Eurofurence Community > General Discussion
Official Statement Regarding the Policy Debate on Twitter
Ralphie Raccoon:
So, just to make this clear, inferring from what Dhary has said, the answer to those questions that I asked Cheetah that he didn't answer, is NO to all of them. Which is fine. I'll tell my babyfur friends that. Some of them might not like it, but hey, that's the rules.
As Dhary said, it might be an official guideline next year, which I think would be helpful.
I would say one more thing, and before I say it, I would like to clarify that I do not wish to understate or denigrate the 1000's of hours that volunteers put in to CFz, EF and the many other conventions around the world. You guys do a fantastic job. However, I don't think the argument that "A voluntary organisation can't be held to the same standards as a commercial one" when it comes to professional conduct during PR holds water. If I was a volunteer for the Red Cross, or MSF, and I did something negative while representing the organisation (so the organisation's twitter feed, not my private feed), I would be rightly called out on it, same as a commercial company. It doesn't matter if I'm being paid or not, if I'm representing an organisation I am held to the same professional standards.
But from what I understand, EF has already made a public apology and personal apologies to those who were initially affected. Which I think is probably what most other organisations would do anyway (with also perhaps some small compensation, but I can appreciate that might want to be withheld from some considering their response was just as bad, if not worse).
So in summary, I don't think you can expect to be held less accountable just because you are volunteers, but for the most part your response is probably what you would expect from any organisation, commercial or voluntary.
Edit: I just had a thought. It might be worth putting up the official complaints procedure on the main website, to make it more visible. Some of the more aggressive responses may have been because some furs didn't know that such a procedure existed, and saw such responses as the only way of recompense.
Eisfuchs:
--- Quote from: Ralphie Raccoon on 11.06.2015, 18:50:00 ---Edit: I just had a thought. It might be worth putting up the official complaints procedure on the main website, to make it more visible. Some of the more aggressive responses may have been because some furs didn't know that such a procedure existed, and saw such responses as the only way of recompense.
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Highly doubtful. Stomping your foot on public "social" media is much more popular than actually filing a constructive complaint.
Ghostbear:
--- Quote from: Dhary Montecore on 11.06.2015, 11:54:40 ---There is no and has never been a ban on Kigus! I'll try to explain the rules in more detail: Kigus (as long as you wear something underneath ;P) are certainly not a normal attire in a four star hotel lobby, but they are close enough to the topic and they add to the colourful atmosphere. Most important: Normal people can integrate that image in the context of the general con easily. Yes, you might get the occasional funny look and kigus don't have access to the fursuit lounge simply as they do not qualify/require such intense care. But they are NOT banned, not even from public spaces. Onesies however are something we do not want to see in public, as an adult person in a baby stile onesie is (sorry for using this in lack of a different word) outright creepy to a uninvolved person and even most of the attendees.
The very basic rule should solve it all: If your outfit does fit the general context of the con or the theme and it doesn't creep out more than a few soap-box-boys it is fine. It's common sense, really.
Onesies, bibs, pacifiers or other obviously baby-related stuff is definitely not okay in public. Kigus or a decent badge depicting a babyfur-character are fine. Again it's common sense and we have to ask certain badges to be removed (obviously full diapers, offensive content, etc). Important point here though: EF Security does not, has never and will never confiscate badges or other property of anyone unless in duty-of-care! If someone takes a badge away from you and claims to be security, report it to staff immediately. This is theft!
And because that has been asked before: Wearing a diaper NOT visible under your clothing is fine as long as it doesn't smell. Wearing one above your clothing is an absolute no-go in public. (Yes that includes the hotel corridors). Oh and you do NOT have to inform security or seek permission if you have to wear one for medical reasons. We understand that this is a highly sensitive matter and it is nothing of our business!
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Thank you for clearing this up, Dhary. Of course I can only speak for myself, but as a cub I'm actually pretty fine with that.
I deliberately stayed out of that ruckus and fuss that happened during the last couple of days (in fact I just ducked and ran for cover once insults started flying and refused to come out of my pillow fort bomb shelter for a few days o.o') and decided to ask on a later point of time, when things would have calmed down again and everybody was a bit less aggravated. But seeing you now answering my unspoken questions, thank you.
It's pretty much how I, as a cub, would have behaved anyway, even with more liberal rules.
Dhary Montecore:
--- Quote from: Ralphie Raccoon on 11.06.2015, 18:50:00 ---As Dhary said, it might be an official guideline next year, which I think would be helpful.
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Not next year. THIS year. Attendees ask, we deliver. :3
VulpesRex:
--- Quote from: Giza on 10.06.2015, 15:28:00 ---
--- Quote from: timoran on 10.06.2015, 01:22:43 ---During both this incident and the incident around EF's refusal to refund a membership for a dealer in January, several members of the EF staff made comments on their (yes, personal, but very much public and identified as EF staff) Twitter accounts to leave the impression that Americans are unwelcome at Eurofurence. This includes one of the members of the EF Board of Directors.
Do the other members of the Board share this anti-American sentiment? Could this be clarified? I have seen that American visitors to EF are no insignificant number, based on the nosecount page.
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This American attendee (EF 10) and Staff Member (EF 20) has never been made to feel unwelcome at Eurofurence.
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As an American attendee of the last 6 EFs - one who sn't a staff member, or a volunteer, or has any other association with EF where any of the staff might treat me differently than they would any other attendee - I heartily concur with Giza, and state that I have NEVER been made to feel unwelcome at EF, either by staff, by other attendees, or by the hotels which have hosted the event.
And this covers ALL the people of various european nationalities whom I have had the pleasure of encountering and the privilege of meeting at EuroFURence, NOT just the Germans.
...And all of the other American attendees who have attended - in many cases, over multiple years - and with whom I have spoken, have agreed with me.