Dept. of Worldcon
Friday, 2 September 2022 01:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kaffy_r Chicon 8, Second Day
Just checking in, to say I'm enjoying myself a great deal, even though I've missed several panels I wanted to go to - there is an embarrassment of riches here, of course.
Yesterday I attended a panel on the history of fan funds, and one on the origin and evolution of conspiracy theories. The first allowed me to see and hear my good friend Geri, and the Trans Atlantic Fan Fund delegate, this year a lovely lady from Finland, Fia Karlsson. I've known about the fan funds, which are funds to which fans donate in order to bring a fan to Worldcon from elsewhere in the world. There are also funds to send fans to Australia if the con is there, or to bring an Aussie fan to wherever the Worldcon is - you get the picture.) The winner (fans stand for delegate and must win an election) then gets to spend quite some time in the country, meeting and visiting with fans. When they get home, they write a report (although some people have taken years to finish theirs; it's a fan thing.) Despite knowing all about the funds, it was fun to hear so many stories of previous winners' adventures.
The panel on conspiracy theories was fascinating, and gave me a lot to think about; the panel included experts in education, and academics who specialize in the study of conspiracy theories and how they are born and nurtured. Lyndon LaRouche was mentioned several times as launching numerous conspiracy theories; I got to talk about the time I had to interview the man, and offered a theory that there are a minority of conspiracy theories that depend on being pushed by someone with conspiratorial charisma, which LaRouche seemed to have. They seemed to think that was valid. So go me.
I also helped Geri, who is heavily involved in fanzine and old-style fandom and is helping to run some activities in that section of the con. Her health is a little sketchy right now, and I want to help her out. That she's also gifting me half of her room on the two days I want to stay overnight, makes that a way to say thank you as well.
She and I attended opening ceremonies, which kept e at the hotel a little later than I'd planned, but I'm happy I attended.
Today, I've gotten to only one panel thus far, on "Fanfic Skills Beyond Writing," which, as these things often go, ended up being an extended conversation between panel members. As one of them was the extremely theatrical and very listenable Seanan McGuire as well as a new to me author and fanfic writer Foz Meadows, it was enjoyable. I think the moderator got lost in the mix, because he seemed to want to stick to a set set of ideas, but in the end, I think he ended up enjoying things.
I'm going to take in the art show, and take another run around the dealers' room this afternoon, although I have no money to buy anything. I can dream, however.
It is wonderful to be Among My People in real time, at a major Gathering of the Tribes. It has been too long, and it will probably be a long time before something like this is ever possible for me.
Bob and the cats are surviving quite nicely without me, but I'm still feeling a little guilty.
Just checking in, to say I'm enjoying myself a great deal, even though I've missed several panels I wanted to go to - there is an embarrassment of riches here, of course.
Yesterday I attended a panel on the history of fan funds, and one on the origin and evolution of conspiracy theories. The first allowed me to see and hear my good friend Geri, and the Trans Atlantic Fan Fund delegate, this year a lovely lady from Finland, Fia Karlsson. I've known about the fan funds, which are funds to which fans donate in order to bring a fan to Worldcon from elsewhere in the world. There are also funds to send fans to Australia if the con is there, or to bring an Aussie fan to wherever the Worldcon is - you get the picture.) The winner (fans stand for delegate and must win an election) then gets to spend quite some time in the country, meeting and visiting with fans. When they get home, they write a report (although some people have taken years to finish theirs; it's a fan thing.) Despite knowing all about the funds, it was fun to hear so many stories of previous winners' adventures.
The panel on conspiracy theories was fascinating, and gave me a lot to think about; the panel included experts in education, and academics who specialize in the study of conspiracy theories and how they are born and nurtured. Lyndon LaRouche was mentioned several times as launching numerous conspiracy theories; I got to talk about the time I had to interview the man, and offered a theory that there are a minority of conspiracy theories that depend on being pushed by someone with conspiratorial charisma, which LaRouche seemed to have. They seemed to think that was valid. So go me.
I also helped Geri, who is heavily involved in fanzine and old-style fandom and is helping to run some activities in that section of the con. Her health is a little sketchy right now, and I want to help her out. That she's also gifting me half of her room on the two days I want to stay overnight, makes that a way to say thank you as well.
She and I attended opening ceremonies, which kept e at the hotel a little later than I'd planned, but I'm happy I attended.
Today, I've gotten to only one panel thus far, on "Fanfic Skills Beyond Writing," which, as these things often go, ended up being an extended conversation between panel members. As one of them was the extremely theatrical and very listenable Seanan McGuire as well as a new to me author and fanfic writer Foz Meadows, it was enjoyable. I think the moderator got lost in the mix, because he seemed to want to stick to a set set of ideas, but in the end, I think he ended up enjoying things.
I'm going to take in the art show, and take another run around the dealers' room this afternoon, although I have no money to buy anything. I can dream, however.
It is wonderful to be Among My People in real time, at a major Gathering of the Tribes. It has been too long, and it will probably be a long time before something like this is ever possible for me.
Bob and the cats are surviving quite nicely without me, but I'm still feeling a little guilty.
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Date: Friday, 2 September 2022 07:30 pm (UTC)AHHHH, that sounds grand.
Foz & Seanan dishing fanfic sounds like a gas.
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Date: Friday, 2 September 2022 10:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Friday, 2 September 2022 07:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Friday, 2 September 2022 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Friday, 2 September 2022 11:11 pm (UTC)K.
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Date: Friday, 2 September 2022 11:19 pm (UTC)Saw a couple of people I avoided, saw a couple of people I need to hunt down and have a coffee with, and saw so many of My People; a Gathering of the Tribes that I've missed more than I realized.
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Date: Saturday, 3 September 2022 01:31 am (UTC)K.
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Date: Saturday, 3 September 2022 03:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, 3 September 2022 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, 3 September 2022 03:50 pm (UTC)And that pic is wonderful!
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Date: Saturday, 3 September 2022 10:24 am (UTC)My problems with cons in general is that I'm always exhausted. I need to take three days off to sleep, do the con, and then take another 3 days off!
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Date: Saturday, 3 September 2022 03:54 pm (UTC)Have a few hugs!
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Date: Sunday, 4 September 2022 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Monday, 5 September 2022 10:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, 6 September 2022 02:19 am (UTC)I am so, so happy you are having such an awesome time, as you should be! Sending all the love and joy that you got to go and be with Your People. :D
*HUGS*
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Date: Wednesday, 7 September 2022 10:03 pm (UTC)*hugs right back*