Why Doesn't Worldcon 2006 Go Away? Part 1

For a convention I didn't go to, I certainly have a lot to say about it....

There's been some talk about an event at the con here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. If you don't know (or don't want to click on an assload of links) apparently Harlan Ellison groped Connie Willis during the Hugo Ceremony.

I won't bother to rehash all the things that people have said on the above posts. I wasn't there, so it's tough for me to give an opinion on the matter. However, like a lot of people, I feel compelled to weigh in. I'll try a different tack.

While it was grossly inappropriate for Harlan to do what he did, there's little use in censuring him, or 'putting him down' as I read somewhere (most likely that's tongue in cheek). He's not a young man and I doubt that our opinions, thoughts, bon mots, threats, etc. would matter to him. Harlan is happily an irascible ass. It's what he does.

But, to say that what he did is fine 'because that's Harlan being Harlan' is just as irresponsible as his actions to begin with. It doesn't matter who it was up there, it was a man taking advantage of a woman. What if it was David Hartwell and Connie Willis? Robert Charles Wilson and Connie Willis? Robert Sawyer and Connie Willis? Harlan and Kelly Link? Does the enormity of the situation change if there are different people up there? In my opinion, no.

For me, in situations like these, before I do something I think, "Would I do this to my mother up here?" and if the answer is no, then I don't do it. Perhaps my life is more vanilla than yours. Or your mom is more liberal than mine is, but I digress.

Science fiction already has problems with being perceived as a boy's-only club. To paraphrase someone else on this matter (I'm sorry for the lack of citation here, but there are SO many posts about this), if this is how we treat one of the most respected women in the field, what does the aspiring young lady think she has to look forward to?

In some ways, I feel that I shouldn't even offer an opinion on this matter. I'm a male. I'm a white male. Heck, to be blunt, I am a tall, white, American male. I am given advantages by merit of what I physically am that many other people do not get. I have no idea what it feels like to be discriminated against. I don't know what it feels like to be oppressed. Traditionally, tall, white, American men are the opressors. So why should my opinion be counted? Maybe because it's different from the other tall, white, American men? Maybe.

I've written before about the need for more women in science fiction and how important women are to science fiction. I don't think this episode with Harlan and Connie Willis will change the mind of aspiring female science fiction authors.

In fact, I hope that they can take inspiration from this and want to be a part of something to change the field. This month we've gone from a bomb to a fizzle.

We can do better than that. We need more (slush) bombs.

Tags: Science Fiction, Electric Velocipede, Worldcon, Harlan Ellison, Connie Willis