Ligotti panel at NecronomiCon Providence 2017

[Frater_Tsalal]

In my case it's not a question of discomfort... I'm so anonymous no one knows who I am anyway, and (unlike Nicolay) I have no concerns about my own personal safety. It's more a question of personal ethics. Certainly I have no issues with anyone else going.

Anyway, it's a moot point as I've already canceled my hotel reservations and asked for my refund from the convention.

[Justin Isis]

Quote Originally Posted by James

It is of perpetual amusement to me that Lovecraft would be shunned by the Lovecraftian community of today.

Quote Originally Posted by Frater_Tsalal

Exactly! He probably wouldn't even be allowed to attend the convention being held in his own honor!

This deserves its own story. Shortly before his death, Lovecraft is sitting around contemplating the general failure of his writing career, when he's somehow timeslipped to the future. He makes it into Providence and finds that there is some kind of public event in progress which seems to be focused on him. He walks around and finds that people have formed "panels" where they sit around criticizing his lifestyle, personal relationships and general opinions. Lovecraft tries to introduce himself but gets shouted down or otherwise 'no platformed' -

"Everyone thinks you're a jerk, Lovecraft. A problematic JERK."

"Lovecraft you have been too influential on 'the field' and we have now moved beyond you. You are not welcome at this event where we're selling consumer goods based on your ideas and even items of clothing bearing your likeness. Please leave."

Then he gets sent back to his own time and resumes dying of bowel cancer in extreme poverty. Comedy gold!!!

[Robert Adam Gilmour]

Quote Originally Posted by Robert Adam Gilmour

I'm kind of curious why JR Hamantaschen suggested he wasn't welcome there anymore. I'll try to ask him.

He was joking. A panel went badly.

[Arthur Staaz]

Very disappointing. Mark is a friend of mine. His views tend toward the traditionalist both in culture and religion. He is not a racist, sexist or homophobe. If he is called such, well, those terms are on their way to becoming meaningless.

It all comes down to marketability, and unfortunately Samuels' traditionalist views are irreconcilable with the consumer culture of today. Make no mistake – these authors are terrified of appearing problematic themselves and projecting their anxieties on to him.

I have never seen him say anything homophobic or even broach the topic of race. I would appreciate it if somebody would tell me who the accuser was, so I know to be wary of them. I am making it a point not to support this bland centre-left caucasian father contingent in future. The outsiders will always have my sympathy, Lovecraft and Samuels being amongst them.

[dr. locrian]

Just a quick aside -- I don't want TLO to become a haven for hearsay and/or inflammatory, personal attacks on either end (as it has at times in the past). Anyone who wishes to answer James' question by PM, feel free to do so, but please do not answer it on a public thread. This isn't about believing the veracity of the issue, mind you. It's just clear that discussing this here would escalate drama, and, in any case, this thread was not created for such a purpose.

Hopefully, we can set aside personal beliefs/political views and treat each other--author and/or reader--with an open mind or at least with some decency.

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE

[Druidic]

Very disappointing. Mark is a friend of mine. His views tend toward the traditionalist both in culture and religion. He is not a racist, sexist or homophobe. If he is called such, well, those terms are on their way to becoming meaningless.--Arthur Staaz

Those terms have become meaningless. Now they're used only as smears. People are jerks. Samuels is as far from being a 'racist' as it's possible to get.
--

Quote Originally Posted by Druidic

Very disappointing. Mark is a friend of mine. His views tend toward the traditionalist both in culture and religion. He is not a racist, sexist or homophobe. If he is called such, well, those terms are on their way to becoming meaningless.--Arthur Staaz Those terms have become meaningless. Now they're used only as smears. People are jerks. Samuels is as far from being a 'racist' as it's possible to get. --

Should note that just because a term is misused or overused doesn't mean that they are rendered meaningless. In this case, the term "racist" was misused.

[Druidic]

When words have been systematically 'misused' for three decades to sometimes dishonestly attack reputations they lose force and meaning. They elicit yawns at best. Today such words tell me more about the people that habitually use them then it does their targets.

It's a sad thing when some self-righteous oafs can't tell the difference between a man's character and his political beliefs. They are not always the same. Villains sometimes hide behind virtuous words.

Mark is one of the Good Guys. Disagree with some of his beliefs, that's fine. But I don't understand the sick obsession that makes some smear a good man.

[njhorror]

I wonder who the offended party is (and if racism is the REAL issue) and is Scott Nicolay feeling threatened?