonder if there's some sort of middle-ground action that could have been taken at the very least, instead of this vague waving at constructive action. Censure? Is that possible? Not allowing her to do panels save a free-for-all where she'd be put under the microscope? Though that probably wouldn't do much good either.

Fuck, I don't know. The best thing would be if she didn't think like a fucking wankbucket in the first place.

(next up on this DW/LJ: Rhi's long tirade about how US jingoistic nationalism knows no political party and how she is tired of it.)

Comments

[boosette]

Allow the invite to stand, but bump her from "Guest of Honor" to "Guest" and publish an explanation as to why in the con guidebook, while removing her from any panels even peripherally related to social justice (so, limit her panel topics to, "her books")?

Which probably isn't ideal, either.

[wrdnrd]

This is, actually, very similar to what i was hoping/dreaming would happen. (I suspect that we'd get the response that we have gotten.) I guess i don't mind her being there*, but could we maybe take away her guest OF HONOR status and her speech? G(oH)s still have time for a reading and, i think, a Q&A session (or something like it? i rarely go to them, so i can't remember off-hand) -- let her have those spaces, but not the big 15-20 minutes speech on sunday night. And, yes, as you said, keep her well-clear of being ON social justice panels.

*Well, okay, i MIND very much, but i don't know that barring her admission is the right answer.

[maevele]

that would be the best compromise suggestion I have seen yet

[boosette]

I think part of it is a combination of that I don't actually have a dog in the WisCon race, not really being in SFF fandom or a con attendee and being in the process of breaking up with an academic program that fosters the same kind of attitudes Moon espouses.

But anyway, digression. Thank you :)

[azuire]

Just read the official statement and hello Islamophobia 101!

(also, hi! mercredigirl recced your journal.)

[rhivolution]

I find that the more I think about it, the more disgusted I get. I'm really stunned that the concom is all BUT IT'S A TEACHABLE MOMENT when they should know, if they've been listening at all, that the onus of education is ON THE PRIVILEGED.

Hello and nice to meet you! Being nosy, I see you, like me, appear to be doing some hard time in Scotland. (Gorgeous weather today in Glasgow, doesn't really help my mood.)

[azuire]

Yay let's trample all over marginalised folks for our teaching moments. I've never been to WisCon, but -- to use your simile -- that punch needs to be cleared up before I even think of going; however, let's look on the bright side. I can strike her off my TBR list, and I get to use this icon.

(I must warn you, I call it Haggisland and everyone has picked that up from me.)

[mercredigirl]

*clears throat*

I think I started that meme, if you please!

I've never read EMoon, and I don't plan to, now. *ragey rage rage*

(Also I lol sadly at the irony of her ranting about immigrants.)