Difference between revisions of "Ghost of Honor"

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Ghost of Honor
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It is moderately common for [[conventions]] to deliberately list a deceased person as a [[GoH]] with the intention of drawing special attention to that person's contributions to the field.   
 
It is moderately common for [[conventions]] to deliberately list a deceased person as a [[GoH]] with the intention of drawing special attention to that person's contributions to the field.   
  
This is slightly controversial — a few feel that it is ''always'' tacky — but the majority opinion seems to be that if done with dignity, it's a Good Thing. Unfortunately, the most common title used is "Ghost of Honor," and many people who approve of having a posthumous guest object to the [[punning]] title.  As you might expect, the temptation to pun "ghost" for "guest" is nearly irresistible, so we also see '''"Honored Ghost"'''.  Less punny terms like "'''Memorial Guest'''", "'''Historical Guest'''", "'''''Posthumous GoH'''" and '''[[Dead GoH]]''' are also used and produce (somewhat) fewer objections.
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This is slightly controversial — a few feel that it is ''always'' tacky — but the majority opinion seems to be that if done with dignity, it's a Good Thing. Unfortunately, the most common title used is "Ghost of Honor," and many people who approve of having a posthumous guest object to the [[punning]] title.  As you might expect, the temptation to pun "ghost" for "guest" is nearly irresistible, so we also see '''"Honored Ghost"'''.  Less punny terms like "'''Memorial Guest'''," "'''Historical Guest'''," "'''Posthumous GoH'''" and "'''Dead GoH'''" are also used and produce (somewhat) fewer objections.
  
 
This title is ''never'' used for a GoH who died after being invited.  The normal practice in a case like that is to continue to list the person as a [[GoH]], but to note that they are deceased. Often, special exhibits and [[programming]] honor the deceased. Sometimes an additional GoH is invited and added to the list; sometimes not.   
 
This title is ''never'' used for a GoH who died after being invited.  The normal practice in a case like that is to continue to list the person as a [[GoH]], but to note that they are deceased. Often, special exhibits and [[programming]] honor the deceased. Sometimes an additional GoH is invited and added to the list; sometimes not.   
  
But it's hyper-tacky to delist a GoH for '''any''' reason other than their own choice, and most particularly to do so because they died.
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But it's hyper-tacky to delist a GoH for ''any'' reason other than their own choice, and most particularly to do so because they died.
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{{conrunning}}
 
{{conrunning}}
 
[[Category:fanspeak]]
 
[[Category:fanspeak]]

Revision as of 02:26, 13 February 2021

It is moderately common for conventions to deliberately list a deceased person as a GoH with the intention of drawing special attention to that person's contributions to the field.

This is slightly controversial — a few feel that it is always tacky — but the majority opinion seems to be that if done with dignity, it's a Good Thing. Unfortunately, the most common title used is "Ghost of Honor," and many people who approve of having a posthumous guest object to the punning title. As you might expect, the temptation to pun "ghost" for "guest" is nearly irresistible, so we also see "Honored Ghost". Less punny terms like "Memorial Guest," "Historical Guest," "Posthumous GoH" and "Dead GoH" are also used and produce (somewhat) fewer objections.

This title is never used for a GoH who died after being invited. The normal practice in a case like that is to continue to list the person as a GoH, but to note that they are deceased. Often, special exhibits and programming honor the deceased. Sometimes an additional GoH is invited and added to the list; sometimes not.

But it's hyper-tacky to delist a GoH for any reason other than their own choice, and most particularly to do so because they died.



Conrunning
This is a conrunning page.