1st Comic-Con of the MeToo era grapples with harassment

https://apnews.com/ ^ | 7/16/18 | LINDSEY BAHR

[BBell]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Comic-Con, the annual gathering of over 130,000 fans, artists, collectors and geek culture savants, has already been changed by the #MeToo and Time’s Up era, with at least one notable figure stepping aside due to sexual misconduct allegations. But questions remain about its atmosphere and whether convention organizers will take any extra steps to address longstanding allegations of harassment issues during the event which kicks off Wednesday night in San Diego.

The convention has always been a home for comic book and genre enthusiasts, and a refuge for like-minded fans to mingle, but it’s also been a place rife with harassment of women and others, whether it’s cosplayers (people who dress up in costumes), general attendees or even those hawking merchandise (sometimes called “booth babes”).

“I don’t think any convention has historically been a safe or inviting space for women,” says Cher Martinetti, the managing editor of SYFY Wire’s Fangrrls site.

Sexual harassment at fan conventions is a subject that is often raised, but the scrutiny will be even more intense this year with the heightened awareness about misconduct.

Just weeks ago, Nerdist founder Chris Hardwick, a mainstay at Comic-Con and moderator of numerous panels, stepped aside from moderating AMC and BBC America panels amid allegations from an ex-girlfriend , which Hardwick has denied. And since last fall a handful of familiar Comic-Con faces, have been accused of misconduct as well, like Ain’t It Cool News founder Harry Knowles and “Honest Trailers” creator Andy Signore.

Comic-Con has a code of conduct that representatives say was, “Intentionally created to serve as a comprehensive measure that makes attendee safety a priority.

[BBell]

My daughter use to attend these things and others that were created to con folks out of their money. She use to go to them before they were "cool".

She stopped going to them. Too many posers, freaks, perverts, über über über geeks (the kinds that should be institutionalized) and kids (with mom and dad) started taking over.

She made a Poison Ivy outfit once and we made her make a cape for it before she was allowed to leave the house. Always lots of folks taking pictures and yes there are comic-con groupies. I think there are groupies for everything.

[BBell]

If Ted Bundy were still around I’m sure he would frequent comic-cons and the other con-jobs.

[colorado tanker]

Have they banned Princess Leia bikinis yet? Can’t be far away.

[Political Junkie Too]

And The Fifth Element costumes, too.

-PJ

[freedumb2003]

Have they banned Princess Leia bikinis yet? Can’t be far away.

That is NOT how the #MeToo game is played.

The idea is to be as tantalizing to the opposite sex as possible up to and including suggestive gestures, words and even touching.

Then, the foolish male falls into the TRAP by responding.

Then #MeToo STRIKES! Like Thunderball!!!!

The REAL issue is the trannie guys built like mikey moore who insist on wearing Leia bikinis.

It doesn't matter. Liberals will take this away just as they have SW and comic book movies.

[jyo19]

I’m going Thursday and if they got rid of the sexy cosplay girls it will be my last SDCC.

[freedumb2003]

And The Fifth Element costumes, too.

I keep one of those in my garage:

[Pollster1]

I did a search on comic con women's costumes, and I'm shocked, shocked I say, that something a social justice warrior would interpret as harassment would occur:

[BBell]

I have no idea which ones you could be talking about.

[colorado tanker]

Thanks for the . . . education!

[BBell]

Which category do you fall in. Posers, freaks, perverts, über über über geeks (the kinds that should be institutionalized) and kids (with mom and dad)?

[Snickering Hound]

[BBell]

LOL!!!

[antidisestablishment]

Now, that there’s funny, no matter which side you’re on!

[mewzilla]

😂

[Rastus]

And yet today I was watching a video of a fat Muslim cosplayer who grabs women’s chest and grabs men’s asses (that one was to get him to move out of her way) and the response from the gatekeepers is, “Oh, you! Aren’t you naughty and fun!” For her part, she blames it on her ADHD.

[Yaelle]

This heading is triggering me. How can you say “grapples” with harrassment? Might as well say “gropes for harrassment” or “exposes more harrassment”.

[FreedomPoster]

Everything the SJWs touch, they ruin. So unless the Comic-Con people wake up and push back, it will be ruined.

I do not expect push back.

[Moonmad27]

I had a ticket for Comic Con this week, had reserved a hard-to-get hotel room, but not yet a plane ticket - then realized that the hotel alone would cost me almost as much as ten days in London. So London here I go (again). I’ve been to SDCC a few times when I lived near LA. The parking, the crowds (130,000 people in a five block long building), the massive lines and miles of walking up and down those exhibit hall aisles — no thanks.

[BBell]

“grapples” “harassment”? BDSM written all over it.