WorldCon

[jeregenest]

I’ve had lots of people in the last week ask me why I’m not going to WorldCon this year since its in Boston. Here are my answers.

It is absurdly priced. At $50-80 for a one-day membership it won’t draw in the casual person who is interested but doesn’t want to commit to the full weekend. While I could have gotten a membership at about $160 it would require me to do so about 6 months ago, which is much too soon for me to schedule something in my home town. This is stupid. When will SF cons realize the casual one-day visitor is worth it because they don’t stay that long and pretty much only hit dealer’s row and a few events.

WorldCon still isn’t kid friendly. With a 4 year old and a 6 month old I’m going to be hard pressed to justify going unless it is. Especially since my wife will be working over the weekend, and there’s only so much you can ask a grandparent to do. And if my wife wasn’t working, sneaking away to a con (at high prices) leaving her with the kids just isn’t an option.

The Gaming track, what gaming track you’re asking. To which I say exactly. A combination of stupidity on the organizers part coupled with poor outreach to the gaming community. Continuing another proud WorldCon tradition.

Ugly, ugly webpage. With the amount of computer people in this hobby you would think their webpage would be better looking. If you don’t care enough to do this simple thing why would you expect me to think the program and con coordination will be any better.

So I’m sitting this one out. I guess I’ll have to wait for some other event to introduce Harrison to the SF scene. Maybe we’ll just do the King Richard’s Fair.

Comments

[my-tallest.livejournal.com]

I guess I’ll have to wait for some other event to introduce Harrison to the SF scene.

I'd wait until the teen years. Which reminds me, I need to drag my nephews to some local con soon.

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

Thats another one of my gripes about cons. I want the same degree of care and attention paid to my kids when I go to a SF con as when we go to the MFA.

Kids are the future and all that.

[shiffer.livejournal.com]

Not to rain on your righteous dudgeon and admitting to zero experience in child rearing, but I'd have to side with my_tallest here. I don't think it's just the cons themselves that aren't arrayed for this (though lord knows they aren't), four might actually be a bit young to start in on these things.

...and now I have Me First And The Gimme Gimmes's rendition of 'Science Fiction Double Feature' playing around in my head. Curse you :)

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

Sure they suck right now to bring kids to.

But thats not a good thing. That is a bad thing. We are an aging demographic that are contains more and more people with kids. Catering to those people is important.

If fandom would stop thinking its the 70s (when they don''t still think its the 50s) then fandom would be a whole lot betetr off.

[shiffer.livejournal.com]

You are absolutely right.

However, I'd just like to say that as someone who organized conventions I shudder at the added complications such a change would entail. Not saying it shoulden't be done, I'm just saying it's hard.

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

I too have run large events, both SF cons and other types. And I think the difficulty is less an issue of work than it is changing mindsets and priorities.

But fandom cons are very very slow to change. Most of the changes have really come about as a result of schism. And I'm not interested in participating in that sort of thing.

[bluegargantua]

"Maybe we’ll just do the King Richard’s Fair."

Yeah, cause nothing draws in the wenches like a cute little boy. ;)

"It's like walking a small dog, but even better!"
Tom

[that-cad.livejournal.com]

Dude, I used to King Richard's Faire as a kid all the time and I have the fondest memories of it. I even made it on to the news once, 'cause I dressed up as Robin Hood. No, seriously. I was freakin' adorable. You are obligated as a parent to bring your kids to King Richard's Faire at least once in their lifetime.

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

Oh we're definitely taking him this fall. Question is when. I should probably wait till my dad's in town so I can get him to subsidise it.

[head58.livejournal.com]

King's Richard's Faire, and all those sorts of medievalesque things, frankly scare and worry me. I think my past as a historian in the academic sense absolutely cringes at the rampant anachronisms and foolishness of it all.

Plus, I find overtheatrical types need to be punched in the groin repeatedly. And this kind of thing draws those types like moths to flame.

[that-cad.livejournal.com]

I agree on both counts — but as a kid who would one day grow up to be a history major, it was the greatest place ever. I remember bugging my parents every year about when we were going to go, and I would frequently make them take me two or three times a summer.

And I'd make them buy me wooden swords and shields and stuff. Ooooh, such toys did I make them buy me.

Anyway, yes, I agree with you. Now. But back when I was 6, it was like freakin' Disney.

(Now I'm all nostalgic. Damn you, jeregenest.)

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

Well maybe I'll let you borrow him sometime. He'd probably like that. He always gets upset when you don't show up on gaming nights.

[jovianconsensus.livejournal.com]

I must still be in the "hose down the area with dollars" mindset that comes with moving and buying new furniture, because I didn't bat an eye at $80 for one day.

But now that you mention it, what the hell are they thinking?