Question To The Intarwebs

[joreth]

OK convention-goers, geeks, costumers, kinksters, etc. If you could make up rules for other people at a convention or a conference to follow, what would they be? Mandatory showers for gamers? No touching the hot chicks in skimpy costumes without permission? No stopping for pictures in the middle of walkways? No hogging the Q&A mic at the end of a panel?  No hitting on the feminists who just spent all day lecturing about not wanting to be hit on?

Tell me, what do you wish other people would know about polite behaviour at conventions?  If you are new to conventions, what kinds of things do you wish people would tell you so that you know how to behave?

Also, convention workers (tech, volunteers, security, hotel staff, etc.) what do YOU wish con-goers would know or do at a convention or conference?

Comments

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

I am guessing you want answers which don't have to be practical?

[joreth]

Well, I'm not sure what the point of wishing someone would behave a certain way if that way isn't practical, but you're still welcome to suggest. I'm interested in hearing what people wish others would know about attending a convention, so if you have something you wish people would know, that counts.

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

These people are volunteers. No one (at my sort of conventions) is making any money from doing this. If you think that something isn't being done well then think about the fact that they aren't getting paid to entertain you. And then if you still think something isn't being done well enough why don't you volunteer to help.
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No touching without permission. if you don't know that you have permission then you probably don't have it.
No complaining when someone points out that you are invading their personal space and don't like to be touched by you.
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Right, a convention may not work very well because of a lack of volunteers. Why not be thankful that they had an event at all with the resources at hand rather than being rude about it for years to come.
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I'd have some rules for non convention attendees who happen to be in the hotel, and I have rules for hotel staff, but I guess those are some of the less than practical ones.
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One of the geek social fallacies is that all of my friends must be friends with each other. Be aware of the fact that some of your friends are insensitive dicks who really shouldn't be allowed out in public. Just because they are your friend doesn't mean that they should be allowed to fuck up other people's weekend.
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Convention runners have a real life. Sometimes they can't see the workload through from bid to closing ceremony. If they quit then thank them for being honest and knowing their limitations.

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Convention runners have a real life. Sometimes they can't cope with the workload but do it anyway. If you are a friend then you might talk to them about taking on more than they are comfortable with.
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[alexmc.livejournal.com]

Grammar! Why have you foresaken me?

[lqc.livejournal.com]

Well this is kinda specific to recent visit to Gallifrey One, but alludes to the walkway issue.

There should be a one Dalek (or similar mech based lifeform) per hallway limit, traffic jams are for freeways not hallways.

Also there is no such thing as too many directions. Signs pointing to registration and other major points of interest should begin at least 500 feet from ALL entrances, not just the most likely one.

[terriaminute.livejournal.com]

I liked all your suggestions. :) Here are some more, from 30 years of Necronomicon, and many Worldcons.

Always be polite.

I wish people would READ. And then, COMPREHEND. BEFORE asking questions. (This is, of course, impossible for some.)

Touching, body or costume, without permission, is a big no-no. Always ask permission, always accept the answer at face value.

Pay attention to your surroundings, and if you have a big costume, have handlers who can do that for you. Part of being polite is not knocking people over.

The more people there are, the more important it is to be polite, and patient.

See a need, fill a need. (yay "Robots") Necronomicon cherishes its volunteers!

If you are told that you're acting like an ass, and you continue, expect to have the hotel kick you out. They want you on their property even less than we do.

Have fun. Enjoy new people. Do the stuff the con offers, or sit and talk, or dance, or whatever. Have fun, make new friends. Remember to eat. Remember to sleep. :)

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

Oh I remember what I wanted to say about this....

*EVERY* attendee at a convention should read

http://www.plausiblydeniable.com/opinion/gsf.html
Five Geek Social Fallacies


That would be my rule number one.