The whole groping thing is just messed up. I have nothing to add that isn't covered in Steph's itemization.

(3) Okay, fine. People who know each other asking for/offering up a grope, whatever. I have no room to complain, as I am -- if you will all kindly remember -- one of the founders of Too Much Candy, which is also an opt-in situation. And Too Much Candy is all yay!fun (I hope) among friends (I hope). But to go so far as to make it all official and shit, with buttons and whatnot? That's just (a) lame and (b) unacceptably intrusive upon the people at the con who don't even want to know it's going on, much less that they can codify their assent/dissent via a color-coded button.

It was pointed out in an lj thread that the con where this originated is a pretty small, tightly knit group. To me (aside from the the "save the world by treating women like objects who exist to heal your wounds") it's the institutionalization element that skeeves me, that they have this vision that they'll spread this to every con, every event...and suddenly, if I were thinking of going to DragonCon, I'd be seriously re-thinking at this point. Or any other con these jackholes were likely to show up at. Because the whole thing is just so abhorrent that any sighting would pretty much sour me on the whole thing.

And how easily one more hostile environment is born.

And Too Much Candy is all yay!fun (I hope) among friends (I hope).

I think friends is the operative word there. I'm much more comfortable with hugs and other displays of affection among friends than I am with random people at public events who allegedly share some of my interests in entertainment. Also, I can't recall anyone ever being whinged at or insulted if they didn't want to participate in Too Much Candy.

Too Much Candy is so fully consentual and easily modified.

Dammit.

And utterly not sexist.

I got it when I tried again.

Somebody's boobs aren't up to par.

I tried not to read too many comments, because I only have so much blood pressure go around, and I got too close to a migraine with the Quantum Leap stupidity yesterday, but I did see mention of just that--boobs being up to par. Women saying "Are mine good enough to be groped?"

Oh, what a world of psychological disorder.

Unrelated question: I want to take my laptop out of town. I have no containers specifically designed for that purpose. Is it OK if I just carry it in a bag it mostly fits inside? I understand that putting it in packed luggage is No Good.

Is it OK if I just carry it in a bag it mostly fits inside?

It's going to be on your person the whole time, right? Just don't smack it into anything or expose it to undue stresses.

Also, I can't recall anyone ever being whinged at or insulted if they didn't want to participate in Too Much Candy.

Bingo. That's one of the Big Important Differences, in my mind.

So, it turns out that the guy who posted about all of this has apologized. Not because he now realizes that this is a Bad Idea, but because he's a sensitive feminist, and doesn't want to make people uncomfortable. Even tho' he never meant to make people uncomfortable, and that he still thinks it's a good idea, and that participating it the gropery was completely optional. Oh, and he's not going to attend any cons for a year, so that people don't feel threatened or triggered by his presence. I give him a score of 6 out of 10 for the Great Flounce Off.

That's fine, Jesse, I do it all the time.

It's going to be on your person the whole time, right?

Yes. OK, then. I really would have sworn there was a travel gear store in Grand Central, but no. Go team poor planning!

That's fine, Jesse, I do it all the time.

Right on, thanks.