#barcon
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chrislaumanson.bsky.social
Fucking hell, like -

We do promote positive attitudes towards sex around here, or we try to, and we try to be open minded

But this shit is like.... Barcon times a hundred. Nobody should feel pressured to go drinking to advance their careers, let along attend a whole ass sex party with strangers.
faineg.com Faine Greenwood @faineg.com · 1d
Women trying to succeed in Silicon Valley AI and effective altruist spaces are reporting feeling serious social pressure to attend sex parties - where people have reported being sexually assaulted, like below.

Events like Aella’s “Slutcon,” which is happening again this weekend.
Ann Pierce @itsannpierce 20h I am disheartened by this as well. I already lost a bunch of followers for agreeing with @tautologer, but it's saddening to see local nerdy women being caricatured as Karen-like outsiders and getting pushed out of the scene. This is exactly why you hear so few concrete, names-attached stories of sexual harrassment and assault. I'm told there is a history of discrediting these because the "slut normalization" thing is top priority and these stories get inconveniently in the way of spreading this ideology. I got roped into attending last year's Saturday Slutcon party because so many local and out-of-town friends were there (to echo sentiments @tautologer expressed about "slut events becoming central to the larger scenes). Mostly I hung out with people I knew and that was great. But in the course of my 3-ish hours there, there were 2 times my "no" was not accepted by a man I didn't know, and I was physically pushing a huge guy off of me who was rubbing his penis on me, who continued to do it despite my physical force against him, and after I finally wriggled away from him, told him I wanted to dance alone etc., he came back and did it again. This was scary and bad, but it didn't even cross my mind to report this because one of the other people who didn't accept my "no" earlier in the night was the bartender (an officially sanctioned authority at the event), and I knew the event was organized exclusively by women into CNC (who are vocal about how rapey behavior turns them on), so I figured this sort of thing would just get me laughed at. And anyway, I heard there were a lot of other incidents like it. Later though, someone encouraged me to report this story to the organizers, and despite my embarrassment I did, so *they know* that this and other incidents happened. This is why they cut the Saturday night party this year and created a larger training program for the flirt girls - *because* of things like this last year. Yet the narrative bein… People who haven't been to Slutcon are saying "it's just group therapy," "it's just innocent flirting." But the environment is much like a sex party in that many people are nude, there is making out and sex acts happening out in the open. I think it's pretty unreasonable to expect that every nerdy girl who likes rationalist bloggers or is into EA/AI safety should automatically be comfortable with this! That if she's not, there's something wrong with her, we don't want her in our scenes, etc. Not to mention, it's explictly an event *for men*, where men are the clients and the "flirt girls" are the product. Last year I overheard an exchange where a man felt "led on" by a flirt girl and was trying to get her punished/kicked out. (A dynamic that seems inevitable in this context!) Anyway- it does sound like they've upped their consent education a lot this year, are more organized, and that's good! As I've told my friends who are attending: I hope they have fun! I heard several accounts last year of women who had no problems and really enjoyed the event. That's great! Just... can we live in reality about this? There are real reasons why male-female sexual dynamics are tricky. Encouraging autistic men who can't yet read body language to go around asking to see womens' boobs is maybe a bit ill-advised. Maybe not everyone should be/identify as a slut; maybe it's not for everyone. And yeah, filtering the Bay Area Al safety scene down to only women who are super comfy with this eliminates *most* women - including many of the really smart, nerdy, weird women who've been in the larger scenes for years. What a loss for humanity. I absolutely understand why people with a minority sexuality would want to create belonging, would want to create spaces for people like themselves. But why do it like this/at this cost?
September 27, 2026 at 5:39 PM
galiciaartabra.es.web.brid.gy
FERROL: protagonismo del Mar en la Pintura-(Carlos Barcón Collazo)
Carlos Barcón Collazo. Pintor, Académico de Bellas Artes de Galicia. Según refieren poéticamente casi todas las cosmogonías de los pueblos primitivos, la Tierra es hija del Océano. Para los antiguos, … La entrada FERROL: protagonismo del Mar en la Pintura-(Carlos Barcón Collazo) se publicó primero en Galicia Ártabra.
galiciaartabra.es
September 27, 2026 at 4:53 PM
rrvirdi.bsky.social
Track is that it's in the Westin which is the barcon hotel and most popular for authors often to be in/pass through as well.

And it overlaps with the urban fantasy track and TV shows/movies. Carol Malcom runs it and she's a gem and she'd be all over your book.
September 26, 2026 at 9:02 PM
diarioferrol.bsky.social
El arte del pintor ferrolano Carlos Barcón se expone en un histórico edificio de Santiago de Compostela
El arte del pintor ferrolano Carlos Barcón se expone en un histórico edificio de Santiago de Compostela
Este miércoles 23 se inaugurará la muestra del miembro de la Real Academia Galega de Belas Artes y numerario de la Asociación Internacional de Críticos de Arte de Madrid y París
diariodeferrol.elidealgallego.com
September 22, 2026 at 8:04 PM
100carbonneutral.bsky.social
Un experto en energía advierte sobre lo que nos espera en los próximos años por el cambio climático.
Santiago Barcón, experto en energía: «El cambio climático no es tan grave como nos hacen creer»
Un experto en energía lanza la advertencia: esto es lo que podemos esperar en los próximos años por culpa del cambio climático.
www.vozpopuli.com
September 20, 2026 at 4:05 PM
galiciaartabra.es.web.brid.gy
El pintor Carlos Barcón presenta «A son do mar», en el Hotel Virxe da Cerca de Santiago
El miércoles 23 de septiembre a las 19:30 horas se inaugurará la exposición «A son do mar» de Carlos Barcón en el Hotel Virxe da Cerca en Santiago de Compostela. … La entrada El pintor Carlos Barcón presenta «A son do mar», en el Hotel Virxe da Cerca de Santiago se publicó primero en Galicia Ártabra.
galiciaartabra.es
September 21, 2026 at 12:51 AM
pepperbloom.bsky.social
oh, fyi, in light of the labor disputes between local 25 and the montgomery county conference center we will not be attending SPX this year 🫡 pour out a gluten free cider at barcon for me
September 9, 2026 at 5:01 PM
kiyanicoll.bsky.social
I did manage to make the words go in a semi-reasonable order when I was exploding about Vellum *at Hal* at the Glasgow barcon, which feels like a reasonable level of personal accomplishment on the matter.
September 7, 2026 at 11:56 PM
shannaswendson.bsky.social
I can't really make out conversations in the bar, so it's not like I'm doing business. Smiling and nodding and pretending you understand what people are saying doesn't progress your career. The one good "barcon" I've had was when a small group went to the non-cool hotel bar so we could talk.
September 1, 2026 at 11:58 PM
shannaswendson.bsky.social
I have generally avoided BarCon, which could explain the state of my career, in part because I'm indifferent to alcohol, in part because even half a drink puts me to sleep, in part because hotel bar prices are out of my budget, and in part because it's so noisy and chaotic that I flee.
September 1, 2026 at 7:14 PM
kyloboomhauer.bsky.social
BarCon shenanigans aren’t the only reason I’ve only attended litcons in the last quarter-century as a vendor, but they’re a big factor. Even then, explaining “Sorry, but I have to be up early tomorrow to restock my booth” was enough to be blacklisted, even by old friends.
September 1, 2026 at 6:26 PM
kyloboomhauer.bsky.social
The odds of my being at a WorldCon are right up there with the Dallas Cowboys winning a shutout World Series pennant, but I will defend the idea of a sober corner of BarCon to my dying breath. It’s not just the aspect of “come to the bar to talk business” at conventions, but that we HAVE to drink.
marysuesays.bsky.social Mary Sue @marysuesays.bsky.social · 27d
What REALLY fucked with me is how much Barcon at WorldCon is important to people's careers.

I was there as a nobody fan and was pressured to drink alcohol! BY TOTAL STRANGERS. WHO DID NOT TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER

Solidarity for my sober folx who HAVE to stay and talk to these people.
marysuesays.bsky.social Mary Sue @marysuesays.bsky.social · 27d
And next time I do make it to a physical WorldCon, I'm gonna set up a sober corner of Barcon because fuckin' hell.

I am constantly in bars and around alcohol and have no problems with it but the one time I tried last week? HOLY SHIT IT WAS HARD TO STAY SOBER.

I bounced SO fast!
September 1, 2026 at 6:16 PM
seananmcguire.bsky.social
I always feel like I miss half the convention, because I CANNOT handle BarCon. I WILL have a meltdown, and that will hurt me more than any amount of cheery socializing would help.
September 1, 2026 at 6:08 PM
marysuesays.bsky.social
What REALLY fucked with me is how much Barcon at WorldCon is important to people's careers.

I was there as a nobody fan and was pressured to drink alcohol! BY TOTAL STRANGERS. WHO DID NOT TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER

Solidarity for my sober folx who HAVE to stay and talk to these people.
marysuesays.bsky.social Mary Sue @marysuesays.bsky.social · 27d
And next time I do make it to a physical WorldCon, I'm gonna set up a sober corner of Barcon because fuckin' hell.

I am constantly in bars and around alcohol and have no problems with it but the one time I tried last week? HOLY SHIT IT WAS HARD TO STAY SOBER.

I bounced SO fast!
September 1, 2026 at 6:07 PM
marysuesays.bsky.social
And next time I do make it to a physical WorldCon, I'm gonna set up a sober corner of Barcon because fuckin' hell.

I am constantly in bars and around alcohol and have no problems with it but the one time I tried last week? HOLY SHIT IT WAS HARD TO STAY SOBER.

I bounced SO fast!
September 1, 2026 at 5:41 PM
what-eats-owls.bsky.social
Also: why I missed barcon this year. Ya girl was a midnight bedazzler.
August 31, 2026 at 11:46 PM
caitlinrozakis.bsky.social
A whole bunch of my friends did go, and looked very fancy as they did so and I love that for them. But I got very awards-show-ed-out at my last job, I'm afraid. And was too tired to even really enjoy Barcon.
August 31, 2026 at 2:53 PM
schwartzwords.bsky.social
barcon talk: we all got gussied up for once and then C.B. made us all cry and threaten our rare mascara
August 31, 2026 at 7:48 AM
pixelfish.bsky.social
Barcon is going to get confused with barrecon.
August 31, 2026 at 7:11 AM
madpierrot.design
Managed to drag my carcass to the Black Creators meetup and followed it up with Werewolf Torts and Undead Tax Liabilities. Don’t think I’m dragging myself much further than maybe BarCon tonight though.

#LAConV #WorldCon
August 29, 2026 at 2:43 AM
bookjockeyalex.bsky.social
I have done nothing at #Worldcon thus far except a publishers party and barcon, so I guess so far so good? My only complaint is I wish check-in opened at 8 instead of 8:30. Some of us have 9a panels and would like to check in ahead of time.
August 28, 2026 at 2:55 PM
hanawrites.bsky.social
Barcon sprints by day, assemble!

Hilton lobby just inside the doors to the right ✍🏽
August 27, 2026 at 5:49 PM
kjy1066.bsky.social
In any case, hope you have a good Worldcon. One of these years we'll barcon (or what have you)
August 27, 2026 at 2:54 PM
teffeau.bsky.social
Barcon for Bubonicon was on point this year!
Photo of drink specials card for the Uptown Marriott Albuquerque during Bubonicon, New Mexico's annual SFF convention featuring the C3PO cocktail, the T-1000 cocktail, the Matrix Red or Blue Pill and the Algorithm Cooler
August 23, 2026 at 3:29 PM
zzclaybourne.bsky.social
Random memory that popped into my head just now: at a con -- the barcon portion -- and a guy walks by. I think "He looks like David Lynch" and think nothing more of it.

It was David Lynch. Con might have been World Fantasy. Memory's foggy. Seem to recall having seafood for dinner.
August 19, 2026 at 12:19 AM