WorldCon76, impressions.

[roseembolism]

So it's been over a week since WorldCon76 ended, which in internet terms is about a century. A week where I had to deal with catching up with work and post-con depression. WorldCon76 is but a distant memory to the generations that have grown up in the last eight days, and yet here I go. Also, next post will have pictures.

 

When my partner afterward asked me what one quote I thought was most memorable, at the time I couldn't think of any, and I got upset. That's the way my brain disability and speech processing deficit works- I remember concepts and impressions, but things people say? That more and more is becoming lost to me. In retrospect, I remember best N. K. Jemisin's powerful speech. That remains clear, even as the quotes I loved from Ursula Vernon and others failed to embed in my memory.

 

But I have impressions:

 

The Last WorldCon I went to was ConFrancisco 1993. I was very conscious through the convention that this will probably be my last WorldCon, due to my age. I think that contributed to my anxiety. Also to my regret that due to life complications I couldn't be more involved  

 

Oh my, the place was white. Whiter even than the local game conventions. Being back at campus with it's diversity of people from all over the world, was a disorienting contrast. And also frankly, a huge relief.

 

The convention was less male-dominated that I thought it might be, though there I was also comparing it to the highly gender imbalanced game conventions I know. Even BigBadCon, with its commitment to inclusion, is male dominated. So that was good.

 

The crowd was also about as old as I expected on the average, however I was gratified to see more younger people, in their 30s and younger, than I thought there would be. And gaming was younger still  This is one reason that I think outreach to related fandoms, like gaming and anime, is important. 

 

I worked at gaming, and I really appreciated the size and central location of gaming. I was also surprised at how popular it was- we had guests ranging from people who wanted short-two-person games, to a person who was here with their partner, and was relieved they could do something throughout the con. I now strongly think having a large board and tabletop selection at conventions is a good idea.

 

The assisted facilities at the convention I had no problem with I had trouble walking, but the hallways were broad, and the reserved elevators very appreciated. It was still a problem for me to get from gaming to panels, due to the sheer size of the convention, and the crowding in the hallways next to the panel rooms.

 

As for crowding, honestly a lot of panels needed more seating in larger rooms. I missed several panels because there wasn't any place for me to sit, and I couldn't stand. 

 

Food was high priced, but not as badly as I thought. And the Callahan's pubs having food bowls was appreciated.

 

I don't know what that nonalcoholic blue drink at the Expanse party was, but it was wonderful. I'll have to get the recipe. The other parties...remember my hearing processing deficit? Think of the adults from the Peanuts cartoons. I did enjoy going around with a friend. But why the Fairmont of all places? Was the Marriott not available?

 

Kindle is very convenient, BUT it does mean I didn't have books to sign. I did buy a couple books to get signed, such as Mare Internum. Which, depending on timing, may qualify for a Hugo nomination next year.

 

Partially because I worked so much in gaming, I felt disconnected from the action of the convention, and missed a number of panels that really would have enhanced the convention for me. My having trouble scheduling myself between gaming and panels, abs being indecisive on what panels I wanted to go to didn't help  

 

The major source of my feeling of disconnect though, was the fact that I have an online handle and persona that isn't connected to my real-world identity. I had good reasons to keep the two separated, though the need isn't as urgent. I don't regret it. But as a result, I chose not to attend things like the File770 meetups, and on the other hand, missed meeting with my local friends, except for bumping into people in the halls. 

 

So I ended up afterwards, asking myself "Did I really get the most I could out of Worldcon? Did I have the best experience? Or, by continually waffling on where I wanted to be, did I miss the best part of it?

 

This is one reason why I waited to write this up. I had to process, get over my post-con blues, and gain some perspective. And, with the distance of time, I can have the perspective to see the convention as a wonderful experience. If I didn't get everything I could out of it? If I didn't connect with people as much as I could have? *shrug* that's life. I DID have a once-in-25 years experience, and that's what's important.

 

WorldCon is not dying, SF&F fandom is not dying, and I still am a part of it. That's what I take away.