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

[debs09.livejournal.com]

Well, last year was our first year there. We've been to both Dragon Con and SDCC. Personally DC is a much better time. And yes, SDCC has alot of big stars there, but you don't get to stand there and have a conversation with them and actually get to know them. You do at DC and to tell the truth, they have some pretty decent guests at DC. I'm very happy with it. The crowds are alot worse at SDCC, I had my butt grabbed a ton of times there. What it basically boils down to is....in a big crowd things are going to happen. People are people be they *jocks* or *nerds* or whatever. There are ignorant,disrespectful people in every form. Most of the people we met last year were awesome people, there to just have a good time. The hotels can only do so much. No one can totally control other peoples actions,the best thing that you can do is NOT go anywhere alone and just be diligent around other people. All we can is try to watch out for each other. And have a good time. Don't let a few ignorant people ruin it for all of us. I for one am not going to let them ruin it for me.