[SML] job ethics

[Riter, Andrew]

And when "harm" doesn't reach physical, but may only be emotional?

"trans people are mentally sick" "there are only 2 sexes, determined by the genitalia between your legs"  "gay people are abhorrent" "ni***r"

These words can harm other people.  We had 1 trans person speak up against Shapiro.  It didn't go well.  They left in tears, based on shapiro's words, and audience reaction (cheers, laughing).  They chose to come, they chose to speak, they walked into the lion's den.  But they were harmed.

I don't know if any of our trans / non declared staff worked that event, so I don't know if they were harmed that were directed at another like them, but not directly at them.

It's a big can of worms.

We also produced "Black Like Me: an exploration of the word n******"    a story piece, with dancer, and a panel discussion of Black people about the use of n******, either by white or Black people.  The word was said in full several times, by audience and panelists, and in recordings when used abusively.

Some could have found the event disturbing, harmful.  But in this case it was more of a scholarly discussion, rather than a rally or rant about "them."

Andrew M. Riter  
Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician
Chan Centre 

Phone 604 822 2372
andrew.riter at ubc.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: Stagecraft <stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net> On Behalf Of Mick Alderson via Stagecraft
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2021 11:36 AM
To: stagecraft at theatrical.net
Cc: Mick Alderson <mick.alderson at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [SML] job ethics


Speaking for myself, I’ve always regarded such jobs as “just another gig”. I am a stagehand. My job is to provide a service to facilitate events, not pass judgment on them. I take that back; stagehands _always_ pass judgement! :-) Besides, I am usually an employee of the venue or perhaps a contractor for such calls. It’s not my place to tell my employer who to accept as a client. Of course, with Covid19 wiping out most events of any sort since March, the question did not come up this year. 

It helps that I firmly believe, for example, in the right to speak your mind as loudly as you want SO LONG AS you extend the same privilege to everyone else, AND so long as nobody else gets hurt. (You can hurt yourself if you want.) Threats and intimidation cross the line, as that inhibits the free speech of other people. Encouraging or doing actual violence to others is simply beyond the pale.

On the other hand, while I may support your right to say what you want, no private person or entity should be FORCED to support  or enable an opinion they don’t agree with. My ethics tells me to support the rights of those I disagree with right up until they cross my personal line, i.e. when someone else is harmed, according to my definition of harm. It is your right to draw YOUR line in a different place, to follow your conscience and act accordingly. Your definition of “harm” may be different than mine. I respect that.

Yet words and actions are not without consequences. If you cannot do a gig because of your personal ethics, you must accept that there will undoubtedly be a cost. Withy luck, the cost will only be monetary.

Mick Alderson
IATSE 470
USITT Midwest Section




____________________________________________________________
For list information see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
Stagecraft mailing list
Stagecraft at theatrical.net
http://theatrical.net/mailman/listinfo/stagecraft_theatrical.net