Yes, this is still AnimeIowa

[soc_puppet]

That RSD feel when people keep piling on you because you are vocal about not liking that the con you've been working for 14 years:

1) Has changed their mask policy from "mandatory" to "recommended"
2) Did not give the staff at large a chance to comment on this change
3) Made the change public and official without informing the staff at large via email, thus going against convention bylaws

Dear brain, can we work out a thing where you don't actually make me feel like shit for trying to defend the health and safety of the con-goers and trying to make sure that staff-at-large is included in big decisions that affect the entire con? Because I would really appreciate that!

(Hugs very welcome, as are cute and funny animal stories. Also people reassuring me that I'm doing the right thing, because I know I am, I know, but brain weasels are being very loud 😥 It probably wouldn't be so bad if I had at least one person to back me up in the staff Discord, but... Well, last I checked it was five against one, and my staunchest ally is on a camping trip and unavailable to help. I'm not sure I dare to look again just yet.)

Comments

[lightbird]

I'm sorry to hear this is happening. For what it's worth I think you are doing the right thing.

The entire country has sadly decided that it doesn't matter whether or not people make other people sick, and potentially kill them, even when we have methods for mitigating that risk that we know work, and has decided in particular that vulnerable people don't matter. It's extremely frustrating and enraging.

This is an old video, and these babies are probably about ten years old by now (and an update informs that they were adopted in pairs), but I always loved watching this video of a couple rescuing four kittens they found abandoned on their walk in the woods. They're so good with these cats. Warning: just in case, that that the beginning of the video has fast camera movements on the ground that may be dizzying for some people.

https://youtu.be/_qlbGwkCiDY

[soc_puppet]

Well, I took the right thing and ran with it... all the way away from staffing the convention. On the plus side, I now have no more reason to read the Discord channel and be horribly demoralized by the con execs and our health officer not caring about peoples' lives!

Kitties! Thank you, that was a good video ♥

[boxofdelights]

I am sorry you are getting piled on! ConCom made a bad decision and implemented it in a very bad way. Criticizing that decision is the right thing to do. If they wanted you to voice your concerns to ConCom only, they should have given you a chance to do that! They don't get to silence you.

[soc_puppet]

Yeah, but apparently they get to try and make me feel bad about speaking up in the first place.

Them: The convention health officer, a real life medical professional, made the decision that masks should be optional, and I trust them!
Me: Whether or not I trust our health officer, I do not trust three thousand strangers with my health, my life, and the health and lives of my family.
Me internally: At this point, I don't trust our convention health officer.

[satsuma]

I've heard a couple stories about conventions last minute changing their mask policy recently -- I'm pretty upset and I wasn't even planning to go to any of them!

[soc_puppet]

I'll give AnimeIowa a few points for making the change almost two months out, rather than the less-than-a-week of ACen, but the AI execs lost them all immediately from the "not telling all of staff that they were making this decision" part. Not that those points would've been enough to net them a passing grade in the first place, mind, it just would've been a slightly less abysmal "F" than it is now.

[satsuma]

Yeah not telling the staff in advance is a terrible move 😬

[soc_puppet]

Doubling down and claiming that it was their right not to tell the staff because the Health and Safety Policy had "subject to change" written on it and therefore staff should have been regularly checking the policy themselves is also pretty terrible. Not impressed.

[satsuma]

Yeeesh yeah thats just rude

[soc_puppet]

Right? If you're going to be making decisions about my health without involving me in the process, the least you can do is fucking tell me when you've changed something! Don't even the US' horrible for-profit insurance companies have to do that? Does this hypothetical person really want to be worse than that?

[fuzzyinthehead]

Woof. I'm so sorry you're dealing with that. No, you are not wrong for wanting to protect people. Mask wearing is such a simple mitigation; it's not right to get rid of it at all much less without a conversation first. Many hugs.

[soc_puppet]

Thank you ♥

[gwydion]

you are doing the right thing.

[soc_puppet]

Thanks ♥

[sasha_feather]

I'm so sorry, that is such bullshit. <3 <3

[soc_puppet]

It's so much bullshit I could probably use it to revitalize several acres of burnt-out rainforest.

Thanks ♥

[pikkugen]

I saw that you made the right decision and saved yourself from extra stress and other bullshit, and I'm still thinking you are right when it comes to masks. I live in a country where I actually do trust our health department to have our best interests at heart, so when they eased out with the mask mandate I was somewhat happy to oblige, but I still feel like I want to wear one in a crowded place nevertheless. (If I go to any cons this summer I just might wear a mask anyways. I don't like con cruds.) But you were right on this issue, you continue to be right when you left, and I can only hope they'll see the error of their ways when the sith hits the fan with the light saber. ;)

[soc_puppet]

Thank you ♥

Yeah, even once I start feeling safe not wearing masks at, like, the grocery store and stuff? I'll probably still wear a mask at conventions and other crowded events, because I now apparently have a Maximum People To Go Unmasked Around threshold. Thanks, Covid! (Not.)