Eastercon and diversity

[nanila]

lapswood was kind enough to send me a few photos he took at Eastercon last month. I thought this one made a nice illustration of some points that were made about PoCs and the (lack of) diversity at science fiction conventions.

This is from the panel I was on. Myself, the gentleman next to me and the man on the opposite end from me are all working scientists. The other man is the moderator - I'm not sure whether or not he is a scientist.



When I look at this picture, the first thing that pops into my head is the Sesame Street song: "One of these things is not like the others/One of these things just doesn't belong."

Visually, the thing that doesn't belong is me. And that makes me sad. What does it make you think?

Comments

[miss_s_b]

The one that looks out of place to me is the moderator, possibly just because of the pose and the moment that the picture has been taken, but he looks like a serial killer contemplating his next murder, and totally separate from the rest of you.

But yes, agreeing with the other commenter; you look like you are alert and engaged and authoritative, not like you don't belong. I'm still going to have that song in my head all day, though.

[magister]

Agreed. You look like you're in control and comfortable being in front of an audience. The others look nervous, particularly the one at the far end from you.

[nanila]

That's ironic, considering that I was probably the only one who actually was nervous. This was my first such panel - the others all knew one another and had done them before.