Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 16:39:58 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: 2007 Worldcon
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

Ted has a point.  For the past 24 years, every Worldcon outside the US
has been smaller than every Worldcon inside the US.  (Yes, even last
year's Torcon was smaller than *any* US Worldcon during that period.)

When we met in Australia, there were more Americans than Australians
present, even though there were fewer than half the usual number of
Americans who attend Worldcons.

On the other hand, the NASFiC argument is unpersuasive.  Europe has
an annual convention which is always combined with the Worldcon when
the Worldcon is in Europe.  Similarly with Australia.  So what's so
special about North America having an annual convention which is
combined with the Worldcon when the Worldcon is in North America?

I can sympathize with the desire to put "world" in Worldcon.  And the
Worldcon has been, not just in Canada and the UK, as Jim Kling points
out, but also in Australia (three times), Germany, and the Netherlands.

However, I see little point in voting for a location I probably won't
attend.  Between my financial situation, the exchange rates, the
continuing war on terrorism causing airline travel to be unpleasant
and chancy, my 27-year-ago felony false conviction nominally banning
me from many countries, and the fact that overseas Worldcons are
generally not as well put together as US and Canadian ones, I don't
plan to vote for or attend any more overseas Worldcons for the
foreseeable future.  I will probably be selling my membership in
next year's Worldcon.

Also, those same exchange rates which make the UK and Japan
unattractive vacation destinations for non-wealthy Americans, make the
US *more* accessible to foreigners.  At least those who are willing
and able to run the gauntlet of US Immigration.  (Hugo nominee Charles
Stross said he's only attending this year's Worldcon because it's
before certain changes will take effect in how US Immigration treats
British visitors.  After those changes take effect, he plans never
again to darken our door until those changes are rescinded.)

I've decided not to vote in the site selection this year, for the
first time in 17 years.  Yes, it will make it more expensive for me to
get a membership in the '07 Worldcon if I do decide to attend (which
I'm unlikely to if Japan wins, as it probably will).  But I should
have more money later.  If I am *still* unemployed in the summer of
'07, I will proabably be homeless, and completely unable to attend
anything I can't walk to and enter for free.