WorldCon Banning May Be Tied To Its Pedo Problem

Jon del Arroz decided that he wanted to attend WorldCon. He looks up the site of the convention, looks up the membership price, and carves out space in the monthly budget to pay that fee. Being a working science fiction author, he figures it's a good idea to spread the word about his attending this convention. For most of his peers, this is as controversial as saying "I like trains."

Not for Jon. Jon doesn't conform to the WorldCon Consensus.

But this ought not be more than some spicy banter at the bar over drinks, right? Maybe some ribbing while on a panel, good-natured, but ultimately harmless fun for all. After all, science fiction is a literature of ideas and therefore difference of perspective is just the thing needed to forge superior stories of timeless talent. Clearly, obviously, the WorldCon Consensus could take having an author of a different perspective coming out for fun over a mutual interest, right?

NO. IT'S A SHITSHOW. OBVIOUSLY.

• Conservative Hispanic Writer Jon Del Arroz Banned from Worldcon Sci-Fi Convention
• Jon Del Arroz BANNED from WorldCon
• Conservative Hispanic writer banned

And that's just the beginning. More will follow.

But I wonder if this is not purely political. Jon mentioned recording any suspect interactions, and I think the Supreme Dark Lord has a good point here:

Considering the known and suspected sex criminals who are still permitted to openly attend Worldcon, it's almost astonishing that the organizers would dare to call attention to their attendance policies in this regard. Almost, but not quite. What I find more astonishing is the idea that Jon Del Arroz, or any sane, functional human being, wants to spend any time at all in the depraved Star Wars cantina of science fiction fandom.

You want more on that pedo problem? Start with Safe Space As Rape Room and the book-length follow-up The Last Closet: The Dark Side of Avalon. You will never look on science fiction conventions--fan conventions in general--the same way again, especially if you know anyone that associates with this crowd--the one that dominates the Hugo Awards and "mainstream" SF/F--and will not disavow it.

The disgust cannot be ignored anymore. Nor should have ever been so.