Comments for Monica Valentinelli

Comment on Games by Monica Valentinelli

Monica Valentinelli — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 17:45:24 +0000

In reply to David Varela. Sure thing! Thanks for reaching out!

Comment on Games by David Varela

David Varela — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 15:54:04 +0000

Hi Monica,

For the past year or so, I’ve been tweeting a shout-out to a different games writer each day – specifically writers from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the industry. (Check my timeline for examples: https://twitter.com/writingstudio.)

Mind if I feature you in the next few weeks? 🙂

Thanks,

David

Comment on Tentative Plan for Con Safety Discussion and Call for Feedback by Lydy Nickerson

Lydy Nickerson — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 11:54:28 +0000

I would be interested in this conversation, if you do set up a Slack channel. I’ve headed up the Minicon Code of Conduct for three years, and been on the Mnstf Board, and helped write both our policy and procedures. I have some strong feelings about safety vs. consent (I strongly favor the latter.)

Also, I think what you did was very brave, and difficult. Thank you.

Comment on On Knowledge to Make Cons Safer by Monica Valentinelli

Monica Valentinelli — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 14:48:55 +0000

In reply to Lisa Hertel. Thank you for the link.

Comment on Tentative Plan for Con Safety Discussion and Call for Feedback by Monica Valentinelli

Monica Valentinelli — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 14:48:34 +0000

In reply to Dave Creek. The costs involved to produce, publish, and offer the book greatly depend upon how it comes together. To get a publisher, for example, free is a deterrent to accepting a proposal. Regardless, doing a book like this is a drain on resources, and the people involved should be able to recoup the costs of their work even if a significant amount of time is donated.

Comment on Tentative Plan for Con Safety Discussion and Call for Feedback by Dave Creek

Dave Creek — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 04:16:24 +0000

In order to get this volume out to the largest number of people possible, why not make it a perma-free ebook? That would keep costs down and mean it could also be updated fairly easily as individuals have more experiences to share, whether positive or negative ones.

This is a problem that’s not going away, unfortunately, but over time people would be able to share information on new dangers and new solutions.

Comment on On Knowledge to Make Cons Safer by Barry Wilson

Barry Wilson — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:42:22 +0000

A book on how to start and run a convention would be a huge boon. When we were starting our convention, we scoured Google for advice. ( We found *some* good information, but not enough.) Luckily, we were very, very focussed on creating a safe convention with a well thought out anti-harassment policy. ( We mined bits and pieces from many other convention’s policies. ) We approached many established fan run conventions for advice, and got far too much weird pushback for our efforts. ( Some established old school fan based conventions see newer endeavours as threats. ) We’ve tried very hard to advocate for change to more robust anti-harassment policies at some of these older conventions, I suspect that may be the source of some of the pushback. ( “Don’t be a dick” is insufficient as a policy. )

Comment on On Knowledge to Make Cons Safer by Lisa Hertel

Lisa Hertel — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 01:34:30 +0000

Mostly, the manual you’re talking about is the conrunner.net website.

Comment on On Knowledge to Make Cons Safer by Ryan Dancey

Ryan Dancey — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 23:32:02 +0000

All harassment policies must address two salient points or they will fail, and usually fail in a critical way:

1: What is a fair due process and how will due process rights be protected for all parties?

2: How will the event be bound to consider information related to incidents that occured elsewhere and elsewhen and outside of a formal legal framework?

My experience is that there is no answer to these two questions that satisifies everyone, and that merely stating the organization’s policy with regards to these questions is often a inciting event for controversy. Fear of that controversy and its fallout often means these policy questions remain informal which risks an even worse controversy and worse fallout when the moment arises where they must be answered in a real, not hypothetical context.

Comment on On Knowledge to Make Cons Safer by Peter Newbury

Peter Newbury — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 19:22:48 +0000

There’s definitely an overlap between cons and astronomy conferences, not only because of the science and science fiction they share but also because of a history of harassment (#astrosh). I believe the steps taken by The American Astronomical Society (AAS) are admirable, especially their development of harassment policies specific to conferences and making that policy visible at conferences. All AAS-sponsored conferences must also display and enact the policy. The Statement of Policy reads

“It is the policy of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) that all participants in Society activities will enjoy an environment free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. As a professional society, the AAS is committed to providing an atmosphere that encourages the free expression and exchange of scientific ideas. In pursuit of that ideal, the AAS is dedicated to the philosophy of equality of opportunity and treatment for all members, regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion or religious belief, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, veteran status, or any other reason not related to scientific merit. Harassment, sexual or otherwise, is a form of misconduct that undermines the integrity of Society meetings. Violators of this policy will be subject to discipline.”

The full policy, including reporting, investigating, and discipline, is online at

https://aas.org/policies/anti-harassment-policy

As you say, there will always be abusers and harassers. I think the AAS is making great strides forward.

Peter