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Jun. 17th, 2005 08:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dolariWhat a fucking snarky reply. At least now I know I'm walking away from something I want NO part of. After the convention, I'll re-post this for the general public.
Here's the soap opera:
- About a year ago, Person 0 donates a large sum of money to the Trinoc Convention via Person 1.
- Six months ago, Person 2 quits Trinoc-con claiming personality dispute with Persons 3 and 4. Person 1, a good friend from the last con, takes over.
- Person 1 offers free lodging for Person 5 and me from Person 0's donation.
- Sometime between six ans three months ago, some kind of falling out occurs between Person 0 and Person 5. Person 0 denies use of any of his donation for anything involving Person 5.
- Three months ago, Person 1 mentions she could use some help with our section of the convention due to issues between her and Person 0 about Person 5. Person 5 and I agree to help out. Without telling us, Person 1 lists us as assistant convention chairs.
- Person 3 and 4 ask for art for the convention booklet. The requirements are VERY VERY VERY bad for publication. Many of the artists complain, and are snapped at by Person 3 and 4 about the specification. Person 1 and 3 & 4 have a rather public squabble over it. I begin to recieve complaints by other artists that they are worried about the "tone" of the convention.
- Person 1 begins to mention that Person 3 and 4 are "leaning" on her authority. Person 6, someone in authority, takes on 1, 3 and 4 and says everyone is at fault, and involves me and Person 5 as "part of the problem" due to being made assistant con-chairs. This is the first I hear of it. I then quickly find out that Person 1 has been using IMs I've sent to her as amunition while fighting Person 3 and 4, sednign them to PErson 6. I quickly send out an EMail to all parties resigning "any post I have been assigned," pulling out of all my moderator duties, except for one game show I was hosting.
- The next day, Person 3 and 4 and I have a chat about what is going on. I complain about three things: (1) The publication parameters being bad. (2) The "snapping" tone they used had made the artists worried about the treatment they'd get at the con and (3) The arguments in public are giving the convention a bad reputation. Unfortunately, Persons 3 and 4 focus on the first problem, and pooh-pooh the second and third. The tone I'm given is "don't worry your pretty little head."
- The next day an apology is posted to our mailing list by Person 3 and 4. To my horror, they have focused on the first problem, and stayed true to their bad parameters. Problems 2 and 3 are given lip service. I decide that it's a lost cause and decide that this will be my last convention.
- Person 7 quits. Person 8 becomes "tentative." More than likely not-related to the issues, but worth mentioning.
- Sometime in the last week, Person 0 threatens a lawsuit on Person 1 and the convention over Person 5. Persons 2, 3 and 6 fire person 1 claiming "a complete lapse in ethics and sensibility" which, funnily enough, seems to happen at the threat of a lawsuit. Person 5 pulls out of all panels, but will still be at the convention. I quit the convention, with a terse letter to Persons 1, 3 and 4:
To all,
I will not be able to attend this year's Trinoc-con. Please remove me from your 2005 roster.
- Person 8, who had not heard of anything, tells me he is considering quitting as well, especially after he finds out that Person 1 is gone, and I'm quitting. I get an insinuating letter from Person 2 claiming "I sincerely wish I could be surprised by your cancellation." I post on my website that I will not be appearing at Trinoc.
- Late June: Person 9 buys a room for me at the Trinoc hotel. Person 5 quits the con. I will be going to Raleigh after all, but not the con itself.
You know what the problem here is? It's one that kept me GOING to the con after almost all that shit: ALL EFFORTS FOR THE CONVENTION SHOULD BE SPENT ON MAKING SURE THE FANS AND GUESTS HAVE A GOOD TIME. Not petty territorial squabblings and titles and donations. I stopped having a good time some time ago, and decided to work on making sure the fans didn't see anything of this. But it finally just got to me, and I quit.
That's TWO things I've quit in as many weeks. I hate being a quitter, but everyone is just being an ass to each other this year, and I won't stand for it anymore.
So what happens now? Well...I'll still be going to North Carolina. I may even stay with Erin if she gets her room. If not, I'll be in a Motel 6 in Raleigh. As for people who are flying in to see specifically me? If you're not gonna see Erin, I suggest cancelling your trips. If you can't get a refund, then cancel the flight and apply it to a future vacation. I'm hoping to still go to the Webcomic dinner, so we'll at least see a few folks there for a few hours, and maybe a visit to the hotel, but not the con, to see other friends.
I'm SORELY tempted to tell Emily to cancel her flight, I'll cancel mine and just go to PA and Baltimore. But I owe it to the folks who bought tickets SPECIFICALLY to see me.
Sad to see a good thing go sour.
Here's the soap opera:
- About a year ago, Person 0 donates a large sum of money to the Trinoc Convention via Person 1.
- Six months ago, Person 2 quits Trinoc-con claiming personality dispute with Persons 3 and 4. Person 1, a good friend from the last con, takes over.
- Person 1 offers free lodging for Person 5 and me from Person 0's donation.
- Sometime between six ans three months ago, some kind of falling out occurs between Person 0 and Person 5. Person 0 denies use of any of his donation for anything involving Person 5.
- Three months ago, Person 1 mentions she could use some help with our section of the convention due to issues between her and Person 0 about Person 5. Person 5 and I agree to help out. Without telling us, Person 1 lists us as assistant convention chairs.
- Person 3 and 4 ask for art for the convention booklet. The requirements are VERY VERY VERY bad for publication. Many of the artists complain, and are snapped at by Person 3 and 4 about the specification. Person 1 and 3 & 4 have a rather public squabble over it. I begin to recieve complaints by other artists that they are worried about the "tone" of the convention.
- Person 1 begins to mention that Person 3 and 4 are "leaning" on her authority. Person 6, someone in authority, takes on 1, 3 and 4 and says everyone is at fault, and involves me and Person 5 as "part of the problem" due to being made assistant con-chairs. This is the first I hear of it. I then quickly find out that Person 1 has been using IMs I've sent to her as amunition while fighting Person 3 and 4, sednign them to PErson 6. I quickly send out an EMail to all parties resigning "any post I have been assigned," pulling out of all my moderator duties, except for one game show I was hosting.
- The next day, Person 3 and 4 and I have a chat about what is going on. I complain about three things: (1) The publication parameters being bad. (2) The "snapping" tone they used had made the artists worried about the treatment they'd get at the con and (3) The arguments in public are giving the convention a bad reputation. Unfortunately, Persons 3 and 4 focus on the first problem, and pooh-pooh the second and third. The tone I'm given is "don't worry your pretty little head."
- The next day an apology is posted to our mailing list by Person 3 and 4. To my horror, they have focused on the first problem, and stayed true to their bad parameters. Problems 2 and 3 are given lip service. I decide that it's a lost cause and decide that this will be my last convention.
- Person 7 quits. Person 8 becomes "tentative." More than likely not-related to the issues, but worth mentioning.
- Sometime in the last week, Person 0 threatens a lawsuit on Person 1 and the convention over Person 5. Persons 2, 3 and 6 fire person 1 claiming "a complete lapse in ethics and sensibility" which, funnily enough, seems to happen at the threat of a lawsuit. Person 5 pulls out of all panels, but will still be at the convention. I quit the convention, with a terse letter to Persons 1, 3 and 4:
To all,
I will not be able to attend this year's Trinoc-con. Please remove me from your 2005 roster.
- Person 8, who had not heard of anything, tells me he is considering quitting as well, especially after he finds out that Person 1 is gone, and I'm quitting. I get an insinuating letter from Person 2 claiming "I sincerely wish I could be surprised by your cancellation." I post on my website that I will not be appearing at Trinoc.
- Late June: Person 9 buys a room for me at the Trinoc hotel. Person 5 quits the con. I will be going to Raleigh after all, but not the con itself.
You know what the problem here is? It's one that kept me GOING to the con after almost all that shit: ALL EFFORTS FOR THE CONVENTION SHOULD BE SPENT ON MAKING SURE THE FANS AND GUESTS HAVE A GOOD TIME. Not petty territorial squabblings and titles and donations. I stopped having a good time some time ago, and decided to work on making sure the fans didn't see anything of this. But it finally just got to me, and I quit.
That's TWO things I've quit in as many weeks. I hate being a quitter, but everyone is just being an ass to each other this year, and I won't stand for it anymore.
So what happens now? Well...I'll still be going to North Carolina. I may even stay with Erin if she gets her room. If not, I'll be in a Motel 6 in Raleigh. As for people who are flying in to see specifically me? If you're not gonna see Erin, I suggest cancelling your trips. If you can't get a refund, then cancel the flight and apply it to a future vacation. I'm hoping to still go to the Webcomic dinner, so we'll at least see a few folks there for a few hours, and maybe a visit to the hotel, but not the con, to see other friends.
I'm SORELY tempted to tell Emily to cancel her flight, I'll cancel mine and just go to PA and Baltimore. But I owe it to the folks who bought tickets SPECIFICALLY to see me.
Sad to see a good thing go sour.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 02:41 pm (UTC)When things get this bad, I think it's time to take the Con out behind the stables and put it out of everyone's misery. And then bring in a bright, bouncy new Con, with completely new management, for everyone to play with. Did I stretch the 'Old Shep' metaphor a bit far?
Anyway, in the end, you shouldn't feel bad or guilty or anything. I think that the whole weekend would have just been a hellhole of resentment and bad feeling. And that's so not what you want.
Ellen.
xx
no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 02:53 pm (UTC)Anyway, what I was trying to say was that is a real shame you had to go through all that bullshit and that you are now missing out on a convention you really enjoyed last year.
Should you decide to visit a different convention instead, I would gladly recommend WizardWorld Chicago. I'd be glad to assist any way I could, and you could come meet
God, I hope that doesn't sound creepy. Please disregard any weird stalker-like vibe...
no subject
Date: 2005-06-18 06:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 02:57 pm (UTC)BTW, whereabouts in Pennsylvania will you be? And when? :-)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-18 06:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 02:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-18 06:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 03:59 pm (UTC)*HUGS*
mel
no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 08:06 pm (UTC)Events like this, happening on a rolling schedule in the con world, remind why I've passed on the few opportunities I've had to go to a con.
I know that I'm missing out, but it's impossible to know exactly what I'm missing out on.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 09:13 pm (UTC)I just wanted to let you know that I respect you for standing up for what you think is right. Whenever I do that, people accuse me of quitting. I hate that, because sometimes the madness just has to stop.
I am sorry I will not get to see
* tosses roses at
no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 09:52 pm (UTC)To be honest I need a flow chart to fully understand how messed up all that mess is. ^_^*
no subject
Date: 2005-06-18 07:03 am (UTC)