Worldcon Programme

[major_clanger]

I'd like to echo fjm - if you're planning on coming to Worldcon, and would be interested in being on the programme, now is really the time to let us know by filling in the programme questionnaire if you haven't done so already.

https://vault2.secured-url.com/secure05/progqn.htm

For my part, I'm particularly interested in finding people who are willing to be even mildly reactionary or luddite on matters like privacy, internet politics or copyright. I've got no shortage of potential programme participants who are very progressive in such areas, but only having voices from one side of the argument rather limits my scope for arranging vigorous discussion of the issues involved.

MC

Comments

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

Done - though I'm still not a member...

[autopope.livejournal.com]

Prod Steve Stirling, aka joatsimeon (at) aol.com, and ask if he's coming. He may well be happy to play devil's advocate over copyright given the stance he's taken on usenet (although I should note that in person he's rather different from his on-line persona). Tell him I sent you.

[green-amber.livejournal.com]

Warren Ellis has been rather anti Creative Commons etc on his blog..? So has Langford come to that. Authors Against Downloading And The Public Domain: I wouldn't mind seeing that one (with buns).

[green-amber.livejournal.com]

I did it. I can be luddite about privacy if you like in the sense that I think the assumption the public give a fuck about privacy is wildly wrong..

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

The more conversations I have about ID cards, the more I agree that the general public have no idea what privacy is all about.

And they won't know what they've got 'till its gone...

[fjm.livejournal.com]

I realised a while ago that ID cards were my thin red line. I won't carry one Their sole purpose is to create a zone of illegailty in which people can be harrassed. But I'm lucky because I'm a member of a religion that will pull out its legal big wigs to support me.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Have you asked Jane Yolen about copyright? She was being very protective of it on Electrolite a little while ago.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

I just filled out the form. I found the section "What is interesting or remarkable about yourself" absolutely terrifying.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Having read through a good couple of hundred responses, I've seen answers to this that:

- were very short and dull.
- were very short, but amusing.
- were long and verbose, and made it clear that the respondent was indeed interesting and remarkable.
- were long and verbose, and made it clear that the respondent was very dull indeed.

This question, with others, it a hopefully tactful way to elicit from respondents some insight into whether or not they'll be good on the sort of items they put themselves forward for; equally, it gives us an idea as to whether they might well be good in an area they haven't mentioned. Some people happily offer to do all manner of items, but it becomes evident from their response to this sort of question that they've not really got any particular background in such areas. Others say that they'd like to be on programme, but can't imagine that they'd be good for much, then post a resume that makes it clear we could put them on six items every day if we wanted.

MC