announcement concerning vuvuzelas

[BigGuy]

                                                                             Sorry for the lateness of this announcement.  

This stuff is already in the con and hotel  policies and also Portland law, these horns are capable of giving people permanent hearing damage in close enclosed areas(90% percent or more of con space)
 Please be kind and considerate to your fellow attendees and con staff and anyone else who might be anywhere near you. We really don't want to have to confiscate these things, or to have to ask people to leave if they hurt someone.


In light of the problems caused by vuvuzelas (a horn popularized during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa) at other anime conventions, the staff and volunteers of Kumoricon 2010 would like to remind everyone attending Kumoricon 2010 of the following:

• Noise disturbances are explicitly against both Portland law (Title 18) and hotel policy, and may have consequences beyond those spelled out in Kumoricon policy.
• Kumoricon Convention policy states in part, “Anyone who engages in any of these activities [including ‘Overly loud or disruptive behavior’] will be given a warning. If an attendee continues the behavior, or engages in similarly offensive behavior, their badge will be removed, and they will be asked to leave the Convention Space. Egregious or extreme cases may result in a badge removal without a prior warning.” (Emphasis added.)

Blowing a vuvuzela is an example of overly loud or disruptive behavior, possibly an egregious or extreme case. Blowing one within a yard of someone's ear exceeds the threshhold of pain, can cause hearing damage, and will always be considered an egregious or extreme case. Please be kind to your fellow con-goers, and don’t endanger their hearing.

[nikkiolie]

So they are allowed as long as people are responsible?

[moiramctaggart]

@ nikkiolie

(90% percent or more of con space)

* Noise disturbances are explicitly against both Portland law (Title 18) and hotel policy
* Kumoricon Convention policy states in part, “Anyone who engages in any of these activities [including ‘Overly loud or disruptive behavior’]

Blowing a vuvuzela is an example of overly loud or disruptive behavior, possibly an egregious or extreme case.

These things can't really be quiet. If it is present someone will blow it.

Sorry if I am overstepping my bounds BigGuy.

[@random]

So they are allowed as long as people are responsible?

If I understand correctly, then technically the answer's no.

They're allowed as long as people don't blow them, period. For any reason.

(Sorry if that's the same thing you meant - I'm just picky about wording.)

[pepito]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNWOItZHLEQ

I believe this is the unofficial policy on vuvuzelas


Seriously though - if you are caught blowing one of these in con space you are not only violating Kumoricon's rules, you are breaking the hotel's rules and Oregon Law.

[BigGuy]

They are allowed as visual props only, if they are blown at all it's a policy violation, and breaking Portland law. We will probably be peacebonding them so people know that if they are used, the least that will happen is the vuvuzela will be confiscated(returned last day of con) if you hurt someone, you will most likely be banned from the convention.

[@random]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNWOItZHLEQ

I believe this is the unofficial policy on vuvuzelas


Seriously though - if you are caught blowing one of these in con space you are not only violating Kumoricon's rules, you are breaking the hotel's rules and Oregon Law.

That is a great idea.

BigGuy, any chance we could get a Dewar flask full of liquid nitrogen for this purpose? 

[Kasper]

SO does this include fog horns?

[kylite]

*looks at kasper unblinking with eyebrows raised*

[Agent47]

To be honest, I've never heard of a vuvuzela until this thread.

But I value my ability to hear, and from the sounds of it, a vuvuzela even at 2 meters(6.6 feet), it can still do damage to your ears if you hear it for more than like 60 seconds.

I don't know what you guys think, but considering con last year, a 12 foot radius could potentially house 5-20 people, depending on the time of day, and/or if an event just got out. That could potentially lead to some bad results if some dick or child decides to blow into one inside.

[Bresslol]

Wait, I can't recreate this at con? MY PLANS ARE RUINED =(

[@random]

*looks at kasper unblinking with eyebrows raised*

I could be wrong, but I think that means "No." 

Seriously, I hope people won't push the point. If you know something is overly loud or disruptive, please don't make us tell you that. We don't want to, and you don't want us to.

Kumoricon isn't a court of law, it's a place for people to have fun. There are loads of wonderful things to do this weekend - harming your fellow attendees' hearing is not one of them. And it will not be tolerated.