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

[crazeyal.livejournal.com]

You are entitled to your opinion. There is some truth to what you say. But while there are more serious assaults that have happened, the title to the thread is unchanged. Bullying is not right. Sending threatening emails, threatening exclusion and quite possibly more (Missed the comment "The only way they'll ever "get it" is if people bitchslap them around. " did you??)

The Internet can be an ugly place. Real life can be a rotten experience all around. Dragoncon is a nice relaxing and fun time for me. Nipping ugliness like this, in the bud, makes a better experience all around. Can we stop every small-minded idiot? Surely not. Can we even change the bullies minds about how WRONG this is? I doubt it.

I made as many people as I could, aware of the situation. I tried to reason with the perpetrators. I am objecting to a bad situation and trying to make it better. That is not making a Mountain... It's climbing it!

[jillmaddoxcm.livejournal.com]

LIKE

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

The point that he's trying to make there, if I'm reading it right, is that we deal with so many attacks and abuse from outside groups then why go out of our way to attack other fans?
Especially when the attacks are personal against someone who isn't even affiliated with their group.
I mean, hell...we as geeks can be elitist over our fandoms, our games, our costumes, why not just say "I don't want to see any of you doing this" instead of "ZOMG LOOKIE WHAT SHE DID! GIT HER!!"

BTW:Adorable user pic

[crazeyal.livejournal.com]

I know!! ( might not be talkin bout me.. but since this is custom art from geeksnextdoor.com Ahma kinda biased!!)

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

You know I'd squeeze that perky red bum of your. And your wife would cheer me on. And take pics

[wiccanslyr.livejournal.com]

Please do not "blow off" this kind of bullying just because there isn't violence, or the threat of violence.

I think (and I'm not the OP so this is just my interpretation) the point that was attempting to be made by posting this here was to have the D*Con community "at large" show/say that this kind of behavior isn't okay so that maybe, next time this type of thing has the potential to happen people will stop and THINK twice about it before it does.

The "geek/nerd/dork" community gets enough of this kind of bullying nonsense from the outside, we really shouldn't have to worry about getting it from amongst ourselves too.

So, no, I don't think it's "making a mountain out of a molehill".

[crazeyal.livejournal.com]

I object to your objection. I clearly stated that I thought the community should respond. I never asked for banishment, punishment or anything other than recognition. I have had some of the best "Geek moments" of my life at Dragoncon. That, from someone who played D&D from PAMPHLETS is saying something.

To have the community recognize and watch out for this potential problem is what I wanted. To have the community of GB fans look at more than one online gathering place and see that this is not acceptable behavior is what I wanted.

YOU decided that my words and this topic were belittling sexual assault and rape. You were wrong in that assumption.

[crazeyal.livejournal.com]

No, you've just proven that you can not discuss things without petty sniping and unreasonable assumptions. You put words in my mouth to make your own words sound better. Let the adults talk now.

[wicked0witch.livejournal.com]

As someone who was one of the targets of an attempted assault at D*C 2010 (got away and the guy got arrested), I agree with you. While internet bullying is horrible (i've been the target of that too, and 4chan was the reason I almost killed myself last year, and even now a year later I still get people that have gotten ahold of my email or go anon on my blogs telling me to go kill myself), I agree that this feels like it's being blown out of proportion. Yes, it's unfortunate that someone feels bullied by another group, but it's not any business of this comm. The group isn't stopping (and really can't stop) the people from marching in the parade at all, just not with their group, which isn't against any rules of the con.

[crazeyal.livejournal.com]

Actually, you are incorrect. On many levels, actually. The only people who are making the assumption that the sexual assaults are being listed as :"JUST AS BAD" are you two. No-one has said that. AT ALL.

Also, these people were collaborating on filling out false forms to the DC office, so that there would be no room for the Kickstarter's group.

Also, they sent threatening emails to the fund owner.

Also there is that whole "Smack them around" comment...

And since the thread is locked and the FB post is deleted, it is over.

Being oversensitve on certain issues might just lead you to be undersensitive to others... You might want to think on that..

[wicked0witch.livejournal.com]

As I can't see the posts that show they were saying or not saying that, I can't make any judgement without facts. I was simply agreeing with her that your post here came off as trying to cause drama.

[crazeyal.livejournal.com]

The original thread is still available to read, and the other things that happened, I've already discussed. Disagreeing is kinda allowed on the Internet.. You are entitled to your opinion. I have stated my reasons and intentions. If you choose to think I am lying, again your choice.

I love marching in the parade. I found it offensive that someone was being threatened with exclusion over what is basically opinion. I said something. I happen to think I was restrained in my posting.