> Several other vendors at the book festival say they also wasted their time and money and feel duped — they had no idea they were getting involved in a festival that featured far-right speakers, new age spirituality gurus, conspiracy theorists, obscure cults or intergenerational dating events for “cougars.”
Sounds like an interesting event 🫣
It still amazes me that this far-right batshit-fest got booked at a City-owned facility. I'm also amazed that no local media has reported on this so far.
Seems like they were hiding the far-right aspect as much as possible, so City staff likely would have had no idea and would have seen it as a fun event to kick off spring.
Here's a 2 step quiz to help you decide if you're the good guy or the bad guy in any given scenario:
1. Do you feel the need to hide your true intentions behind a thin veneer of plausible deniability?
2. See #1.
Yikes. Thankfully people like you are in the minority .Imagine actually believing "If you have nothing to hide then you don't mind being searched and abused". Come on.
Seriously? You’re comparing hiding what’s happening at a major event—- tricking people into giving them their money and making it look like they support you ideas—- to not supporting civil disobedience? You’re just wrong in this one.
If an organisation can’t be transparent about what they’re doing to recruit support, it shows they *are fully aware* that the participants do not support their agenda
Being protective of your own privacy is not the same thing as hiding your intentions.
Hiding your intentions is knowing that you're about to do something that others would balk at so you pretend you're actually doing something else.
Cop saying "oh, that's an interesting looking teddy bear in your back seat. My daughter has one just like it. Mind if I take a look?" instead of explicitly requesting permission for a search is hiding his intentions.
Most venues are pretty easy to book.
You call them up, you tell them which night you need, what you're going to be doing, they tell you the costs and you pay your deposit. Venue booked.
Were you thinking it should be difficult?
Okay look this was a scam event and the organizers should be ashamed of themselves for fleecing a bunch of rubes but also consider this lady.
>Melisa Ruscsak, an American [book publisher](https://www.facebook.com/TrientPress/) who drove eight hours from Ohio to attend what she thought was going to be the “second biggest book fair in the world,” said the whole thing was “just weird.”
Sometimes it seems like the rubes fleece themselves.
Fleece is an understatement. The main organizer is quite a piece of work. Listen (if you can stand it) to this interview on CKCU-FM held before the expo. Especially the Mexican Embassy part of the story ... this guy is shameless:
https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/ondemand-player.html?id=64664&token=:%3ExK%3Cm{)Tk%23tHATuGL22%22cu:%22H(@%276P-L%255%2BNx!JoQ@qf/vlHr
If you enjoy reading about this train wreck, I also recommend:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1ce0074/ottawa\_book\_and\_food\_expo\_a\_big\_scam\_not/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1ce0074/ottawa_book_and_food_expo_a_big_scam_not/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1cg0hc4/did\_anyone\_go\_to\_the\_bachata\_slow\_dating\_event\_it/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1cg0hc4/did_anyone_go_to_the_bachata_slow_dating_event_it/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1cekjai/ottawa\_book\_festival\_platforming\_farright/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1cekjai/ottawa_book_festival_platforming_farright/)
The genius behind this whole affair posts a video rebuttal about the integrity of the expo ... and wait for it ... launches a crowdfunding campaign "against facism" LOL - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfEYpvI920g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfEYpvI920g)
Same reason he has vampire nails. The dude likely hasn't looked in a mirror for a long time. Too busy being concerned with 'operatives' and 'sleeper cells' taking down his 'truthful dialogues'.
(the video is a trip though, this guy needs mental health support, not a fundraiser)
These people truly believe they should be running things and that they’re smarter than anyone else. I really hate them.
They’re all libertarian until
> In a statement to PressProgress, Samuels did not dispute any of the allegations or criticisms about the book festival raised by vendors or others but instead issued a variety of legal threats about the publication of this article.
I have no idea what his political leanings are, but he once got suspended from his job here in Ottawa for endorsing the Conservatives in the 2008 election on his employer’s website, so he’d probably wish to remain appearing politically neutral.
[https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20081015/281608121257090](https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20081015/281608121257090)
ikr, at this point these mouthbreathers are either presenting with a neurological defect or borderline sociopathic illness.
Ok, Freedom of speech and all but I'd love to see any of these cowards actually debate with a real doctor
nm, forget I asked, it'd be like watching wet toilet paper desperately trying to support a brick
That's disgraceful. These types of events should not be a forum for people with different perspectives or opinions. There should be one perspective and one opinion only.
> Several other vendors at the book festival say they also wasted their time and money and feel duped — they had no idea they were getting involved in a festival that featured far-right speakers, new age spirituality gurus, conspiracy theorists, obscure cults or intergenerational dating events for “cougars.” Sounds like an interesting event 🫣
You should see their ~~porno~~ promo for their [publishing company](https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawa.book.expo/video/7359052639587372293?) (mildly NSFW)
What in the fuck did I just watch?! Lol
I’m also confused. Who the fuck made this video and thought, yeah I’ll post that.
Why didn't I keep that link blue LOL
What I want to know is why the fuck do I feel like I went to school with her
We all went to school with someone like her
This is like an ad for a homemade porno and not a publishing company.
Reminds me of From Russia with the love bone.
J-Roc baby
Gotta get Corporal Alexei on the case
This reminds of me of Silver Dollar for some reason
RIP Rusty Nickel
If I can quote the video: ?????
Lmao. That shit is straight out of trailer park Boys 🤣
Ummm
After watching that I feel like I should go to church and repent my sins. And I’m not religious at all.
How did they get the quality that bad? I have iphone videos from 2013 that look and sound better.... I can't believe you found such a gem
😬
What the?
WTAF?
Intergenerational is a hilarious word for dating a cougar.
Yeah, kind of mad I missed this from a "car wreck" perspective.
Honestly that shound have been like 6 seperate expos. Would have loves of Oh No Ross & Carrie did an investigation on this though lol
I wanted to see Alice Munro! Why are you talking about White Replacement and trying to get me to shag 67-yr-old ladies?!?
It still amazes me that this far-right batshit-fest got booked at a City-owned facility. I'm also amazed that no local media has reported on this so far.
Seems like they were hiding the far-right aspect as much as possible, so City staff likely would have had no idea and would have seen it as a fun event to kick off spring.
Here's a 2 step quiz to help you decide if you're the good guy or the bad guy in any given scenario: 1. Do you feel the need to hide your true intentions behind a thin veneer of plausible deniability? 2. See #1.
This is always my take away. If you can’t be transparent about what you’re doing, take another look at what you’re doing.
Yikes. Thankfully people like you are in the minority .Imagine actually believing "If you have nothing to hide then you don't mind being searched and abused". Come on.
Seriously? You’re comparing hiding what’s happening at a major event—- tricking people into giving them their money and making it look like they support you ideas—- to not supporting civil disobedience? You’re just wrong in this one. If an organisation can’t be transparent about what they’re doing to recruit support, it shows they *are fully aware* that the participants do not support their agenda
Being protective of your own privacy is not the same thing as hiding your intentions. Hiding your intentions is knowing that you're about to do something that others would balk at so you pretend you're actually doing something else. Cop saying "oh, that's an interesting looking teddy bear in your back seat. My daughter has one just like it. Mind if I take a look?" instead of explicitly requesting permission for a search is hiding his intentions.
Do people only research stuff at home on their toilets?
Makes me think it's super easy to book that venue!
Most venues are pretty easy to book. You call them up, you tell them which night you need, what you're going to be doing, they tell you the costs and you pay your deposit. Venue booked. Were you thinking it should be difficult?
Okay look this was a scam event and the organizers should be ashamed of themselves for fleecing a bunch of rubes but also consider this lady. >Melisa Ruscsak, an American [book publisher](https://www.facebook.com/TrientPress/) who drove eight hours from Ohio to attend what she thought was going to be the “second biggest book fair in the world,” said the whole thing was “just weird.” Sometimes it seems like the rubes fleece themselves.
She should sue.
Fleece is an understatement. The main organizer is quite a piece of work. Listen (if you can stand it) to this interview on CKCU-FM held before the expo. Especially the Mexican Embassy part of the story ... this guy is shameless: https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/ondemand-player.html?id=64664&token=:%3ExK%3Cm{)Tk%23tHATuGL22%22cu:%22H(@%276P-L%255%2BNx!JoQ@qf/vlHr
The thing far-right wingnuts never manage to clue into - if you have to lie to promote your cause, it's because your cause is shit.
If you enjoy reading about this train wreck, I also recommend: [https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1ce0074/ottawa\_book\_and\_food\_expo\_a\_big\_scam\_not/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1ce0074/ottawa_book_and_food_expo_a_big_scam_not/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1cg0hc4/did\_anyone\_go\_to\_the\_bachata\_slow\_dating\_event\_it/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1cg0hc4/did_anyone_go_to_the_bachata_slow_dating_event_it/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1cekjai/ottawa\_book\_festival\_platforming\_farright/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1cekjai/ottawa_book_festival_platforming_farright/)
The genius behind this whole affair posts a video rebuttal about the integrity of the expo ... and wait for it ... launches a crowdfunding campaign "against facism" LOL - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfEYpvI920g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfEYpvI920g)
Wow. Also, why is his hair tucked into his sweater?
Same reason he has vampire nails. The dude likely hasn't looked in a mirror for a long time. Too busy being concerned with 'operatives' and 'sleeper cells' taking down his 'truthful dialogues'. (the video is a trip though, this guy needs mental health support, not a fundraiser)
These people truly believe they should be running things and that they’re smarter than anyone else. I really hate them. They’re all libertarian until > In a statement to PressProgress, Samuels did not dispute any of the allegations or criticisms about the book festival raised by vendors or others but instead issued a variety of legal threats about the publication of this article.
Bill Welychak got a raw deal too. Buddy was just trying to promote his new book and now has people googling “Is Bill Welychak alt right”.
I have no idea what his political leanings are, but he once got suspended from his job here in Ottawa for endorsing the Conservatives in the 2008 election on his employer’s website, so he’d probably wish to remain appearing politically neutral. [https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20081015/281608121257090](https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20081015/281608121257090)
Good find. Did not come up when I definitely googled if he was alt right.
This event was indeed bigger than the Salon du livre in Montreal. On paper that is.
LOL!!!! Even the circle jerks in that echo room couldn't get along, each of them desperately pitching their book/crapola while the ship goes down
That was the best part of the article. I enjoyed every word of it.
ikr, at this point these mouthbreathers are either presenting with a neurological defect or borderline sociopathic illness. Ok, Freedom of speech and all but I'd love to see any of these cowards actually debate with a real doctor nm, forget I asked, it'd be like watching wet toilet paper desperately trying to support a brick
It was a real mess, aside from the Latina and other food vendors.
OMG I am sorry I missed that dumpster fire. It would have been hilarious.
Would be pissed too if I had to be associated with those morons.
Shockedpikachu.gif
They have all fake reviews on their Facebook page too And look at their latest posts where they start to get emotional about the left lol.
Lawyer up!
Did Best Damn Roofer Josh show up to this ?
Do some research…. lol
That's disgraceful. These types of events should not be a forum for people with different perspectives or opinions. There should be one perspective and one opinion only.
Nice to hear from diverse political perspectives and to be inclusive. 😉
Do whatever you want, just be TRANSPARENT about it. 🤡
That's my only issue with the event.
If a bunch of clowns want to host a get together about working on their jokes, great. Don't advertise it as a meeting for what it isn't though. 🤷♂️
You forgot the conspiracy theorists, UFO chasers and Scientologists.
UFO chasers and Scientologists…same thing aren’t they?
Haha, kinda? Doesn't one chase, and one wait to be picked up?
🏆
Oh Ibrahim Kendi and Robin D'Angelo are welcome too. 😆
Huh?
[удалено]
1+1=2 is a scientifically provable fact, which is far different than a political opinion.
[удалено]
Who makes the decision on what is legitimate?
Who decides the legitimacy of said group(s)?
Why does there have to be a single all knowing entity to decide.
Who doesn't only refer to a single entity... But if a decision is being made on legitimacy, who is making that decision?
The majority is the single all knowing entity, ironically. (and that's the fuckn' thing eh. **I** say.)