I knew it was a joke, that's why I felt weird about bringing it up as an issue.
One problem that's hard to beat is the distance/time thing. At one point before Federation, there was a proposal to have Australia run under only one timescale, nation-wide. Great idea in some ways, nightmarish in others.
I think the distance thing in fandom isn't helped by the fact that so many ES fans know nothing of Perth fandom. The cons aren't advertised over here to any meaningful degree. SwanCon 17 did the best job of advertising over here, and got something like 30-50 Melbourne fans in one hit. Any of the places in the East where you would expect to find local con advertising, there were SwanCon 17 flyers as well.
And with regards to the inferiority, I suppose that is what is galling to me. If people want to find reasons to feel inferior, fine, but don't justify it by saying "and it's because of them," and point to half a continent. If the government or business don't take the West into consideration, take it up with them, don't blame the people who just happen to live in the 'favoured' zone.
I've heard this stuff spouted so many times at SwanCons that I'm starting to find it offensive. It feels like Perth fandom is either elitist, insular, or just making up reasons to hate ES. Now that's a generalisation, and I know it's not everyone, but those who say these things tend to be very vocal about it. And if I'm feeling unwelcome, when I know I have a lot of people who actively like me over there, then how many others are being put off?
In fact, that may be why it's hard to get ES fans to head over. What I have heard said in the East is that Perth fandom hates ES. When asked why, people just wave their hands in the air and shrug. So it's hard to get people to spend the extra money to head over to start with. No matter how good the rep of the con, if they don't think they'd be welcome, why would they even bother? And how much is this backed up by the lack of advertising?
(And yes, I know it's hard to find reliable people to put out flyers in your home state, let alone other states, just making the point that it's additional reinforcement.)
no subject
One problem that's hard to beat is the distance/time thing. At one point before Federation, there was a proposal to have Australia run under only one timescale, nation-wide. Great idea in some ways, nightmarish in others.
I think the distance thing in fandom isn't helped by the fact that so many ES fans know nothing of Perth fandom. The cons aren't advertised over here to any meaningful degree. SwanCon 17 did the best job of advertising over here, and got something like 30-50 Melbourne fans in one hit. Any of the places in the East where you would expect to find local con advertising, there were SwanCon 17 flyers as well.
And with regards to the inferiority, I suppose that is what is galling to me. If people want to find reasons to feel inferior, fine, but don't justify it by saying "and it's because of them," and point to half a continent. If the government or business don't take the West into consideration, take it up with them, don't blame the people who just happen to live in the 'favoured' zone.
I've heard this stuff spouted so many times at SwanCons that I'm starting to find it offensive. It feels like Perth fandom is either elitist, insular, or just making up reasons to hate ES. Now that's a generalisation, and I know it's not everyone, but those who say these things tend to be very vocal about it. And if I'm feeling unwelcome, when I know I have a lot of people who actively like me over there, then how many others are being put off?
In fact, that may be why it's hard to get ES fans to head over. What I have heard said in the East is that Perth fandom hates ES. When asked why, people just wave their hands in the air and shrug. So it's hard to get people to spend the extra money to head over to start with. No matter how good the rep of the con, if they don't think they'd be welcome, why would they even bother? And how much is this backed up by the lack of advertising?
(And yes, I know it's hard to find reliable people to put out flyers in your home state, let alone other states, just making the point that it's additional reinforcement.)