Alcohol, drugs, and tobacco

Hexcon is a drug-free event. Using alcohol and drugs is strictly forbidden. We have a zero-tolerance policy on violations. If you see anyone drinking, using drugs, or bringing such to the event, please report to the nearest member of the committee.

Smoking is strictly forbidden at Hexcon. This includes e-cigarettes, vapes, and similar. Attendees who wish to smoke outside may do so, but please refrain from smoking near the entrances. Snus is allowed, but please help us maintain a clean environment and throw used snus in the trash.

Photography

We ask everyone to respect others during Hexcon. If you wish to take photos, please ask permission first – this is mandatory if the pictures are to be published. You need permission to post pictures of others in private groups, your own profile, social media, other online forums, or in print.

Respect others

Our goal is for Hexcon to be save and enjoyable for all. We therefore ask attendees to do their best to respect each other during the festival. We respect all people, regardless of gender identity and gender expression, orientation, function, ethnicity, faith, appearance, and age. Please let us know if you experience or observe something you find unacceptable or in violation of the code of conduct. Respect others consent and boundaries. Remember that it is better to ask one time to often than one time to little to avoid misunderstandings and unpleasantness. You may also contact Hexcon committee members if you have questions or need advice.

Games, consent and content warnings

Some games may contain themes that may be difficult or challenging. Hexcon recommends all hosts to think through if your game may contain such themes, and evaluate if it's necessary to include a content warning before playing commences. If so, please include this in the game's descriptions so that attendees may evaluate beforehand if your game is for them.

It may also be necessary to use tools that allow the players to determine if there are some themes that they do not wish to include, or offer players the opportunity to easily communicate during a game that some aspect or theme isn't working for them. We recommend using simple signals like break/cut or yellow card/red card to slow down or take a break in the game and discuss what isn't working. This can give players space to express themselves where it might be difficult to immediately voice what they are experiencing. Consent must be respected in games, and don't include elements that players have indicated they do not wish to be included.

It is also possible to take the initiative and check if someone looks like they are uncomfortable or aren't enjoying themselves. If someone experiences something that is difficult to handle, it is also ok for that person to withdraw and take a breather.

We have suggestions for extra tools you may use if you need them:
Innholdsadvarsler og sjekkliste: RPG Trigger Warning Free Checklist – House Of Lolth
Tools for signals and communication during games: https://thoughty.itch.io/script-change

Harassment, conflicts and other disagreements

We want Hexcon to be enjoyable for all attendees. Our goal is that everyone treat each other nicely and respect each other. Hexcon does not tolerate any form of harassment, and we ask attendees to contact the clearly marked committee members if you experience something that you feel is unacceptable during the festival.

Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

  • Verbal interaction that alludes to social structures of systematic oppression - e.g., on the basis of gender identity or expression, orientation, function, ethnicity, faith, looks, or age.
  • Deliberately threatening behavior and stalking of others.
  • Ongoing and unwanted photography or sound recording.
  • Deliberate and unnecessary interruptions of the contributions or activities of others.
  • Unwanted and inappropriate physical contact, including violence against others.
  • Unwanted sexual attention.
  • Supporting or encouraging any or all of the above bullet points.

We also see attempts at excluding others from games or activities based on assumptions or prejudice ("gatekeeping") as unwanted, and ask everyone to avoid this - and let us know if this is something you experience at the festival.

If we are alerted to an occurrence, we will talk privately with the person who alerted us. We will then talk privately with the one or the ones alleged to have behaved badly. At these meetings, we will be two representatives from Hexcon, and the meet in a private area where we can talk without being disturbed. Our goal is listening and handling what has happened to the best of our ability. We take all reports of unwanted behavior seriously.

We will write a confidential incident report, including what happened and who was involved. Only members of the committee will have access to the report.

Hexcon reserves the right to respond to unwanted behavior in a manner we deem appropriate. If we need to take action against someone, we expect them to follow our directions. We will give warnings at less serious infractions, but at the third warning we will expel the offending attendee from the festival. With serious offenses, warnings will not be given an expulsion will be immediate. We do not refund tickets of attendees who have been expelled for inappropriate behavior. We will also inform the Hexagon board of any expulsions.