Serendipity

Wow.

I dropped in at the REPS showcase - a mini-convention held by the Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound. I asked politely if I could drop off some fliers, and was told "sure." and shown a spot to put them.

(Their advertisement email specifically said that the sales room was open to anyone, whether they had bought a membership or not.)

Then a guy showed up, blazing with hostility, and literally grabbed me and bum-rushed me out the door. I mean, took me by the arm, said you can't DO that here, and shoved me out.

Technically, I could sue him for assault, but i find the idea of suing over being taken by the arm ludicrous. Instead, I am stunned. I had heard that REPS was absolutely unconditionally AGAINST anything new (except Jim French), but I always took that with a grain of salt.

I suppose since I had a stack of CDs, that I was planning on giving to people who I know that come to these conventions, that was a contributing factor, but HOLY CRAP!! I have never been to a convention of any sort where they didn't want to network, where they didn't like to encourage new participants.

On the other hand, I can totally understand that they can choose what they want to have happen in their space, yes, but I asked, was answered by someone who looked like she was in some kind of authority (she was working the register), and then to be met with this glaring HOSTILITY - wow.

Just stunning. I guess the moral of this story is avoid REPS, whatever you do.

__________________
--Julie Hoverson
19 Nocturne Boulevard

hudson

Wow indeed, sorry you went through that. Just shows it takes all sorts.

Serendipity

I'm sure that with all the personal injury lawyers out there, there's at least one who would take this case. I don't plan to take it that far, but i really really want to scare them about their reprehensible behavior.

__________________
--Julie Hoverson
19 Nocturne Boulevard

Brett

There's no excuse for that kind of hostility. The right thing for them to have done would be to explain, rather than manhandle. Good manners don't cost anything.

I think a short letter -- not an email -- to to their board/council/management expressing dissapointment that an apparently welcoming group (as their website advertises) would treat a visitor with more respect.

Or alternatively, write them into a story in a thinly disguised manner, and then have them befall a multitude of gruesome and inventive fates. And then have them resurrected for another go.

frankenstein1887

Reminds me of a Fredrick Brown story where the mad killer stalking the city only kills the rude. Of course the city becomes a better place because of it.

__________________
Mama delivered me herself. She took me from between her legs, bloody little mess. Just about to feed me to the chickens, and Daddy said, “Maybe we could use a boy, Lottie." And that’s how I came into the world. - Charlie (Elisha Cook Jr.) Messiah of Evil 1973

http://theflashingdial.forumwise.com/

Serendipity

I could add that there's a puerile and long-running feud between REPS and ART, a group that I have acted with, and who recorded three of my early episodes.

If that makes me a target for their prejudice and anger, the same logic should apply to my use of Nova high school drama class (who have been major portions of 10 episodes) and make me a high school student...

Darn. Didn't work...

__________________
--Julie Hoverson
19 Nocturne Boulevard

L.AlanG

You won't need to contact a personal injury lawyer. Any unwanted or uninvited touching is a battery and a crime. His actions was not just rude but against the law. You can call the police and have the offender arrested. (Assault is the threat of unwanted touching. That's just the lawyer in me talking.)

Serendipity

Thanx! I don't know that I want to take it that far, since I find the idea that being taken by the arm and urged to move is actionable to be silly and part of the problems jamming up our legal system. Plus the "gentleman" in question is probably over 60.

On the other hand, I'm gonna have a field day threatening him with it. Mostly I want to throw a bit of a scare into them, and force them to understand that their actions - and, in fact, his actions - have consequences.

Oh, and he's the president of the group.

__________________
--Julie Hoverson
19 Nocturne Boulevard

Bill Hollweg

Fraggin IDIOTS... Hate groups like that <live or net ones>... Glad you survived to pay them back in AD spades!

Serendipity

Good news - REPS' vice president has been working to resolve the situation. He's been very solicitous, trying to make up for what happened.

We'll see.

__________________
--Julie Hoverson
19 Nocturne Boulevard