Representation matters, and seeing people like yourself represented and listened to is important to feeling included. In a hobby that historically caters to white, cis, hetero males (and still has some very loudly upset about even having the *option* of representing others), other demographics may not feel at ease.
It's getting better, yes, and Gen Con is so far quite good at inclusiveness, but again there's always room for more measures. Listening to groups who may feel unwelcome and finding out what can be improved is how you find out if there are problems that someone not from that group doesn't see.
I did not care for how this survey was presented, either. Many of the questions did not have options that applied to me. I think they should have had text boxes on all of the questions that were multiple choice, since most of those options were not what I've experienced or encompassed any of my concerns about the subject matter. I, too, didn't answer #12. Overall, I think they could have done a much better job with it. I answered what I could and was allowed to answer, though.
But, as a female and multi-racial attendee, I find this comment to be somewhat offensive. We need explicit welcome? That's basically saying we aren't welcome into spaces unless specifically invited. Do you hear yourself?
What you and this survey are doing wrong is 'othering' us. And, if you aren't familiar with the concept, look it up. I've never felt like an outsider at the convention until now. I'd like to just show up at the convention and not feel like I have to put on a diversity show for you so that you can feel better about how inclusive you are.
As others have said here, you can market to underrepresented communities especially if your demographic info shows need to do so. But that's a lot different than pointing at those of us here and saying look how different they are. That's like a gaming table that says OMG A GIRL IS GOING TO PLAY WITH US. I've never had that experience at Gen Con and I don't want to.
I felt the survey was pigeon holeing me to a direction. Some questions had no answer for me to select. Probably why it didnt finish for me.
Saying "everyone is welcome" does not address the historical exclusion of certain groups, and does nothing to address implicit exclusivity. Spaces that have been primarily populated by cis hetero white males can feel unwelcoming if one doesn't fit into those categories. That's why I'm wary of going into game stores, comic shops, etc, that aren't explicit in their support for other populations. It's all well and good to say everyone is welcome, but being clearly anti-racist/LGBTQIA+ supporting/anti-misogynist and so on makes it much more comfortable and safer to enter and participate. I've been in shops where "everyone is welcome" that just turned a blind eye to creepy and transphobic comments, and at cons where "everyone is welcome" and no one did anything about racists making nasty remarks at Black cosplayers.
Again, the survey was oddly worded in places, but exactly how are potential problems to be addressed if they aren't pointed out?
This may not be popular, but you will NEVER be all-inclusive and treat others equally until you learn to stop identifying and pointing out people by their differences and truly see them all as the same. If we continue to focus on our differences, then we are going nowhere.
I admit, I paused with the claim to be able to look around and identify not male-presenting, not white, but identify 'cis' on sight. Still, that's not a deal-breaker for writing a poll....though this one could have used more work before publishing.
Assuming everything is fine doesn't help, and doesn't identify problems that may be apparent to some and invisible to others. And the survey is trying to identify places that could use fine tuning.
As far as placing blame on the attendees, I don't see it doing so when 'one of' the areas being asked about is the code of conduct. Checking to see that things are working as intended in several areas doesn't imply blame on anyone. It's checking to see if things are working.
Except, as noted, the poll didn't ask if things were working. Please don't invent excuses for the poll in this, it needed work, we understand. Hopefully a second one will come out that will not have the faults identified here.
Better wording for a better poll for better overview of what needs to and can be done.
Better for everyone.
I do like that we all agree the survey should not have wasted the time of the people who think everything is great and we should stop pretending people are different.
This survey shows the biggest issue with this so called "woke" generation. They believe that they are enlightened, but they walk around with their delusions of what inclusion and diversity actually means. They focus on whatever special interest group, minority, or sexual orientation they are or identify with while ignoring anyone that isn't them.
The survey should have neve?r gone out in the form that it was as it makes a mockery of what diversity is actually supposed to be.
Gen Con is obviously focused on the LGBTQ segment and everyone else is second class or not as important to them. They can claim that is not the case, but the survey made it obvious that is the case otherwise why place the focus on the LGBTQ segment?
I get that members of the LGBTQ society do face public ridicule and other pressures in their lives that the rest of us do not. However Gen Con should simply go back to treating all attendees the same and stop segmenting the attendees. It could come back to bite them in the arse.
As I have stated earlier in this thread I have attended each Gen Con since 2001. I have never had any issues with sitting down with anyone at a gaming table. I don't care what the color of your skin is, what religion you belong to, or what your sexual orientation is. You could even have a third eye in the middle of your forehead. I might need some time to get used to that, but as long as you are there to have fun in whatever event you are participating with me we are good.