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STATEMENT OF PERMANENT WITHDRAWL FROM STEAMPUNK CONVENTIONS

While I had been absent for a couple of years, I had been on planning to return to the convention circuit this year. You may have seen my posts to that effect. I had been talking to Steampunk Symposium and Teslacon as well as a few other conventions as well.

With the emergence of facts concerning Steampunk Worlds Fair and Wicked Faire (Which I have not attended), I had realized what I thought were isolated incidents I have encountered, were actually epidemic across the scene. I truly began to be concerned about the safety of people in my circles, and what obligations I could have in helping to stop this. In truth, the only thing I could do was to be vocal about my dismay.

Now I believe in due process and having never met Mr. Mach personally (that I am aware of), I believe that any allegations against him proceed in the proper legal manners. If true, then he should receive the full consequences of the law.

As a person who has been sexually victimized as a child, and being married to a woman who was the victim of violence and abuse with her last partner Mary and I arrived at the conclusion that the con scene was no longer a 'safe place'.

It is not just the sexual predation that worries us, but the people who have been complicit in inaction and direct action to cover these things up. When you choose to protect the scene rather than the lives of those attending it - the scene is doomed to fail, and fail spectacularly.

And while this is why Mary and I will no longer do conventions, we still believe we have a few contributions to the genre. Make no mistakes we love Steampunk as a cultural motif, but simply have decided to withdraw from the public eye permanently.

One thing has been made clear to me is that any perceived attack on 'the scene' is enough to be regarded as a heretic, troublemaker or 'leech'; as if contributing writing and ideas to the cultural milieu is not enough. I'm sorry but that's a lie.
I say this with full awareness that I have three remaining Steampunk projects in the Pipe; An audiobook of Fairy Dust Never Rusts with a fantastic acting troupe. I will be having a Kickstarter coming up - which all funds will be directed to our actors.
I ask if you're a fan of the Airship Neverland Saga to be involved with that crowdfund so our actors can be paid. I myself will receive zero money from the promotion.

I have decided to come forth at this time and be out front with the fact that I am deeply troubled that so many people in the scene have remained silent on these transgressions and offense against women and girls, and the exploitation of vendors and crafters.
In my seven years I have encountered absolutely marvelous con heads that have been fantastic, generous and kind in helping me as an author; Al FoxEric Jon Larson, and Morgan Kollin. I owe these gentlemen a great debt of thanks.

In light of this latest revelation, I can no longer keep quiet on the disturbing trends I have seen in my time; I watched a con head be sexually harassed - and when I checked on her she was shaken but okay. I have myself was threatened and near attacked with violence by a drunken Con goer, who was then protected and me shunned from the con scene in that state - because he had connections. I've been screwed over by a con head, who lied about his resources and then shafted a hotel where his con was held.

Look I love Steampunk dearly; the genre and the people. There have been so many awesome people I have made friends with; Erika JardenJoey MarsocciThomas Dean Willeford and so many more. These are people of kindness and generosity. I have had many deep conversations with Savan Gupta and will treasure them forever.

But people, if you can't keep young people safe from sexual predators, and have places where men and women can be free from sexual harassment, outright rape, and violence I cannot in good faith take my wife, son, daughters, and grandchildren to cons.
I know that Bobbins and Fox do their level best to have safe and pleasant cons but they cannot be held accountable because evil people slip into cons. It is up to the Steampunks themselves to police the scene, out predators and harassers and to report any offense.

So I say this to both praise that which is good in the Steampunk community; the art, the brilliance of the crafters, musicians, filmmakers and writers who sustain the wonder of Steampunk, but to condemn those that protect the evil that is rotting the scene and destroying the lives and innocence of young people, and the souls of men and women who have been exploited and cheated.

I will still craft some more worlds and contribute to Steampunk, but I must now do so from a distance until, or unless we can roust the serpents from our brassy Garden of Eden.

Ty,
John White and Airship Neverland.