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Time for a chat... once again we are discussing People Who Behave Badly In Publishing (comics, cons, ect) and DH asked if I'd had any problems.
I haven't... for very specific reasons.
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I haven't... for very specific reasons.
(thread)
1) I am not an ideal target. I am over 30, over a fashionable weight, and that's enough to scare off the average con predator. Fat women are invisible and older women become shields.
I can honestly say none of these men never tried to prey on me.
That doesn't mean they aren't predators. It means they didn't see me as a desirable target of predation.
I won't defend anyone because I know how the Beauty Bias works.
That doesn't mean they aren't predators. It means they didn't see me as a desirable target of predation.
I won't defend anyone because I know how the Beauty Bias works.
2) I talked to people before I went to my first con and got the list of people I should never be alone with. Ever.
I've made this list available to other people I've met, espeically younger authors, and I've made sure not to leave friends at the bar.
I've made this list available to other people I've met, espeically younger authors, and I've made sure not to leave friends at the bar.
This actually kinda sucks, because it puts all the work on the potential victims to be on their guard, not on the cons to protect their guests or on the predators who should know to keep their hands to themselves.
3) Predators shop for their victims using a heirarchy of who they think they control. They are looking for people they think won't have enough support to speak out, someone who is isolated in some way, and someone who fits their preferred victim profile in terms of age/body/ect.
I've never shown up at a con as a hopeful young author who just made their first sake. I already had established friends and a support network in place, and that kept me safe.
I had a lot of privileges that kept me off the radar of the people who were hunting for victims at the cons. The names I was given have all watched their behavior around me. They've all been unfailingly polite.
But that's not because they aren't bad people.
But that's not because they aren't bad people.
A predator doesn't develop a habit of hunting for victims at cons overnight. There's planned behavior and they know where the line is, and they will step over it reguarly to test the waters around potential friends and victims. They watch to see what you'll tolerate.
It's starts with a passing comment that seems slightly off-color.
Then maybe a little dismissal of what someone said.
If anyone brings up past complaints, "Yeah, I overstepped, but I was sorry and we talked it out. We're good now. Want another drink?"
Then maybe a little dismissal of what someone said.
If anyone brings up past complaints, "Yeah, I overstepped, but I was sorry and we talked it out. We're good now. Want another drink?"
There is a long line of yellow flags and questionable behavior before these people hurt anyone or cross any lines.
Enough that people who are running the cons - or friends who actually do care about this - have plenty of time to say something before there is a first victim.
Enough that people who are running the cons - or friends who actually do care about this - have plenty of time to say something before there is a first victim.
We shouldn't need victims to get on public platforms and relive terrible events before someone steps in.
Dark Horse Comics knew what was going on. They've known for years.
Con runners know what's happening. They've known for years.
Dark Horse Comics knew what was going on. They've known for years.
Con runners know what's happening. They've known for years.
We do not need to wait for more victims to come forward.
We need the people responsible for cons and publishing houses to clean house. Just throw all the trash out. All your racists, misogynists, and homophobes. All your grabby-handed, rude, frat boy wannabes. Throw 'em all out.
We need the people responsible for cons and publishing houses to clean house. Just throw all the trash out. All your racists, misogynists, and homophobes. All your grabby-handed, rude, frat boy wannabes. Throw 'em all out.
Your racist, grabby trash-human isn't a good artist, or novelist, or presenter.
There are better aritsts, and novelists, and editors out there who aren't trash-humans and won't drive away the next generation of talented people. Invest in the good ones.
There are better aritsts, and novelists, and editors out there who aren't trash-humans and won't drive away the next generation of talented people. Invest in the good ones.
If you don't know who your racist, grabby trash-human is in your vicinity take a quick look at how they treat people who are physically disable or not traditionally attractive.
The person making fun of a stutter or telling fat jokes is the trash-human 100% of the time.
The person making fun of a stutter or telling fat jokes is the trash-human 100% of the time.
Ableism and fat-shaming are very common place in our culture and still considered rude, but socially acceptable. Those are test runs to see if you are receptive to a little bit of racism and misogyny with a dash of homophobia for funsies.
Every. Single. Time.
Every. Single. Time.
... and there are typos in the thread.
That's how you know it's an Authentic, 100% hand-crafted Liana Brooks Rant Thread made just for you.
That's how you know it's an Authentic, 100% hand-crafted Liana Brooks Rant Thread made just for you.
