Well, that's the end of that.
I never intended any offense, and I'm sorry that people have taken this as a personal affront.

I started off this shtick with the explicit goal of making it a random distribution of hygiene products. Until recently, I'd heard only humorous or confused responses, and the general impression I got was that people were amused.

At the most recent Con, I took a "request" and executed it poorly. This was the only time I'd taken a request more specific than "Make sure you visit the game room" and after it was done, I'd already decided it would be the last. I wasn't happy with how it went or how I felt about it afterwards.

My first response to the recent threads on LJ was "How can I rework this so I'm not making people feel attacked?" I never intended to offend anyone or hurt their feelings. The whole point was to poke fun at a fandom stereotype and get people to laugh.

I wanted people to chuckle, not wonder if someone else thought they smelled bad, or feel like they were being singled out.

I contemplated restricting the Ninja to leaving materials on tables and displays, perhaps putting up some signs around the con reminding folks of the 5-2-1 rule. I figured if I stopped handing soap and such to specific individuals people wouldn't feel attacked and everyone could enjoy the gag.

I also started thinking of how I could apologize for inadvertently making others feel attacked. Being somewhat clueless socially, I hadn't realized there were such negative reactions to the Hygiene Ninja.

Then I saw the comments were people were threatening physical violence. I realized that some people had decided that physically attacking me was an appropriate response to being handed a bar of soap.

I lost all interest in reworking the gag. This absurd notion has gotten out of hand, and I have no interest in wondering if someone is going to kick me from behind or punch me in the face because they think a random bottle of shampoo constitutes a personal attack. While there are a lot of things for which I'd be willing to put my personal safety at risk, running around a Sci-fi convention dressed as a Ninja isn't one of them.

Until now, I'd never backed down from a bully in my life. This resulted in a lot of fights growing up, but I'd always stood my ground and gone toe to toe with whomever challenged me. I wonder if it's a sign of growing up that I'm backing down now because someone decided to raise his fist online and threaten to bloody my lip.

(Post a new comment)

	jasra 2007-01-17 05:58 pm UTC (link)
	It always seemed random to me. I'm sorry that it's escalated to threatened violence. (Reply to this)

	zeyr 2007-01-17 06:05 pm UTC (link)
	Mmmm...I'm more than a little disappointed to hear that. Violence has no place at Arisia itself or in this community, either threatened or actual. I'm sorry that you feel a need to stop what I always took as an amusing and inoffensive idea. Thank you for your contributions to the pleasant atmosphere over the years. Kelyn (Reply to this)

	buxom_bey 2007-01-17 06:08 pm UTC (link)
	*sadness* (Reply to this)

	sweetmmeblue 2007-01-17 06:09 pm UTC (link)
	Much saddness. I was going to supply the HN with fragrance free for next year cause I'm sure there are other like me who can't do fragrances. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	dda 2007-01-17 10:49 pm UTC (link)
	Stock up as I'm sure someone will fill his mask if he doesn't show up. :-) (Reply to this) (Parent)

feste_sylvain 2007-01-17 06:13 pm UTC (link)

I'll admit that I haven't read the comments. I don't know whether violence is being threatened due to the poorly-executed request, or because there exist people who use their odor like some kids used to use boom-boxes: a sensoral method of expanding their territory. If the former, you are not backing down to a bully; you are realizing that a joke didn't work, and it was unsuccessful to the point that some are overreacting. If the latter, I urge you to reconsider reworking the joke. Perhaps later, when the passion of the moment has died down. (Reply to this)

dda 2007-01-17 06:24 pm UTC (link)

I'm very sorry to read this and I urge you to stay. My initial reaction to the Ninja was negative but I came to realise that it was done in a humourous and fun manner, without intent to embarrass anyone. There should be no threats of violence at Arisia and I would hope that anyone making any would be quickly reported to Security; the con should be physically "safe space" for everyone! I wonder if it's a sign of growing up that I'm backing down now because someone decided to raise his fist and threaten to bloody my lip. I suspect that should you decide not to take up the mantle of Hygiene Ninja next Arisia, others will step in to fill your metaphoric mask. There may well be many Hygiene Ninjas next year; to paraphrase V for Vendetta, "H for Hygiene!" :-) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	zeyr 2007-01-17 06:53 pm UTC (link)
	There should be no threats of violence at Arisia and I would hope that anyone making any would be quickly reported to Security; the con should be physically "safe space" for everyone! Absolutely. There is zero-tolerance for that kind of behavior. Kelyn (Reply to this) (Parent)

(no subject) - tkitch, 2007-01-17 08:15 pm UTC

_nicolai_ 2007-01-17 06:26 pm UTC (link)

I find this very sad. The people who complain (so long and loud) about the Hygiene Ninja have both lost their sense of humour and misunderstood the whole idea. I always found the idea of the Hygiene Ninja very funny, to quote Paul E Gray "There is no truth to the rumour that I had anything to do with it but I wish there were." In scaring off the humerous response, people like skreeky leave us only with the blunt one: "You stink. Go have a shower!" and leave the world a poorer place. (Reply to this)

crazybone 2007-01-17 06:33 pm UTC (link)

Remember that a lot of people talk trash online about things they would never do in real life. This was an unfortunate incident and it appears lessons were learned by all involved. I always found the joke amusing and heck, even tried to get you as a Fan GOH at one point. The random drops will be fine. Speaking for myself and several other attendees I know we would miss the Hygiene Ninja. You're one of the running jokes that gives the con a little light-heartedness and personality. In my opinion Arisia without a Hygiene Ninja would be like a Christmas without Santa Claus. Whatever you decide, thanks for you efforts in the past. (Reply to this)

In Support of Hygene stormsdotter 2007-01-17 06:38 pm UTC (link)

After reading this post, I went back and read all the 115-odd comments. I think I may have missed one or two, because I did not see threats of physical violence. Perhaps I should post this in the other thread, but I have known the homeless person in question off an on for eight years or so. He is a very well-intentioned individual, but is not terribly clued in and does need to be politely reminded to bathe and wash his clothing. (I think that smelly clothes are as much of a problem as lack of bathing at cons, but that's another issue.) I think that as long as the reminder is polite and does not involve finger-pointing, the Antics of the Hygiene Ninja should continue. I also should add that thanks to my cleft lip, I can only breathe through my mouth and tend to have bad breath but do not realize it. If anyone taps me on the shoulder and reminds me, I will take the altoids out of my pouch and both use them and offer them to anyone standing around. -Anakin the Overly Dizzy Do'Urden (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: In Support of Hygene ladykathryn 2007-01-17 06:42 pm UTC (link)
	Your Masquerade costume, by the way? Spectacular. I intended to hunt you down and tell you that, but then I forgot. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: In Support of Hygene - stormsdotter, 2007-01-17 06:56 pm UTC

Re: In Support of Hygene - ladykathryn, 2007-01-17 07:05 pm UTC

Re: In Support of Hygene - voltbang, 2007-01-17 06:52 pm UTC

Re: In Support of Hygene - stormsdotter, 2007-01-17 06:59 pm UTC

Re: In Support of Hygene - radioactiverich, 2007-01-18 04:18 am UTC

	ladykathryn 2007-01-17 06:39 pm UTC (link)
	It is unfortunate that the misguided, hyperbolic and hypersensitive reactions of a few squeaky wheels have gotten the grease in this case; they really should have been left to rust. (Reply to this)

jetshade 2007-01-17 06:48 pm UTC (link)

I'm sorry to hear you're all done, and I hope you reconsider. I always thought the gag was funny - and people who find it offensive are probably the same kind of people who argue for all sorts of idiotic things in the name of political correctness. It always seemed perfectly random and, frankly, if Arisia doesn't think the 5-2-1 rule listed in official publications isn't offensive, then the HN can hardly be considered so. Arisia is officially telling people to eat, shower and sleep - and nobody's taken offense to that. People threatening you is just sad. PS: I know I told you to go away when you happened to nail ops desk while I was sitting there, but I, for one, certainly don't want you going away permanently. Sorry if you took that as one of the negative reactions - it wasn't you, I was just v. busy - and I still thought it was funny. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	cogitationitis 2007-01-17 08:55 pm UTC (link)
	I was the one who added the 5-2-1 rule to the A to Z. In part, it was because I'd recently advised some newbie (at another con) to remember the 5-2-1 rule, a s/he didn't know what I'd meant. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - jetshade, 2007-01-17 09:47 pm UTC

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-01-19 10:43 pm UTC

	fibro_witch 2007-01-17 06:50 pm UTC (link)
	I'm sad to hear you have decided to stop being the hygiene ninja. I was in the ops center when you popped in and dropped off a bar of soap. Or at least we think you did. Your so silent. While I did not see you hand out the soap to the person in question I wonder who it was. There are some fen who do need a regular cleaning, and are offended to have that suggested to them. (Reply to this)

joyeous 2007-01-17 07:11 pm UTC (link)

I posted on the other thread, I admit, that it did seem a little cruel to single out someone specifically. Reading this post, I am very thankful that you decided to come out and respond, to dispel all the negative rumors that you were some cruel person who was intentionally trying to mock people who were homeless. I think that says a lot. And it is probably a relief to some to know that yes, indeed, it was random and not a pointed attack at anyone who happened to smell. Most of us do want that reassurance. :-) And I think the concept of hygiene ninja is still funny. I laughed when I saw the stuff on the tables. Maybe now that this has all transpired, the hygiene ninja can still exist, just not target people specifically? Well, not if there's going to be any doubt at all that a person might get offended. If others want to step up as hygiene ninjas and actually target specific people, well, that's their prerogative whether I agree with it or not. (Reply to this) (Thread)

whouseknecht 2007-01-17 07:32 pm UTC (link)

If the HN (or anyone else) wants to leave a stack of soap on a table with a bold 72-point copy of the Con's 5-2-1 rule, great! If Arisia itself officially were to ask the hotel for a box of soap and then put them out on a Con table with a 576-point banner of the same text, that would also work. Promoting public hygiene is not, in and of itself, a problem; my objection is to the means, not the end. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - dda, 2007-01-17 10:01 pm UTC

	fireheart 2007-01-17 07:49 pm UTC (link)
	I think the Hygene Ninja is awesome. As chair of 2Pi-Con, and as a person who cannot stand people who cannot take a joke, I say that you are more than welcome at Pi-Con. I can't offer you Fan-GoH unilaterally, but I might be willing to talk to my staff about it. (Reply to this)

	(Anonymous) 2007-01-17 07:49 pm UTC (link)
	Oh, hell no. *awaits going home to check staff email* (Reply to this)

pathin 2007-01-17 08:34 pm UTC (link)

Another instance of the collective 'wussifying' of Aresia. After years and years and years of attending considering the outrageously innane reactions of people to the skank party and now this remarkably funny and harmless act I have never been so utterly disappointed in my fellow con-goers. To anyone criticizing the Ninjas, to you I say get both a life and a thicker skin. It's people like you that seek to make the world a dull place, the very opposite intent of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. *shakes head, disgusted and ashamed* (Reply to this)

	tamidon 2007-01-17 08:40 pm UTC (link)
	bummer. I was only against the concept of targeting, but the bitching seriously got out of hand. Sorry an asshole drove the final coffin nail in. (Reply to this)

	miseducational 2007-01-17 09:08 pm UTC (link)
	I'm sorry that you are stopping what I think is a valuable service. It's horrible that people are threatening you. If anyone should be ashamed, it's them. They are the bullies, not you. You've done a great job. Too bad a few had to ruin it for the rest of us because they're small minded individuals. (Reply to this)

kgola 2007-01-17 09:38 pm UTC (link)

I'm sorry you'll be stopping. I remember picking up one of your bars of soap that had been left at a table a couple years ago (I think it may have been my first Arisia, even!), and thinking it was an incredibly humorous way to deal with a very serious issue. I'd ask you to reconsider. And I'll second what most of the people here have said - those who threatened the violence (though it must have happened after I stopped reading) will probably be too coward to say anything here or to actually confront you in person. (Reply to this)

	bridgetminerva 2007-01-17 09:51 pm UTC (link)
	Anyone wanting to hurt you has to go threw me. And I wont be nice. (Reply to this)

	medievalbooks 2007-01-17 10:02 pm UTC (link)
	Free soap? Hmmm...Ninja me then. Never one to pass up anything free :) If someone is that disturbed they would threaten to physically harm you..report em to Security. We want as few violent nut jobs as possible here. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	hygiene_ninja 2007-01-17 10:04 pm UTC (link)
	I never got any threats in person. It was only online that people started talking about using violence. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - dalesql, 2007-01-18 01:48 am UTC

Public health aspects of the Hygiene Ninja c1 2007-01-17 11:36 pm UTC (link)

I'm rather upset at your decision. It's more than just "think- do you stink?" Good hygiene is more than just being nice to others; it's being nice to yourself. As I mentioned in another post regarding your practices, as an EMT I had the distinct "pleasure" to attend to a homeless man with a nasty case of trench-foot. In his case, amputation above the ankle was the only remaining option. Taking a good hot shower on a regular basis would have prevented this. How many times have we gotten back from con and promptly landed in bed for a few days with a nasty bug? It's not by mistake that the CDC maintains keeping clean is the frontline defence against illness. You weren't just protecting our tender schnozz, you probably knocked down a few microbes without realizing it. And yeah, it's nice being able to coexist with people who smell decent. There's enough people who are aware of physical threats made to you that I think you'll find enough vigilance on the part of others to make your activities safe next year. I, for one, will be looking out for you. And I'll gladly accept a bar of soap, should you tap me on the shoulder. (Reply to this)

hnybny 2007-01-17 11:52 pm UTC (link)

Personally , I never saw the ninja. I wonder if some people's averse reactions are due to the method of delivery. I mean, what if instead of a ninja, the soaps had been delivered by a "hot hygiene fairy?" Maybe she could be blowing bubbles as she flitted through the halls delivering soapy goodness. There will always be those who are offended, no matter how carefully and with courtesy you deliver them. As long as I don't see someone being "targeted," as the original poster claimed, I'm cool with it. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	macropixi 2007-01-18 12:15 am UTC (link)
	I was ninja'd. Maybe next year I could go as a filth buster (like a ghost buster, but armed with laundry soap or something?) ;P (Reply to this) (Parent)

(no subject) - hygiene_ninja, 2007-01-18 01:32 am UTC

(no subject) - twistpeach, 2007-01-18 03:29 pm UTC

(no subject) - ladykathryn, 2007-01-18 04:14 pm UTC

xdaemon 2007-01-17 11:55 pm UTC (link)

In response to those who have mentioned people talking big on the Internet... This isn't that large a community. We know who people are, because there just aren't that many of us to choose from. Threatening violence is referred to as "assault" and is a crime. Talking big is asking for charges to be filed, and anyone who really thinks the Internet is anonymous has another thing coming. (Reply to this)

	macropixi 2007-01-18 12:13 am UTC (link)
	I was doing a security patrol in the stairwell this year when I saw a lad dressed as a ninja. "Ninja!" I shouted gleefully. "Hygiene Ninja" the man corrected me gently and handed me a round of soap. I bounded away for the rest of my shift with my Hygiene Ninja soap carefully tucked away in my Cabbit backpack. Cherishing the soap, and the laugh that the ninja brought me. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Yes! stiltwalker 2007-01-18 03:43 pm UTC (link)

I had pretty much the *exact same* exchange, except I was handed a "brush up" disposable toothbrush, followed by a condom. I not only thought the concept of HN is damn funny (btw, I was one of the many many fans who was teased for random things as a child), I was extremely grateful as I had left my toothpaste in my car, and Hyatt provided me none. I had also left my other protection in my car, so I was doubly thankful to HN. Keep in mind, people, that the elevator situation was slow, thus getting back to one's room was slow, and thus Hygiene Ninja also provided quite a bit of *convenience* as well as hygiene. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Yes! - macropixi, 2007-01-18 03:53 pm UTC

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