I don't get it.

[lederhosen]

I don't get all the fuss about the 'Open Source Boob Project' business.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that it's skeezy and obnoxious and all. I just don't get why Some Guy On LJ being skeezy at a con is suddenly provoking such a flurry of posting, because my understanding is that there are lots of skeezy people on LJ - quite a few of whom go to cons - and generally it doesn't attract anywhere near this level of attention. If it was Orson Scott Card or somebody else famous (or even Brendan Nelson) I could understand, but not this.

(I think what this boils down to is that a lot of people seem to view the originator of the concept as a Somebody, and I've never figured out what makes him any more noteworthy than all the other folk on LJ who have opinions and aren't afraid to post them. Therefore I just write him off under the "lots of people are idiots" umbrella category.)

Comments

[ambitious-wench.livejournal.com]

It's rude to walk up to a woman you don't know in a public place and ask if you can touch her boobs. It's rude to invite such questions and accept such touching in a public place. The reason it's rude? It's inconsiderate of the people around you who don't want to be participants by witness to such an exchange.

[hpapillon.livejournal.com]

I agree that it's rude to walk up to a woman you don't know and ask if you can touch her boobs. (unless she is carrying a large and clear sign to indicate that you can. Even at a convention, 'NO' should be assumed!)

I don't personally feel that it's rude to walk up to a woman wearing a 'Touch my breasts!' sign, ask her, and do so, in the specific public space of a con. I am aware that there could be people present who may not wish to be participants by witness, but it's very difficult to live without potentially offending anyone at all. Some people would be offended simply by watching me walk around with a boy on a leash. Some people would be offended by me walking by holding hands with two boys at once. Some people would be offended if I or my partners are wearing 'sexually suggestive clothing' for different definitions of suggestive. Some people would be offended by people kissing in public. (Moreso if they happened to be same-gender).

Geek conventions tend to be something of a sexually charged atmosphere, where people can strut around in ridiculous costumes and otherwise perform openly what they are afraid to perform in Normal Life. I think that's valuable. It is also sometimes a point of vulnerability - I was at DragonCon one year when the cops had to be called because a mundane had snuck into a costume contest and grabbed a contestant's breasts. (WTF was he thinking?)

[ambitious-wench.livejournal.com]

"unless she is carrying a large and clear sign..."

No. You're missing MY point; The reasons why a person would not want to witness such and exchange doesn't matter; Whether it's because they don't want their children to see it or because, like me, it's triggering.

This is NOT negotiable. This IS a deal breaker. This is NOT consensual. How much clearer can I make this?

Not consensual = sexual assault/harassment . Public spaces, whether at a con or on the street are NOT the place to negotiate crossing boundaries.

[hpapillon.livejournal.com]

The reasons why a person would not want to witness such and exchange doesn't matter; Whether it's because they don't want their children to see it or because, like me, it's triggering.

I'm not sure why you quoted the bit about the sign and not the bit that's relevant to unwanted witnessing of events.

As I said, some people will be deeply disturbed by seeing two men kissing in public. And that does not mean that boys shouldn't kiss. The 'right' of someone to not have themselves and their children 'disturbed' does not extend to forcing others to behave in a certain way.

Many conventions are and have always been sexually charged arenas. Not all of them - single-day non-costume conventions are generally pretty straight. If public sexuality is disturbing to you it's probably a good idea to pick your con wisely. (And avoid furries. :) )