Culture Doom co-creator John Carmack is headlining a 'toxic and proud' sci-fi convention that rails against 'woke propaganda' - Carmack heads the list of "guests" at the upcoming event that bills itself as a sci-fi convention for people "tired of woke propaganda."

By Andy Chalk published about 6 hours ago


(Image credit: Bloomberg (Getty Images))

Id Software co-founder and former Oculus VR CTO John Carmack is facing criticism for his recent announcement that he will be attending BasedCon, a sci-fi and fantasy convention for fans who are "tired of woke propaganda."

"I’m going to be at basedcon.com again this year," Carmack tweeted. "I had read books from and twitter-interacted with three of the authors (more since!), but I wasn’t sure what to expect last year. It turned out fun, in a grass-roots con way that reminded me of the old Space Access days.


Tweet (Archive)

"I was just going to show up as a normal attendee / fan of the authors last year, but Rob [presumably BasedCon fouder Robert Kroese] nudged me into doing a talk and some panels, and I enjoyed it."

Attending a convention is a pretty unremarkable thing most of the time, but BasedCon isn't like most. Its website claims the convention "isn't about pushing any particular ideology," while at the same time listing examples of "based beliefs" that the organizers subscribe to:

• Men cannot give birth
• Guns don’t kill people; people kill people
• A fetus is a human being
• Socialism has failed everywhere it’s been tried
• Discriminating against white people is racism

The website complains that while "sci-fi cons used to be a lot of fun," in recent years they've been dominated by "a small clique of authoritarian jerks who made them into venues for pushing social justice dogma." That in turn sparked controversies like Sad Puppies, an effort to push right-wing authors to the top of Hugo Award voting, and the misogynistic harassment campaign Gamergate, got Gina Corano fired from The Mandalorian, and drove the push "to get Critical Race Theory and other social justice garbage into schools."

It also warns that if you happen not to embrace those beliefs, you should probably stay away: "If you think people with a certain skin color can’t be racist or you expect people to use made-up pronouns when talking about you, you may want to do a reality check before coming to BasedCon."


(Image credit: BasedCon)

Carmack is known for having something of a libertarian bent—he recently defended the idea of self-made billionaires(opens in new tab), for instance—and has never seemed particularly concerned about his public image. And he gets a lot of slack, because he's a little weird and he made Doom and Quake. But headlining an event like this is a step too far for a lot of his followers on social media.


Tweet (Archive)

Tweet (Archive)

"I've been a fan of yours over half my life and it's disappointing you're going to an event run by people with such reprehensible views," one follower wrote. "Please reconsider. There's so many better tech events that would gladly have you."

"Dude, you gave me a glimmer of hope interacting with my tweets about forms of address and VR, and now you're going to a party of chuds where /this/ is their raison d'etre," another replied. "This sucks."

One Twitter user pointed out that BasedCon does not disclose its location. The event will be held in an unnamed hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but "for security reasons" does not share specifics with anyone who isn't registered to attend. I think that's a very revealing detail about the real nature of BasedCon: If you're not willing to tell people where your event is being held, maybe it's worth examining why.

The whole thing is kind of gross and sad, and there's really no arguing that Carmack isn't aware of the ugly side of the event. The website spells it all out quite clearly, and as he said on Twitter, he knows the organizer and this won't be his first trip to the show. As many people responding to the situation have pointed out, it all comes down to the old adage: Never meet your heroes. I've reached out to Carmack for comment and will update if I receive a reply.

Source (Archive)

 

[quaawaa]

From BasedCon's about page (archive):

How is BasedCon different from other conventions?​

Sci-fi cons used to be a lot of fun. They were places where people of all colors and creeds could get together to talk and learn about science fiction and fantasy books, games, movies, and TV shows. Then, starting a few years ago, things changed. Cons became increasingly dominated by a small clique of authoritarian jerks who made them into venues for pushing social justice dogma and, in the name of “inclusiveness,” shut down any opinions that didn’t align with progressive orthodoxy. You may remember the Sad Puppies saga, which culminated in WorldCon voters selecting “No Award” in several categories of the Hugo Awards rather than reward people outside their tribe. Maybe you’re familiar with the Gamergate debacle. You probably heard about Gina Carano being fired from The Mandalorian because she voiced thoughts outside the acceptable range of opinion. Undoubtedly you’ve heard about the push to get Critical Race Theory and other social justice garbage into schools.

Each of these controversies start the same way: a group of progressive malcontents moves into a space, takes it over, molds it to suit the group’s agenda, and then brands anyone who fights back as racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. For whatever reason, the problem is particularly bad in the realm of science fiction and fantasy publishing. As a result, a genre that has historically been about the unfettered exploration of ideas has become stagnant and derivative, and the people running the industry are often openly, unapologetically hostile to a significant portion of their audience. And if you’re an openly conservative sci-fi or fantasy author, good luck getting published.

The publishing industry’s hostility to authors who are critical of progressive dogma was the primary impetus behind BasedCon. I wanted to put together an event where non-leftist authors could network and where new and aspiring authors could learn from authors who had already navigated these treacherous seas. When I mentioned the idea on Twitter, someone asked, “Are non-authors welcome?” And I thought, “Why not? A big meetup of sci-fi/fantasy authors and fans sounds like it could be blast.” BasedCon was born.

Why “BasedCon”?​

In internet parlance, “based” means something like “in touch with reality.” Based behavior is the opposite of social justice activism, which is about meaningless virtue signaling and beating up strawmen. Some based beliefs include:

• Men cannot give birth
• Guns don’t kill people; people kill people
• A fetus is a human being
• Socialism has failed everywhere it’s been tried
• Discriminating against white people is racism

BasedCon isn’t about pushing any particular ideology, but honest conversations have to start with a shared understanding of reality. If you think people with a certain skin color can’t be racist or you expect people to use made-up pronouns when talking about you, you may want to do a reality check before coming to BasedCon.

From their store (archive):

From the creator's twitter (archive):

Original Tweet (Archive)

They definitely appear to live up to their name.

 

[Markass the Worst]

Cope, seethe and dilate harder trannies.

Here's some salt I found:

Spoiler: images in first tweet

Spoiler: images in second tweet

source (a)

Carmack's always struck me as a kind of don't-give-a-shit-what-people-say guy, it's surprising troons haven't caught on until now.

 

[Something Awful]

Ooof yikes, men can't get pregnant? Racism against white people is possible? Very sus, very problematic, much disappointing that someone might believe those things.

The article is fucking maddening, they're chastising Carmack for going to a con without explaining what exactly is the problem. It's just assumed that everyone must fall in line with current year beliefs, and any deviation is bad in and of itself. Scumbag journo.

 

[RACISM]

He's got fuck you money and no one can ever take away what he did for 3d programming. Good for him.

 

[WINWORLDPEECEE]

BasedJohn, OG computer man wins again.

 

[Schwarzwald]

I can absolutely get behind the intent. I've been sick of the leftist propaganda monopoly in entertainment for decades.

Having said that, I neither want in-your-face right or left ideology in my entertainment. The problem with such solutions is that it inevitably becomes a mirror image bastardization of the thing I took issue with in the first place. It's inevitably every bit as cringeworthy, pandering, and embarrassing as what it set out to be a countermeasure to in the first place. I don't just want the other side of the coin, as that solves nothing. A work can absolutely have an overarching message or theme while still being tasteful, nuanced, and not being pure propaganda, which is something that many modern works have been completely unable to realize, placing political messaging above all else.

Creating a Wonderland version of mainstream entertainment with an overtly "based" message is in no way solving the problem, in my opinion. Reading the article, it kind of seems like they're simultaneously conscious of the issue while also speeding directly toward the pitfall.

 

[Would]

So Carmack was always the based John huh?
Good for him.

DoomWorld trannies absolutely seething right now, lmao.

Edit:

Carmack is indeed the superior John.

 

[The Backwards Man]

I was just shitposting on twitter about how doomguy is faithful to the LORD our GOD all the while making reddit speds seethe and now Carmack does this. Doombros, we dabbing good on spastics.

 

[Zbk3VmLfujjzjxBd43tL]

If you're not willing to tell people where your event is being held, maybe it's worth examining why

Gee, maybe it's because every time events like this announce their location, your buddies call in bomb threats, pull the fire alarm, and start fights with people?

 

[PaladinBoo]

It is good to see a Sci-fi convention go anti-woke as nerd culture has been hit the hardest with woke shit in recent years. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come and we no longer have to be lectured about trannies, gays, racism and sexism in Sci-fi and fantasy and as well as go back to calling people Jew loving nigger fags in MMO chats and fan forums.

 

[Saxxon]

I can absolutely get behind the intent. I've been sick of the leftist propaganda monopoly in entertainment for decades.

Having said that, I neither want in-your-face right or left ideology in my entertainment. The problem with such solutions is that it inevitably becomes a mirror image bastardization of the thing I took issue with in the first place. It's inevitably every bit as cringeworthy, pandering, and embarrassing as what it set out to be a countermeasure to in the first place. I don't just want the other side of the coin, as that solves nothing. A work can absolutely have an overarching message or theme while still being tasteful, nuanced, and not being pure propaganda, which is something that many modern works have been completely unable to realize, placing political messaging above all else.

Creating a Wonderland version of mainstream entertainment with an overtly "based" message is in no way solving the problem, in my opinion. Reading the article, it kind of seems like they're simultaneously conscious of the issue while also speeding directly toward the pitfall.

I have to agree, while I do understand the necessity to have a convention without all the woke crap naming it BasedCon feels a little cringe and only invites (literal)gay ops to try to ruin the event. However, since every other convention is just leftist central, where did you want them to go?
It's nice to see that there's at least one person from the edgy 90s that's still true to himself and not a sensitive bitch.

 

[Fagnacious D]

I get a bad feeling some trannies are going to complain about Carmack's convention, get their stuff pulled offline and/or kicked of the anywhere they choose to hold the convention.

 

[AnotherPleb]

That's absolutely the game plan.

I get a bad feeling some trannies are going to complain about Carmack's convention, get their stuff pulled offline and/or kicked of the anywhere they choose to hold the convention.

 

[World Famous Quasi Payer]

I hope he has as much fun this year as he did last year.

Always nice to see good people doing stuff for themselves and the absolute scum of society seething about it!

 

[Picnic_Boy]

So Carmack was always the based John huh?
Good for him.

DoomWorld trannies absolutely seething right now, lmao.

Edit:
View attachment 5127117

Carmack is indeed the superior John.

The difference is like night and day. Carmack lists his credentials succinctly, in an understated manner that makes them sound all the more impressive. Romero instead chooses to pad out his bio with uwu bullshit and winds up sounding like MovieBob.

 

[Ducks Sorted in a Row]

The difference is like night and day. Carmack lists his credentials succinctly, in an understated manner that makes them sound all the more impressive. Romero instead chooses to pad out his bio with uwu bullshit and winds up sounding like MovieBob.

It's the difference between someone who gets shit done and someone who hasn't shipped a real product since 1996.

 

[Whoopsie Daisy]

All the faggots crying about Carmack's attendance are the reason the tech industry is in such a terrible state. Carmack was one of the founders of 3D gaming who spent his life creating what these trannies are now crying about.

Fire up the E-ovens and ban these seething fucks from tech. It would cut down on the pedo problem as well.

 

[AnOminous]

Stallone and Carmack are two dudes in the belly of the beast itself who are so thoroughly sick of this garbage they're willing to spit in the eye of these evil fucks.

 

[JoseRaulChupacabra]

What did Anita say? "Wall to wall glorification of grotesque violence." FUCKING BASED.