Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the status of Think Galacticon?
A: We'd love to be able to say that there will be a Think Galacticon in Summer 2008. And most importantly, we really want to keep up the momentum generated by the first Think Galacticon-- your enthusiasm, flexibility, and, most of all, your thought-provoking discussions were what made Think Galacticon what it was. We want to see all of you (and your friends! and their friends! and other nifty people!) again.
As many of you know first-hand (or at least second-hand), running a convention takes a lot of people-power, dedication, and time. This year, many of the first convention's concom members have been occupied with moving, starting graduate school, starting new jobs, new relationships, and numerous other things (good and not so good) that life tends to throw at people. We and other folks interested in the future of Think Galacticon have also been debating what that future should be-- we have some ideas, we have enthusiasm, and we *definitely* have supporters (including people who have already volunteered to help with future events, for which we are eternally grateful), but we feel that we need direction, a mission, a concrete idea of what Think Galacticon should be before we can move forward. How should our politics shape Think Galacticon and the process of making it happen? How can we do geek activism as well as talk about it? These aren't simple questions, alas. To be brutally honest, we're a bit stuck right now. Life has thrown numerous distractions at us, and as many people who've been involved shaping something like this probably know, the process is not an easy one.
All of this is to say that we're very sorry, but there will not be a Think Galacticon 2 this summer, and we're sorry that it took this long to let people know this -- we felt that we owed you something of an explanation of what was going on, and some indication of what the future might be, and it took some time to get that together.
We're working towards having a second Think Galacticon in summer 2009 or 2010. Eventually, we'll need a lot of help to do this (we're pretty sure that a larger concom this time around would do wonders for preventing burn-out). Right now, we would love to hear your thoughts about the future of Think Galacticon. We collected ideas at the end of the first convention, and we've been thinking about those, but if you've thought of other things in the meantime, please share them with us. We look forward to that conversation, as well as perhaps some conversations in person with those of you who are attending Wiscon in May.
Peace and good wishes,
the concom
Q: What do you mean by "radical left"?
A: Many things. Ask each member and you'll probably get different answers. For starters, let's say "well beyond Liberal or Conservative". For specifics, Think Galactic has a number of anarchist members, but also socialists, progressives, and others.
Q: Isn't the old left/right dichotomy rather tired?
A: Yes it is, which is why we tend to think of it as a continuum as well as being only a starting point. Left vs. right wing politics is a spectrum that almost anyone living in the 21st century can grasp, so it's a good place to begin. However, what that continuum includes is entirely debateable but generates discussion, which is always good.
Q: What if I don't identify myself as "radical left",
or even "left" at all?
A: Not a problem! Over the years we've had members who self-identified as Libertarians or even Republicans. All we ask is that individuals attending meetings are respectful of others and be open to the discussions we are having.
Q: How do you choose books?
A: After one of the late-year meetings (usually November or December) we each throw out 2-3 books or stories we think would make for a good discussion. A list is compiled and 12 books/stories are drawn out of a hat, with the first being January's title, the second is February's, and so on. It's really that simple. As for content or other criteria, we always seek to have as many women and persons of color as we can, as they have been traditionally under-represented in SF. We look to mix up themes and topics, but are always interested in stories that deal with race, class, gender, and sexuality. Specific topics of interest, like the environment, population, war, etc. also factor into the mix.
Q: I have a book I think your group would like, how do
I let you know about it?
A: See our Contact page for the procedure. We're always looking for interesting, politically edged fiction for next year's list.
Q: What's with the vegan snacks?
A: A number of Think Galactic members are vegan and we feel that having snacks that they can eat is just good form. Plus, vegan snacks can be enjoyed by anyone, and when done properly are just plain yummy.