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

[tonysalieri.livejournal.com]

Sure, I guess this is impolitic, but what it mostly comes across as is completely unhelpful. You're expecting people who you've already decided are incompetent and/or irresponsible to be competent enough to pick up that you're talking about *them*, and subsequently responsible enough to step down of their own free will. This seems unlikely at best.

I'm going to sound like a douche for saying this to you, I'm sure, but it's the truth: There is more to this particular situation behind the scenes than you are personally aware of. Trust me, the message is clear, and I believe that the person (or persons) it was intended for got the message loud and clear. I would not have made that particular statement in that particular fashion, were I not sure it would be more than mere grandstanding for it's own sake.

But other than that, normally yes, I would agree with you completely. :)

Last, but best of all - if you have a better way, please, join the ConCom, or the Corporation, and show it to us. I am in favor of a more awesome Arisia, and I am not the only one. Come help us.

Simply, I do not have the time, and I am not confident I would be able to give the task it's proper attention. To ignore the mindfulness of my own abilities, or lack of free time to devote to the cause properly, and simply join for it's own sake would be highly irresponsible and do just as much of a disservice to the Con and it's membership.

I do hope that you're not trying to simply dismiss peoples valid criticisms with a straightforward "Put up or shut up." Not everyone has the time or the desire to be in ConCom, but their opinions should not be discounted because of that fact. If that was not your intention, then you have my apologies.

[londo.livejournal.com]

This is all fair stuff, I guess. But I'll add this - I've been floating around the ConCom and Corporation for about five years now, albeit at low levels, and I don't have any idea who, or what, you're talking about. (See your earlier comment about me not being aware of everything going on, which I believe to be true.) But you seem to be confident that your message got across, so, hey, mission accomplished?

[tonysalieri.livejournal.com]

I believe I've given the issue as much public explanation as is appropriate. It wasn't something I was wanting to become "a thing" as it were.

If you would care to continue to discuss it in more detail privately, I would be very happy to do so. Please feel free to contact me at minjocat (at) gmail (dot) com, and I will be more forthcoming with details, if you so wish.