Security at Dragon*Con 2011
May. 24th, 2011 05:03 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
m-cubicle.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
dragoncon_lj_archiveEDIT: 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?
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?
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Hey, uhm, about that Edit to the OP:
Date: 2011-05-25 11:38 pm (UTC)A few folks may recall my saying, during those post-convention conversations you remember from last September (http://dragoncon.livejournal.com/2537109.html?thread=27282069#t27282069) that I'm opposed to the "frakkin' tourists" being at our Dragon*Con. I carried on a bit about it.
But, speaking as just another member: I'm kind of skeeved about that edit up top. I respectfully and even affectionately ask you to revise it.
I agree with you that we've got a great community discussion going on here. One of the conditions that make it great is that more than one opinion is being rationally represented, and in large numbers. To whit, we've got a lot of posts saying that the issues have already been addressed, and are being addressed still, by Dragon*Con staff; we've got posts relating that others' experiences with specific hotels' staffs have been positive toward D*C conventioneers, or neutral, or negative, or mixed; we've got people talking about what is and what is not a reasonable expectation of hotel and convention security for standards of keeping us safe.
I don't think encouraging people to flood the D*C Contact Form with a copy-and-paste of your original destructively-critical post is a reasonable outgrowth of this discussion. How about a variation with constructive criticism, including measures you'd be willing to support with your own time or resources? Would you, say, be willing to spring for minutes on prepaid cheaptastic cell phones, attached to a Google Number listed on the back of every member badge, that routes directly to D*C Security? Will you pledge two hours of your time as a Goon Squad minion, with no expectation of a cut in your registration price or any other benefit, even if it's two of the hours that your favorite Guest is going to be available for autographs?
I'm just saying, your barrage to Security about wanting this year to be better is going to get you more net results if you include yourself in "how to make it better" rather than pointing as many scowls as you can gather at the people who're supposed to solve it.
Re: Hey, uhm, about that Edit to the OP:
Date: 2011-05-25 11:55 pm (UTC)Re: Hey, uhm, about that Edit to the OP:
Date: 2011-05-26 12:52 am (UTC)That being said, I think a post dated from last September is hardly going to bring to the forefront the concerns we are all having regarding security. Your post was great and well written. I don't see a problem with bringing the subject up again and seeing what's been done between last September and now; almost 10 months later. How about an official word from someone saying that security *IS* being changed?
As far as constructive ideas go, I mentioned one above in the comments section. Starting at 9pm no one gets into the hotel without a badge or room key. Let's not wait until it gets so bad in the hotel you can't move. I am paying 100 bucks for a badge, multiply that buy how many people are coming this year (ALOT), and you can't tell me they couldn't afford to bring in some more security staffers.
Re: Hey, uhm, about that Edit to the OP:
Date: 2011-05-26 01:23 am (UTC)They already agreed to do that.
" I am paying 100 bucks for a badge, multiply that buy how many people are coming this year (ALOT), and you can't tell me they couldn't afford to bring in some more security staffers. "
Again, something they've already agreed to do.
Statement from September:
"Safety and security issues from 2010
Howdy campers! We have an update for you regarding the unruly convention crashers at the host hotels. We have reached an agreement in principal with the host hotels to restrict access to badged convention members or hotel guests with hotel keys during the evening hours. The exact details and hours of restricted access will be finalized and we will have a further update once those particulars are hammered out. There will also be extra security available during the these hours to help address some of the incidents we experienced from last year. The hotels are very aware of our concerns and have pledged to work with us in 2011 to maintain our traditional fun evening atmosphere and keep any problem children away.
Dragon*Con has no plans to move off of the Labor Day date in the future. We love the date, you love the date, the hotels love the date and us and are very committed to keeping their favorite extended family happy and as secure as possible.
Dave Cody for Dragon*Con"
From said September Post that you deride from being too old, but could also be evidence of how serious they *immediately* took our concerns last year. Really, it just sounds like you want someone to say the same thing but with a more recent time stamp?
On top of this, there's also the "Back Up Ribbon" Campaign.
Likewise, it should be pointed out to everyone that the majority of D*C staff, including security, is volunteers. It's been, what, just over 24 hours since your original post? I think a little patience is warranted here.
But... having said all that, yes, there's absolutely no harm in either coming up with new ideas, discussing them, and holding TPTB toes to the fires, as it were. So, yes, points to you. But don't demand they do something they've already said they're going to do. That just looks kinda petty.
Re: Hey, uhm, about that Edit to the OP:
Date: 2011-05-26 02:54 am (UTC)hurray for specific data!
Date: 2011-05-26 07:42 am (UTC)Re: hurray for specific data!
Date: 2011-05-26 07:49 am (UTC)Re: hurray for specific data!
Date: 2011-05-26 08:26 am (UTC)Re: hurray for specific data!
Date: 2011-05-26 09:05 am (UTC)I'd suggest waiting until Monday, though. No point in getting locked up at the beginning of the convention. Besides, you've a better chance of someone showing up to post bail on Monday than, say, Saturday.
Re: hurray for specific data!
Date: 2011-05-27 05:29 am (UTC)