[identity profile] chainkill.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] arisia
disclaimer: I am not one of the organizers. Nothing in this post, nor in any of the threads contained herein is official, unless otherwise noted by someone who IS an oganizer. Everything I say here is merely a suggestion in order to reduce congestion in the elevators, and make the world a better place for people for whom the stairs are not a viable option.

Shortly after the end of the con last year, there was discussion of a "StairMaster Club" being organized by able-bodied individuals to allow those for whom the stairs are not an option to take the elevators with greater ease. StairMaster is a copyrighted word, so I will only be using the term "Stair Club".

The original announcement requested that people get in shape over the course of the year, so that for this upcoming Arisia, only those who are inconsiderate and those who are unable to take the stairs will be using the elevators. If you missed the previous announcement, there is still time! Get in shape now, so that everyone can enjoy the con as much as possible!



Once again, as we were reminded when this was originally posted, do NOT make discouraging remarks, comments, looks, or jokes to people who are taking the elevator, even if they appear to be able-bodied. First of all, the number of invisible things that can keep a person from taking a flight of stairs is astronomical, so do not assume. Secondly, the goal of this group is to make the con MORE fun for everyone, not less.

Date: 2007-11-26 07:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hatefulblizzard.livejournal.com
I agree. Frankly I was shocked at the layout of the con last year. Stuff on floors 1-4 and 12-14? I understand you may have had slim pickings from hotels that were willing to host the con in boston, but after attending the con at the Plaza for many years this was a little disappointing. The plaza had, what, 6 elevators and there were always delays. This hotel has only 3, and you have MUCH further to go between levels used by the con. Last year there should have been a note or something in the con guide that said "Don't bother trying to take the elevators". Now that we know this is going to be a problem ahead of time, people can plan accordingly. I'm coming back this year to see if it goes smoother this time, but if the average wait is again 20-30 min to take the elevator, than I recommend looking into finding a hotel that can accommodate the volume of people who attend this con.

Date: 2007-11-26 08:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thepinnacle.livejournal.com
The offense lies in the fact that you called it inconsiderate NOT to take the stairs.

That is a pretty offensive thing to say to people.

Date: 2007-11-26 08:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pierceheart.livejournal.com
As someone else said: even the most fit person gets tired

By your point of view (unable or disable, whichever version of your post you want to go by) those who have gotten to tired to use the stairs, aren't unable, merely inconsiderate for not having spent the time to get mountain climber endurance.

Date: 2007-11-26 08:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pierceheart.livejournal.com
would be confused and surprised if anyone else didn't

Because your original posting seems to be an attempt to shame people into getting into such great shape that they wouldn't BECOME unable due to over-exertion.

Date: 2007-11-26 08:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thepinnacle.livejournal.com
Not so. Everyone's needs are addressed (considered) by waiting your turn. Likewise, that same behavior addresses the scarcity of the resource. No one is saying that the differently abled have to go to the back of the line. They deserve no more, or less, consideration than any other person.

Date: 2007-11-27 02:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dda.livejournal.com
I am done with this conversation.

This entire conversation is a lesson and I, for one, fear you've missed it.

Date: 2007-11-27 08:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dda.livejournal.com
This is my opinion only, of course, but you started with a good idea (people training so as to more easily take the stairs) but due to your wording, got an unintended consequence. For a propagandist, the wording is everything and rather than change the wording, you pushed back and upset some of the people you wanted to inform/enlist. It is usually a bad idea to drag in morality and ethical judgments into things like this, even if they are the spur for the original idea.

I don't agree with your allegory nor do I think it applies to something like elevator use at a con. Good deeds and giving someone a helping hand should never be requirements but that was certainly the impression a number of us got.

I would suggest finding a way to motivate the people who disagree with your version of morality; one way might be to have signs pointing to the stairs and saying that taking the stairs might be faster than taking the elevator. Or say, "Don't have time to use the health club here? Use the free stair training program! -->" Neither of these imply anything about the ethics, morality or consideration level of the reader.

My two cents. Note that while I'm involved with the con this year, I am definitely not speaking for it here.

Date: 2007-11-27 04:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sethb.livejournal.com
You've apparently never worked in the admissions department of a good college. The first may be the "obvious choice" to you; a good admissions department looks harder.

Date: 2007-11-29 07:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sethb.livejournal.com
The experience of a good college is that someone with all the advantages and (say) 1400 SATs tends to do less well than someone with no advantages and 1300 SATs. Basing admission decisions of prior experience is the correct way.

Date: 2007-11-29 08:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sethb.livejournal.com
Nope. It's a convention. Why does it matter which of them was in the program room next to the elevators, and which of them wandered over from the far end of the floor?

And the college admission issue isn't what they overcame; it's how likely they are to succeed in college. I see no reason to believe that either of the people will do better or worse than the other in the Art Show (or wherever they're traveling to).

There are two people waiting for an elevator. It arrives with room to carry one of them. Which one? If the decision is based on something independent of the person (e.g. whoever arrived first), that's equal treatment. If it's based on the person (e.g. the shorter one goes first) that isn't equal treatment.

Date: 2007-11-26 09:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quietann.livejournal.com
Trust me, the Arisia folks know that this hotel is far from ideal. Hotel availability in/near Boston is a huge problem, however. For example, every hotel in Boston (as opposed to Cambridge where the current hotel is) is taken for 2010 because of the American Library Association convention. There may be options for 2009, and for after 2010, but this is an ongoing issue with no obvious good answer.

Date: 2007-11-27 02:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dda.livejournal.com
Last year we were assured that all four elevators would be online and ready to go; clearly that wasn't the case but by the time we knew about it, there was nothing we could do. In addition, we found the elevators were much more sensitive than the Park Plaza ones (see later posts in this community as to why); this frequently put at least one elevator out of order. :-(

As for looking into another hotel, that is also being actively done; I'm not part of that committee but I had no idea hotels were scheduled out as far as they are. If you have ideas or suggestions, I urge you to either send them to the con staff or (even better) volunteer to help with the search. :-)

Profile

arisia: (Default)
Arisia Convention

January 2017

S M T W T F S
123 4 567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 27th, 2025 11:47 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios