Security at Dragon*Con 2011

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

EDIT: With the great response this post is getting, let's try and make something happen here. Send Dragon*con security any ideas you may have in ways to improve security for the 2011 show. Go to the contact security form through the D*Con web page. Get as many people as you can to do the same. Pass the word along. Select "security" from the drop down menu. The hotels and Dragon*con MUST agree to start checking badges or room keys at the hotel entrances  to keep the non-con goers out.  Why should we pay and others not?!

dragoncon.org/dc_contact.php

Since it doesn't seem like anyone has addressed this issue for D*Con 2011 recently, I will go ahead and put it on the table.

As I'm sure many others noticed, last year there were several security concerns during the convention. I remember reading all the different posts of women being accosted and "felt up" by individuals who had no badge and nothing to do with the convention itself. Letters were mailed to the hotel and complaints filed. Since then, it has all gone quiet.... Has anything been done by the hotel or Dragon*Con to alleviate this problem? Or, are the powers that be just hoping we would all forget about it and just deal for next year?

I have noticed every year the convention getting more and more filled with people who have come to the hotels thinking they would be getting a free "freaks on parade" show. Individuals include: Football fans, nearby college students, and random people off the street hoping to get a free good time at the expense of those who paid to be there. It's not the same convention it was 5 years ago, the con is changing and not for the good.

Before I go dumping more hard earned money on a convention that is already getting ridiculously priced, are any of these issues going to be addressed? What is to keep random grabby pervs away from my girlfriend or friends? With everything getting expensive these days, I need some re-assurances that this will be a safe convention and the money will be well spent. I wonder what the ratio is of people who just wander in off the streets is, to those who actually paid for a badge?

Comments

[tacnukesoul.livejournal.com]

A big problem is D*C is pretty well known (dates and location) outside of the con circuit. There are a lot of people who know they will see "cute women in skimpy outfits" and there's very little to change that other than move the con in either time or space, neither of which is very likely.

All you can do is keep your head on a swivel ("be here now" for the Trekkies) and pay attention when something doesn't feel right. You don't have to become a vigilante, Just find someone and tell them. Not perfect, but sometimes it's all you can do.

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

Actually, the goon of a reporter a few years back may have helped us out quite a bit with his "Man, these geeks stink" reporting.
On the downside, the douchebag fratboy population has gotten wind of us, and with the big college games in the city that weekend we'll most likely need the extra security.
On the upside, here's hoping that the amount of complaints that went to the colleges that were playing and to the alumni boards got the point across that jerkholes WILL go to jail this year, and that it's much easier to not try and steal someones badge and assault women then it is to explain to daddy why you need to be bailed out on assault charges (After getting your ass handed to you by a bunch of well armed pissed off geeks)

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm... maybe we need to start some PSA's about Con Crud on college campuses! Make it seem like we have the plague.

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

these jackholes never seem to have gotten out of the "Nerds have cooties!" stage, so it may just work!

[hxcpunkchick.livejournal.com]

I know I get the plague after con every year if they need the "proof"...

[ronofthedead.livejournal.com]

And what do we do about our own number who decide to be octopus handed douches. It wasn't a frat boy who I had to run off becuase he was trying to grab the ass of the goth girl going to the dark fantasy track room. It was a fanboy with a Dcon membership.

I see all this vile being directed at frat boys,but all of the LSU fans(I mention them because they have a horrible rep)I came into contact with did nothing more than remind me who won in the BCS title game between LSU and OU a couple of years back when I was wearing my Sooner's colors Saturday night and leave me alone Friday when I sported my geek colors.

I get the feeling that many of you think that things will be all glitter and unicorns if we keep the football fans and locals out. It won't.
It will help but I am really unsure of how much. I wonder how much of the problem is rowdy frat boys and local douches(though I know it is part of the problem) and how much of it is douches among our own ranks.

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

Okay, just from my own observations, so, hardly scientific...

I'd say it's 70/30 split between fratboys/fanboys. Or at least, last year. I don't know, maybe they feed into each other. Inappropriate behavior begets inappropriate behavior...

Now, those guys running around in their underwear without badges? I don't know if they were fratboys, or just come in off the street. We also tend to lump "off the street" with frat boys.

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

I agree in part with what you're sayingt here. It's always easier to point at the ouitsiders (ironic for us, I know). But I find that it's always easier to police your own, and unfortunately it's the college game goers who have shown themselves to be much more prone to violence than fans.