Arisia needs an attitude adjustment.

[donnad.livejournal.com]

I am sure this will offend many people, and if it does I apologize, but I feel it has to be said.

I am disgusted and appalled at the rudeness and sense of entitlement I encountered from many of this year's staff members. And I am not the only person who noticed this.


An example...
I got up early on Sunday and went down to the staff den, I was there about 15 minutes before it was supposed to open, but the lovely staff den ladies let me in anyway. I told them I needed food so I could take some meds, but I could see they weren't quite ready yet and asked what I could do to help them get stuff put out. They gave me a couple things to do (and a danish so I could take my meds) and I went off to help. At 8:02AM a person walked in, I was just plugging in the kettle to heat water, sie wanted tea so I told hir it would be a few minutes while the water heated that I had just plugged it in. Hir response was very snobbishly "What do you mean the water is not hot yet?" I looked at hir and said well, you weren't here 10 minutes ago to plug it in. You want it faster, then feel free to come in early and help. These ladies were up just as late as the rest of us, they are doing their best." and I walked away.
Sure sie hadn't had hir morning caffiene yet, but that was no excuse to jump all over me because the kettle isn't hot. Sie had a coffee maker in hir room, there was nothing preventing hir from using it. This is just one instance I personally encountered in the den, I witnessed many more acts of rudeness directed at the ladies running the den and other staff members in the den, during my visits there. (I was not den staff, I was just helping out while waiting for the food to be ready.)

In general many staff members were surly, rude, and just basically snappish, many came across with the "I'm staff, I'm better than you" or the I'm staff therefore I'm entitled to [...] ahead of you" attitude.

In my opinion, If you want to be involved in Arisia, and deal with hundreds of fans and random people all weekend and can't keep a pleasant attitude, no matter how stressed you get, or how tired or overworked you are, perhaps you shouldn't be doing that job. It's like any job that involves dealing with the customer, you have to keep it all to yourself so as to not take it out on the unsuspecting and not offend. I was personally offended by many of the attitudes I encountered during the weekend by staff members I did not know and who didn't know me. There are places to let it all out, you shouldn't be snapping and rude to the attendees or they will stop coming and we cant have an Arisia without them.

I have a whole essay/rant about Arisia and it's changing dynamic as of late, How I feel it's strayed from it's original mission to be all inclusive and such, how it's more of a fannish lifestyle and polyamory based con now instead of Science Fiction and Fantasy based as originally intended, and how it really needs to be able to encompass all things equally*, but I will likely not subject people to it.

Personally with the next Arisia being the 20th, I would love to see the theme be "Back to Basics" or "Back to our Roots." But since I am just a lowly staff member, costumer and artist (who BTW has worked at every Arisia in some capacity to the point of never having to purchase a membership to Arisia yet) and really do not want any other responsibility right now, who am I to say what should happen?


*Of the panels offered pre-con, 47 "fannish lifestyle" panels this year and only 12 art, 12 filk, and 8 costume panels is not treating all things equally.

Comments

[donnad.livejournal.com]

There are people up in the ConCom who probably should think long and hard about whether they should continue on in their positions.

Agreed, but if nobody is willing to step up and assume that position...

However, there were people in the ConCom who are composed purely of Awesome,

Agreed!

I've heard just as many complaints from the kink/poly/lifestyle circles complaining that Arisia is becoming "old and stodgy" and "isn't nearly as positive and supportive as it was 10 years ago."

I find this complaint interesting because I see Arisia as having become just the opposite. Arisia is far more open to the alternative lifestyles than any other con I have ever been to. At conventions like Boskone, Philcon, Balticon, Lunacon etc. you don't find 47 panels on Fannish lifestyles, you find one or two. The other cons focus far more on the SF/F genre, there are more panels about films, specific books, science topics etc.

Like someone above said, Arisia is not so much about being a fan of the genre now, it's more about being a fan of being a fan.

[tonysalieri.livejournal.com]

Agreed, but if nobody is willing to step up and assume that position...

Recently, I've seen a situation where a SMOFy position of power was essentially thrust upon someone who had little desire for it, but took full responsibility all the same. Once again proving the truism that those most fit to lead are those who are least desirous of leadership positions.

I find this complaint interesting because I see Arisia as having become just the opposite. Arisia is far more open to the alternative lifestyles than any other con I have ever been to. At conventions like Boskone, Philcon, Balticon, Lunacon etc. you don't find 47 panels on Fannish lifestyles, you find one or two. The other cons focus far more on the SF/F genre, there are more panels about films, specific books, science topics etc.

Again, I think it all has to do with peoples perceptions. Ten years ago, I do think Arisia used to be a little "wilder" on the kink side of things, at the very least. There used to be out and out private "play parties", the kind of private parties that were big, and you could usually find them if you looked. Those are totally gone now, at least as far as mine eyes can see. In the last few years, the vibe seemed to be be getting a bit more restrained. Perhaps the fact that there now appear to be more "fannish/lifestyle" panels represents a shift in the pendulum swinging.

One thing that I will say is that what has DEFINITELY changed is the hands on stuff. In 1997, I went to no less than three panels that taught me, hands on, how to do things like leatherwork, chainmail, and ropework. Maybe I'm not looking anymore, but I haven't seen anything like it in the last 6 or 8 years. I know I've made mention of this in the past. I know there are the kids kamakazi costume panels, but it's just not quite the same thing.

One argument that could be made is that perhaps Arisia is now more focused on "lifestyles" than the other "Big Cons" because...all of the other big cons AREN'T as focused, so the balance has to be redistributed somewhere.

Again, I agree with you, I find it weird that Arisia seems to have both a "too out there" and "not out there enough" reputation. It all depends on who you talk to.

[thepinnacle.livejournal.com]

The people who trhrew those parties now go to the Fetish Flea Market.

They definitely took some of Arisia's "edge" with them.

[tonysalieri.livejournal.com]

The people who trhrew those parties now go to the Fetish Flea Market.

True, but I don't think it's just because Flea came into existence only in the last 10 years. It was around longer than that. I think. I could be wrong.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

The Flea does not conflict. (Not this year anyway)

Those folks are still there in force, and they have their parties at another hotel, because ti works for them.

[dda.livejournal.com]

...they have their parties at another hotel, because ti works for them.

One thing to keep in mind is that Arisia staff and guests completely fill the Hyatt; in fact we have an overflow hotel. This means that if a group wanted to have a large party, there would be no place to put it. In addition, the Hyatt's atrium layout means that even an entire floor couldn't be devoted to such a party because it would be visible to everyone else in the hotel; the only floor not visible is Charles View Ballroom and that is (currently) the only place into which the Art Show will fit.

Disclaimer: I wasn't involved in either Hotel or Parties this year so I could be way off base; this is based on my observations of the hotel itself.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

Understood completely.

From my understanding, they made the move before last year for many of those reasons.

I am not directly involved.

[cutieperson]

last year was the first year they were separate.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

That was what I was trying to say. ;)

Between the last Park Plaza and the first Hyatt.