From: garym@mcgath.com   
      
   I've posted another analysis of a convention's code of conduct, this   
   time for the 2027 Montreal Worldcon.   
      
   https://garymcgath.com/montreal-worldcon-code-of-conduct/   
      
   Here's the text of my post:   
      
      
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   I've registered as an attending member for the 2027 Worldcon in   
   Montreal. Even though it's in another country, it's an easy day's drive   
   from my home. I hope that crossing the border won't be too dangerous to   
   consider by then, but today I'm here to talk about its code of conduct.   
   There have been better ones and worse ones. I have concerns, but they   
   weren't enough to scare me out of registering. Let's take a look, as I   
   have with other conventions.   
      
   You can be expelled based on "the sole judgement of a convention chair   
   or designated person." This puts a lot of power in one person's hands.   
   Don't get the con chair mad at you! However, most conventions are   
   unclear on who has this authority, so it's hard to say this is worse.   
      
   "Costumes, cosplays and clothing must provide the same level of body   
   coverage expected at an all-ages public beach." But in the next   
   paragraph, we're told that nipples must be covered "regardless of gender   
   presentation." It doesn't bother me that shirts are required, but the   
   inconsistency is interesting. Maybe they figured this is the safest way   
   to deal with trans edge cases? Anyway, wear a shirt. Most fans don't   
   look very good without one anyway.   
      
   "Masks shall not include balaclavas, ski masks, and other styles of   
   masks commonly associated with bank robberies." ICE shouldn't be in   
   Canada, but this is reassuring. :)   
      
   Now we come to the speech rules. Montreal's aren't as bad as some; they   
   don't say that anything that anyone takes offense at violates the rules.   
   Still, they could make people wary of what they're allowed to say, and   
   could in principle lead to unwarranted warnings or expulsions.   
      
   "Costumes and clothing may not include racist, sexist, homophobic,   
   transphobic, or otherwise prejudiced or bigoted messages or sentiments,   
   obscene or offensive language, or images including uncensored   
   profanities and pornographic content." This rule is vague and could   
   easily be abused. The boundary lines of unconventional opinions,   
   prejudiced messages, and humor are often vague. Profanities are often   
   part of ordinary language and can appear on shirts without causing   
   alarm. Don't wear your "Shit Happens" or "To Hell with [whatever]" shirt   
   to the con. Some people will consider a slogan supporting Israel   
   bigoted; others will think that one supporting Palestine is. The rule's   
   broadness could scare off legitimate expression or provide an excuse for   
   banning it.   
      
   "Speech or actions that show prejudicial discrimination, including those   
   relating to race, colour, culture, national origin, disabilities,   
   gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation,   
   religion, age, body size, choice to wear a mask, and appearance, shall   
   be considered harassment." How does the convention decide if a statement   
   shows "prejudicial discrimination"? Worse, any such statement is   
   automatically escalated to "harassment," even if it isn't directed or   
   persistent. This could lead to unwarranted charges. Suppose, for   
   example, someone says, "I can't take a religion seriously that claims   
   its priests can turn bread into Jesus." Someone might claim that shows   
   prejudicial discrimination against Christianity, and therefore is   
   harassment. Maybe the comment I made above about shirtless fans is too.   
   Getting kicked out of a convention for "harassment" is a serious black   
   mark on a fan or pro.   
      
   The best way to deal with people saying annoying things is to tell them   
   to leave you alone. Some conventions have a rule that if someone tells   
   you not to bother them, you have to stop bothering them. It can defuse a   
   lot of problems. Montreal doesn't have such a rule, though.   
      
   "Montreal 2027 Worldcon members must ask permission before taking   
   photographs of other members. If a person wishes for a photograph in   
   which they appear to be deleted, they may ask the photographer to do so   
   and the photographer must comply." Taken as stated, that means panelists   
   and speakers can't be photographed unless they give permission. They   
   can't just say "It's OK to take pictures"; each person who wants to take   
   a picture must ask individually. I don't expect that to be enforced,   
   though, unless a speaker is really averse to photography.   
      
   "All policies regarding photography also apply to all audio and visual   
   recording technologies." This means people have to ask permission of   
   each singer if they want to record a filk circle. The rule could be   
   improved by allowing events and individuals to grant general permission   
   where the people being recorded or photographed are comfortable with it.   
      
   "Dogs in training, emotional support animals and therapy animals are not   
   allowed in convention spaces." (Properly vetted service animals are.)   
   Someday I should look into the rise and fall of "emotional support   
   animals." It was obvious from the beginning that the idea was an excuse   
   to bring pets in where they otherwise wouldn't be allowed, and a lot of   
   places are now explicitly rejecting those claims.   
      
   There you have it. There are causes for concern in the area of   
   expression, but nothing that will keep me away. It might make me leave   
   some of my shirts at home, just to be safe.   
      
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   --   
   Gary McGath    http://www.mcgath.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)