How To Be The Most Annoying Person At Worldcon, 2026 Edition

I posted a thread on Bluesky about an annoying person at Worldcon (originating thread starts here), and I’m posting it here as well for archival purposes. It’s useful information! Pay attention to it!

1. So, at the Worldcon this year there was a person who was going from panel to panel, bothering panelists by trying to get them to “collaborate” with them on a project and sliding the proposed project to them on a piece of paper. Folks, I cannot stress to you how obnoxious this sort of thing is.

2. First, they’re at a fuckin’ panel, they’re not going to have time to discuss anything else with you. Second, it’s inappropriate to corner anyone in a time/place where they can’t leave. Third, such proposals should route through an agent/representative, not be presented at a convention.

3. If some random presents me with anything in the hope of collaborating with me, I AM NOT TAKING THAT SHIT. I’m not even looking at it. It’s an open invitation for that random to attempt to sue me later for “stealing their idea” or whatever. Also, fuck you, random, for putting me in that position.

4. When, in fact, this person showed up at a panel I was on and tried to slide a paper at me, I did not take it and I immediately shut them down with “No,” and a refusal to have anything to do with them. I have the advantage of notability that I can be blunt and curt, but not everyone does.

5. I did not look at the paper presented to me but others who looked at theirs told me that what they had seen there had all the hallmarks of being “AI” generated, so that’s somehow even more obnoxious; this person bothering panelists couldn’t even be bothered to come up with their own bad ideas.

6. This person at the convention was annoying enough to enough people that they were eventually reported to convention for, effectively, harassment. I don’t know the final disposition of the complaint, but the fact is this person shouldn’t have been pestering all these people in the first place.

7. DON’T BE THIS PERSON. If you see an author you like/respect/have somehow heard of at a con (or anywhere else), don’t try to rope them into business then and there; they’re busy and not there for your convenience. At most, ask them (BRIEFLY) who their agent is so you can route the proposal there.

8. I cannot stress enough how rude and unprofessional it is to rock up to an author (or other creative) who has no idea who you are, in a time and place where they are there for other purposes, and pitch them on a “collaboration.” Official business channels exist. Use them. Don’t be an asshole.

9. I’m not naming this person because I don’t want to either punch down or give them attention. But the issue isn’t just about them, it’s more general advice to aspiring folks who think there’s a “cheat code” to getting attention. There’s not. To be seen as a pro, act like a pro. Not like this.

10. As always, I end a long thread with a photo of a cat. Smudge thanks you for your attention.

— JS