Readercon $fail

[firecat]

The story as I understand it is:

Readercon has a zero tolerance sexual harrassment policy.

René Walling, a man who is a fandom celebrity, was found to have engaged in sexual harrassment at Readercon.

The Readercon board ignored their policy and decided to ban him for two years. They later clarified they meant at least two years.

(Roundup here.)

I only have this to say: It seems to me that if Mr. Walling sincerely regretted what he did, he would have accepted the Readercon policy as written rather than requesting or accepting an exception.
(This point is also made well here: http://sinboy.livejournal.com/1298005.html)

The only person who should have the power to say that an exception is OK is the woman who was harrassed. (On the other hand, it shouldn't be her responsibility to make that judgement.)

Comments

[flarenut]

oh, g*d, not the woman who was harrassed. (seems like a good idea at first glance and quickly turns into a crushing sense of obligation)

[eggcrack]

Requesting an exception?! Someone needs to go cry a river.

[firecat]

I don't know if he requested one, only that the board chose to make an exception.

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's interesting how clear the policy is on what zero tolerance means, but how unclear the reality of this supposed redemption was going to look like.