Will Shetterly's Blog, page 107

Taking an internet vacation for the rest of the month

It'll be like a modern work vacation to someplace that has wifi: I'll answer messages, I might share some pics or something I thought was fun, and I'll take a break from the vacation when work requires it (expect an announcement about an ebook of Emma's Falcon, and maybe one about the first volume of Liavek). So don't say goodbye; say have fun. And may you have fun, too.

A simple solution for fixing this year's Hugo Ballot?

Ask all the nominees to withdraw, then have a do-ever, no penalty, no foul. It's unlikely that all the nominees would immediately withdraw, but if a significant number did, I suspect the rest would see how ludicrous they looked and step down. And if they did not, at the point at which withdrawals were deemed a crisis (50%?), the Hugo administrators would be justified in stepping in.

Tidying up: apologizing, politeness, useful hard numbers about the Hugos

In the first version ofAn Apology to Mary Robinette Kowal, I included a little context that, a couple of minutes after making the post, I realized weakened the apology, so I deleted it. Apologies in public are hard, because you know they're in public and you know that not everyone will know the context. But that's part of the price of doing something that needs an apology. One thing I deleted

An Apology to Mary Robinette Kowal

Dear Mary, I was an asshole, and I am very, very sorry that I was infuriating when I should've tried much, much harder to disagree gently. For years, I've insisted civility and tone matter. I have no excuse for the way I expressed myself, and you have no reason to forgive me, but I hope you will just the same. Sincerely and abjectly, Will PS. The original version of this post had a bit of

Confessions of a Scarred and Broken Man, or If I Blog Again about Fandom’s Social Justice Warriors, Kill Me

1 On Sunday, Emma asked me a question no husband wants to hear: What happened to the man she married? Where was the man who annoyed her by forgiving everyone, then annoyed her more when she realized he was right? If you’re now thinking I got the very best version of that speech, you are very right. But it didn’t make me feel any better. The answer is that man broke in 2009. In the fifty years

For people who mock those who respond when their name is invoked in public posts

Just saw this: @NoGravitasHere @kirstiecatlady Hello! Since you invoked me, can I answer any questions? — Mary Robinette Kowal (@MaryRobinette) April 12, 2015 I doubt I'll respond since they declined Mary's offer. I just wanted to note that many people respond to public posts. I suspect I'll continue to do it; there's no shame in responding publicly to what's done in public. As for what's done

Mary Robinette Kowal is buying votes for the Hugos

Ask for a supporting membership to WorldCon atTalk with me about being a fan of science fiction and fantasy. Currently, there are 30 available, ten from Mary, 10 from an anonymous nominee, and 10 from Shimmer Magazine. Don't know anything about science fiction, the current Hugo controversy, or fandom in general? No worries. Mary provides a very short guide to all you need to know. (Though I

Harlan Ellison on gaming the Hugos and Nebulas

This is probably from 1994. No, I won't name the person Harlan didn't name.

Why Brad R. Torgersen should forgive Mary Robinette Kowal, and a few facts about racism in the USA

When you hear liberal identitarians say all or most white people are racist, remember that most Americans, white and black, disagree. FromMore Americans View Blacks As Racist Than Whites, Hispanics - Rasmussen Reports: "Among black Americans, 31% think most blacks are racist, while 24% consider most whites racist and 15% view most Hispanics that way. Among white adults, 10% thinkmost white

Game Of thrones happy dance