with all due respect (and not knowing the story here in regards to Captain Deek) but as a department director who was all over the con constantly, fighting fires, on the radio nearly 24/7 and working some of the longest shifts of the convention, i didn't see 90% of what you're speaking about, and am not sure if you're complaining because these things actually bothered you, or if you're upset on behalf of your friend.

i genuinely did not hear anything about anyone being preached to, or weddings making fun of attendees. all the staff i spoke to seemed mostly to enjoy our presence, but we did have two liasons working full-time with the hotel to ensure that our guests were happy and comfortable. noisy and rambunctious room parties were shut down over the course of the convention. if you had a problem with any of these things, you should have brought it to the attention of a staff member where we could have dealt with it on-site. the fact that you waited until your friend was removed from staff is telling in regards to how much they bothered you at the convention.

as for the two more staff-oriented issues: first, the conbook publishes what was submitted to it. if we don't get art from other people, we can't print it. i recall a call going out for more art at some point before printing time - it's possible we just didn't get enough, and a couple people stepped up to fill the void. as for captain deek's removal... i again do not know much about the specifics, but i think you're viewing this through a lens of personal hurt. the people running a convention have much more direct insight into the performance and reliability of staff members, and there is more to running an area of a convention than simply being someone that attendees can relate to. there are pre-con obligations, there are customer service obligations, there are communications obligations and there are expected levels of professionalism in interacting with other staff and the hotel that far exceed what is visible to convention attendees. without knowing details I can't speak to specifics (and even if I did, I likely would not be the person to best explain them) but we feel very happy with our event on the whole this year - we wouldn't be doing rocking the boat unless we had good reason. i don't even know for sure if we really have, to be clear. i'm only seeing this in your post.

finally, just because milt is overseeing the room doesn't mean he's going to be actually attending to it. gaming is a broad category, and someone still needs to handle the logistical side of keeping it running, tracking inventory, handling load-in and load-out for that department and those requirements don't differ between board and video games, and it makes perfect sense to have them both fall under the same flag. likely, someone who is more in tune with the specifics of that room will actually be physically manning it.

there's a lot more to cover, but i get the distinct feeling your laundry list of complaints is more reaching to find more reasons to be upset and angry at the convention over this one issue than an actual valid list of concerns. if you would like to provide us with more details of what happened that upset you, please contact us via our website and we can address those concerns in more detail privately, as well as with the hotel if necessary.

don't just pile crap on an event that a group of people worked incredibly hard to put on, entirely for free, because you don't agree with a staffing decision. we did as much as we could to make that event great, and seeing someone just slag on it across the board for seemingly no reason is hugely disappointing.

You know Proto, I'd take your statement on normally, but considering the following and influence that you have, it just isn't worth it because I don't particularly feel the need to handle the sheeple who will white knight anything you have to say regardless of being right or wrong.

i don't think that's a thing that will actually happen.

As Arle has replied, it's already starting.

Arle is also staff, I think that's why she's defending the con. I am too and I agree with the things Protocollie said.

Religious event: Do you mean the Rainbow Girls? They're a Freemason organization. They were the ones having the pageant. I never got a rude word from them, despite spending a lot of time in the hallway where their event was taking place. They weren't super friendly to us, I agree--mostly I heard little girls saying we were weird, and older women wouldn't make eye contact with me.

Room parties not getting broken up: I was at one that got broken up!

Gay dude rave in a public space: I did not see this or hear anything about this. Did you report it to staff? We can't fix things we don't know about!

Hotel staff being rude: I did not experience this personally aside from the party I was at being broken up (if you can consider that rudeness, haha), but I did hear about it from others, so I believe you when you say you experienced this. I'm sorry that happened to you!

Con book being full of art by certain people: con books aren't for showcasing staff art, they're for showcasing the art of people who submit it. If other didn't submit art, there isn't a whole lot the con can do about that. They have to make a con book, they want to put art in it, if for nothing else than making it interesting for attendees to look at!

I don't feel I can comment on the game room situation because this is the first I've heard about it. I understand that you're upset about it, and I'm sorry you're upset! But I think the other issues you're attacking the con over are kind of non-issues or are things that are not the con's fault. We don't get to tell the hotel not to book other events during ours, and we don't get to tell the other events there how their attendees should treat us. Conflicting events happen at conventions all the time--FC famously shares their space with a volleyball tournament full of teenage girls who hate furries every single year! It's just part of the territory.

Reaux, you know I respect and value your opinion. This is what I mean that it won't matter what I have to say in regards to the con and people white knighting the situation by posting a reply then blocking me from responding as well as publicly debasing anything I have to say.

I'm sorry you feel you're being piled upon. I tried to express my opinions and state facts as I knew them, in the hopes that you'll realize you were incorrect about some things (like room parties not being shut down) or change your opinion about others (like the Rainbow Girls). I'm happy to take this conversation to notes from here on out, if you'd like to keep talking. Your thoughts are important and your opinions are valid, and we as staff want to hear them!

Another useful avenue you might want to take is to file a trouble ticket on the Fur the 'More website. Con chairs and other staff all get these emailed to them, they definitely would want to hear your concerns! We can only improve the event with feedback, be it positive or negative. Here is a link to the trouble ticket site: http://www.furthemore.org/help/

Reaux from my understanding you are on staff.

Then, with respect of course, why are you not handling this in private channels when (as it's already been seen) continuing it in public is just making it worse?

Yes, as I said in the first line of my response, I am on staff. I don't feel my response was making anything worse. I tried to empathize with Birdie and express my opinion on the situation. Sorry that doesn't fly with you, I guess.

It might have more effect if Proto was posting from his actual account rather then a alt one, but that's just me.

Plus since when can one department head speak for an ENTIRE staff? Kinda overstepping their boundaries, don't ya think?

did i say i was speaking for the entire staff anywhere...?

As I just stated, I don't particularly feel the need to handle the sheeple who will white knight anything Proto has to say regardless of being right or wrong. You'll defend what you likes regardless of the quality or content. Well.. I'd have replied myself.. but instead of being given the chance to reply, I've been blocked.

i double-checked. I said "as a department director who was all over the con constantly," which is the capacity I was posting in.

also, this is my actual account. i don't have another fa. this is my only fa.

I find it delightfully ironic you complain about her bringing her concerns to a public light (which she's totally within her right to) and yet you "as a department director" you can't think to handle this privately instead of having to put your reply on her public journal. Hell, all you would have had to do is post a comment saying "Hi Birdie, I'm contacting you privately to address your issues." and that would have looked multitudes better then what you just posted. As a department head, I'd think you know better.

As for the con book issue, I'm looking at it myself and for me, seeing almost a half page dedicated to a staff member's mate, it looks crappy, more so when some artists were woefully under represented compared to others. Even FurFright's con book had more of a variety the year I went (2009), and their numbers weren't too far off from yours.

" but we feel very happy with our event on the whole this year - we wouldn't be doing rocking the boat unless we had good reason. i don't even know for sure if we really have, to be clear. i'm only seeing this in your post." Of course you would. As far as I'm seeing it, you're just doing some type of damage control (not even on your own account, on a personal one no less) and are making a horrible attempt at it.

Although I really hope this isin't what's to come from the future of Fur the 'More's public relations department, because it looks like a sad state of affairs from where I'm sitting.

the discussion's out in the open, now. so let's have it.

what, specifically, did you take issue with in my reply? if you'd like to address specific remarks i made rather than painting the entire comment with one broad stroke of "bad," i'd be glad to hear.

was i happy with the event? yes, i was. is that what you take issue with? i'm sorry if that's a problem for you. i'm always open to constructive criticism. i just don't see much in the above post and felt the need to reply.

And yet another example of horrible PR/damage control.

"Yes we've already airing our grievances in public so instead of moving it to private channels to be handled maturely, let's keep in open for everyone to jump in and make a bigger nightmare then it already is! That'll work!"

All you're doing now is inviting more drama and keeping the doors wide open for everyone.

I think you're the only person inciting drama. If you have an honest response to any point in my comment that you would like to discuss, I'm more than welcome to discuss it. Otherwise, I'm done here.

My note box is always open.

Birdie!!!!! YOU SHOULD COME TO MY CON!!!!. ^v^

Remind me next year :P

Will do, also do you like munchkin?

KICKING DOWN THE DOOR!

We have Munchkin tournaments at our con ^v^ you need to come and play

That's in Canada right?

I guess every convention goer gets complimentary maple syrup? If so, sign me up!

Not sure if complimentary but I'm sure we can hook you up ^v^

Hello, if you would like to speak with someone directly about your concerns please email marketing[at]furthemore.org for assistance. Thank you!