BULLYING. IS. WRONG.

[crazeyal.livejournal.com]

And the community should stand up against it. We've had issues with drunk frat-boys, Nascar fans, and the underbelly of fandom showing it's face. I'd like to shine a light on some Internet drama I've found from the Facebook community.

There is a rising amount of Ghostbusters fan-groups attending both the con and the Parade. The level of costuming has been fantastic and I've personally never had any issue with any member of the various groups that combine at the Parade. Last year we had, I believe 7 Ecto-1's at the con!!

The drama is that one particular group, http://www.gbfans.com , has decided that using Kickstarter for fundraising is somehow wrong and insulting to them. They've started a campaign of harassment and threats because one fan DARED not go by methods they personally approve.

I found the issue on the FB page of Dragoncon (edit: Either the OP or the owner of the page has removed the post) and their own forum topic, where it contains threats and justification for bullying. A now locked thread where the Moderator espouses "Kicking people around" because they offend you.

As a community, it's my opinion that we should respond to this. That sort of nonsense, online or at the parade, has no place at Dragoncon.

Comments

[arma-padawan.livejournal.com]

As president of the dead ends hearse club, and close personal friends with one of the members of the georgia ghostbusters, i and DEHC stand behind the georgia ghostbusters and their right to set standards of conduct for their group.

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

No one is arguing that a group has the right to set standards for members that choose to participate. The complaint is that this group is trying to, or gives the appearance of trying to, set the standard for all groups- whether they are part of it or not. I think.

[sparr0.livejournal.com]

The project in question isn't part of their group.

[wiccanslyr.livejournal.com]

Having standards/rules/guidelines about joining and being within your group is fine, and is not, in fact, the issue at hand here.

Having standards DOES NOT give said group the "right" to go around bullying people, especially ones who are not even in (nor who have ever expressed interest in joining) said group, who do not met those standards. Which is exactly what happened in this case.

[audreyscastle.livejournal.com]

I agree that groups have a right to set standards, but these people were not members of the group, so they were not violating any group rules.