Harlan Ellison and his little personal space problem

[leahbobet]

(ETA: Followup post here.)


So, when I got in this afternoon I was shocked to discover that Harlan Ellison groped Connie Willis during the Hugo presentations on Saturday. On the same page in my friendslist, up comes Rachel Manija Brown's own account of her Harlan encounter this weekend.

And y'know, I'm tired of this inappropriate bullshit. Really, really tired. So this can only be resolved in one fashion:

Fatwa.

We will now address common objections to the Fatwa in our Fatwa on Asshats Questions section (FAQ):

But Leah, Connie Willis is reported to have said she can handle him and he's done worse? Why are we involved?

Because I sincerely doubt otherwise honest persons wake up one morning and say you know what? I would like to grope Connie Willis and then one other woman I don't know and then I will retire from my asshat ways and take up meditation in the mountains. Because there are already a few people I know who are referred to as "thinking they're Harlan Ellison" and you know what? If he gets away with it, they feel they can too. They think it's cute to be an asshat. I don't think it's cute to be an asshat.

Because things that are just plain wrong deserve to get called on the carpet.

commodorified adds: "Because the fact that Connie Willis chose not to make a loud public scene in the middle of a Hugo ceremony and had the presence of mind to pass it off quietly does not mean she wasn't gravely insulted, and she doesn't deserve to be repaid for that with indifference?"

But Leah, why must we go to war? Why not just a little skirmish?

Fandom prides itself on conventions being "safe space" for all comers: it doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, poly, black, Asian, Middle Eastern, white, Wiccan, Pagan, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, hard of hearing, vision-impaired, mobility-impaired, a goth or dressed as an anime character or any of these things.

But apparently it matters if you have tits.

That is bullshit.

But Leah, it is not worth declaring Fatwa on Harlan Ellison. He is old and will die soon.

Old men will be old men is just another variation on boys will be boys, and they damn well will be boys until you tell them it's not appropriate. If the behaviour makes you uncomfortable, annoyed, angry, outraged -- if you think about it being applied to you and you are any of the above, it is worthwhile to state that it is inappropriate, illegal, and should not be swept under the rug.

But Leah, Harlan Ellison is just one man!

Yup. And the guy who, when I was twenty, told me at a convention that I could have a beer when my top came off was just one man. And the individual who groped divalea at Comicon was just one, too. And the guy who was making creepy leers at katallen in Boston two years back was just one too.

Y'know, eventually this shit adds up to a lot. Eventually it adds up to a systemic issue.


ETA:Okay, apparently you can't close polls anymore, and I don't want to make this entry private, so...

So:

[Poll #808886]

Vote early, vote often.

...and forward yourself to the tricky bit of the program.


ETA: Link roundup thus far. Gwenda Bond -- Catherine Morrison (and her part two) -- Gavin Grant -- Graham Sleight -- Edward Champion -- Alan DeNiro -- Elizabeth Bear -- Jim C. Hines -- Steve Nagy -- Lea Hernandez -- Meredith L. Patterson -- Kate (juliansinger) -- Lis Riba part one part two part three --

Comments

Possible addition to FAQ

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

...Because the fact that Connie Willis chose not to make a loud public scene in the middle of a Hugo ceremony and had the presence of mind to pass it off quietly does not mean she wasn't gravely insulted, and she doesn't deserve to be repaid for that with indifference?

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

I'm--not entirely sure how comfortable I'd really be with a Grand Master revocation, if only because--the award is for a body of work, yes? And while it's not like I've never been turned off a writer's work because he personally was a twit...I'm just not sure I like that precedent.

Of course, I may be misunderstanding what's meant by "a lifetime's achievement in science fiction and/or fantasy." But...conflation of the writer and the work, y'know? Not entirely down with that.

That said, I don't think an official condemnation would be at all out of line--including phrasing like, "conduct unbecoming a Grand Master." So.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

The only reason I did not vote for the SFWA-related option is that I have deliberately chosen not to join SFWA for any of the years since I became eligible, and therefore I have no business telling them how to run their show. I would, however, pat them on the back and say, "Well done, SFWA!" if they did. And possibly reconsider joining.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

Yes. I have not joined SFWA because I am a student, and do not have the money to pay for more slapfights every year.

If they did something that stood up for their constituency, like now, I would consider giving them my money despite the budget.

Re: Possible addition to FAQ

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

That is a good addition. It will be added.

[secritcrush.livejournal.com]

Except you know, there is the alleged member code of conduct (toothless as it is.) Do you really deserve laurels if you violate such a thing?

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Is there? I didn't know. Sing a few bars?

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

Yes, you are indeed right. It was brought up over at secritcrush's place, and the rationale as I understood it is that it's for a person's contribution to SF in general, and if your contribution to SF includes you harassing everyone in sight, that should be weighed too.

I think that's the territory where conflation of the writer and the work gets tricky -- if there's a contribution to the community aspect considered. I'd have to look more into how Grandmaster awards work.

[malamyn.livejournal.com]

We will now address common objections

Because it's f****ing illegal (http://www.rainn.org/types-of-assault/sexual-assault.html).

[amberdine.livejournal.com]

I voted taser. Really, it's for the protection of the poor dumb asshats. 'Cause the taser is way more gentle than the large angry husband will be...

[divalea.livejournal.com]

You. Rock. Hearts.

I am contacting the San Diego police this week to file charges.
The person who groped me didn't show up at CCI this year, apparently.

[retrobabble.livejournal.com]

Eh, no worries, Leah. Go get nominated for a Hugo and then when you go up onstage, take Harlan out with a good crouch-elbow-back stunt and call it quits.

So easy... :)

[kriz1818.livejournal.com]

Er, I clicked all of them, but I didn't actually have an "other" in mind, sorry!

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

It's amazing how that gets...overlooked. Like this is a socially awkward act, not something that's disallowed under the law.

[maradydd.livejournal.com]

I have this rule whereby if someone makes physical contact with me and I did not invite it, I reserve the right to punch them in the face.

I mean, yes, people brush past each other in hallways or crowded rooms, or get tangled up in hot tubs, or stumble and flail for support and the nearest thing happens to be another person's arm, or whatever. I'm not going to deck somebody for something that's clearly an accident. But I've run into enough mouthbreathers who think that my tattoos and sleeveless shirts constitute an invitation for them to get all touchy-feely, and I am sick of it. Uninvited touch is legally defined as assault, and perhaps a couple of dislodged teeth or a broken cheekbone will suffice to remind people of this.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

Heee.

I am, in fact, polishing up both my fiction and my ninjitsu as we speak.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

Thankyew. :)

And I'm glad you are. The degree of stress these acts cause people should not go unanswered.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

The Fatwa Administrators note that ballots cannot be spoiled here in the Fatwa. *g*

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

That is a good rule.

What I'm hoping for is that we can stop saying we have an environment where that rule isn't needed, and actually have it for once.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

I'd rather not have to keep any large angry husbands to piss territorial circles around me when I'm making professional appearances, is the thing. We shouldn't have to, although they are nice to have.

Would a large angry wife and/or police individual do? *g*

[jodi-davis.livejournal.com]

None of the punishments should invade his personal space - or else - the pervs win.

[amberdine.livejournal.com]

I agree! The taser is much, much simpler all around. The LAH conflicts are always a bother anyhow.

I keep thinking of that SciFi channel interstitial. A pretty woman in a suit is standing around minding her own business. A kind of creepy looking guy slowly edges closer. All of a sudden, *zing!* -- the woman sprouts dozens of meter long metal spikes in every direction.

Creepy guy goes back to his own corner.

Kidding aside, though, something has to be done. This is ridiculous. I have spent many conventions avoiding weirdo stalker dudes. I guess I got off lucky, no one tried to touch me! Gah.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

*snarl* Shit like this really pisses me off. And it really sucks that we can't retaliate in kind. 'Cause guys just shrug it off. *grumble*

I voted for everything, and if that doesn't work, then the last option is to put him (and all offenders in kind) in zoo exhibits, where little girls and their mothers will be able to go and point and laugh and mock and ridicule. Unfortunately, I can't even pretend that the exhibits would ever not be necessary for lack of such asshattery.

[maradydd.livejournal.com]

Why do you say that?

[maradydd.livejournal.com]

I have yet to meet the guy who "shrugs off" being punched in the trachea, or knocked ass over teakettle with the driver's side door of a car traveling at 5MPH (which was how I once got someone to stop following me after I told them to leave me alone).