Hi, I've come in from the BCHolmes "history of the readercon thing" post. I left LJ some time ago (sorta for G+), but I wanted to say that if I wasn't an LJ Zombie I'd totally add you just for this very thought-provoking viewpoint, and your honest look at your own feelings and thoughts here.

Will people who do bad things always and forever do them, or is there some world in which they "get it"? Is it possible to both create safe spaces and communicate with those who treat people this way? Can people who didn't learn this when they were young learn it as adults?

I don't know. It just feels like putting up a high wall and booting people over the edge when they finally step over the line is a losing game, if you will, and panels like "How not to assault women in fandom" aren't exactly speaking to the people who need to hear it.

Sorry, as someone who often staffs for a midwest SF con, I've been thinking about this for years and years, I'm sure I'm all over the place in this comment.

Saying "We've locked the door and they aren't coming back, so this isn't a problem anymore" seems short-sighted and as unlikely to prevent it from happening again as making longer prison terms are at keeping people from committing crimes.