Nightelf verbalized:
NOTE: I'm not exactly serious.... but I *am* a bit pissed off... you
bastards have been rubbing everyone's noses in this 'I went to the con'
thing - it's really starting to piss me off... (no offense intended,
just an observation... think about it from everyone else's point of view
for a change...)
Now, now...take it easy...there are a lot worse things in the world to get
upset about. True, bakayaro's comments were rather crude and tasteless, but
that is, sad to say, expected from some people.
Well, in my defense, I have to say that's just the way I work. I did drop
the smileys in the note, and had I been serious, I fully expected Brett and
the others to completely have roasted my butt. Seeing that they didn't
either they realized I wasn't serious, or they are still fuming and should
blow up at me early next week. :)
A con atmosphere is a unique one: it's like a playground, only for older
folks. As a result, some people tend to develop a childlike attitude
toward it. This is not a bad thing, per se, but it can result in immature
behavior and attitudes regarding it. I have worked at several cons
(in fact, I'll be working security at a sci-fi convention this weekend) and
have seen this attitude and have kicked people out of cons for actions from
it. True, such unenlightened words from such an esteemed member as
Albercrombie is a disappointment to read, but sadly not a total surprise
given the subject. Nor is it an excuse for you to use similar dialogue. A
word of advice: If you must insult, do it with subtlety. Speaking out
without caution merely lets your adversary know that they have hit a soft
spot.
The odd thing is, you seem to have taken more offense than the people that
reside in Austraila. (I looked at your address, and it didn't end with
'.au' so I assume you are not in Australia.)
Nightelf
nwl9354@tamvm1.tamu.edu
"The night is my companion, and solitude my guide..."
-Sarah McLachlan, "Possession"
All in all, I don't think that we (people in the States) are bragging that
we have cons, and you (everybody else, this case - Australia) don't. It's
more of like you said, 'cool - I'm going to a con!'
I really don't know anything about the con situation in Austrial. That's
why I posted the note asking did Australia have cons at all (paraphrased).
I do not feel regret that I, or others post here and rec.arts.anime that
they went to a con and had a great time. It's just something that people
do, and we are happy about it. I had a great time at Katsucon and I'm sure
I would have a ball at AnimeExpo - IF I WAS GOING. I'm not, but I'm not
sad - I'll get their eventually.
Like I said, I don't know anything about Australia, but I do feel that if
the folks in Australia want to go to a con - they need to think about
holding one themselves. This is how anime cons started in America, and
eventually started on the East coast - somebody, somewhere said - "this
sucks, I'm going to do it better."
>From the responses that I've read lately, it seems that there are
SF/anime/gaming fans to be found in Australia. Why not hold a general con
and do a little of everything? Some Movies, some gaming, some of this and
a little of that. Hold it in a big city (Sydney) or someplace easily
accessable and see who comes.
Hothing gets done until somebody tries.
Believe me folks, I would have loved to have been able to send plane tickets
to everybody, but I'm not that rich (I'm lucky I can get lunch!). It would
have been fun to have met you all.
I am also willing to bet that if you did want to try this, the folx on the
ML and on rec.arts.anime would be willing to offer support any way they
could. Ideas are always free.
$0.02
AlberCrombie
--==-=-=-=-=-====-==-----===-=-====-----=-==-=-=-=-=-===-=-====-=----===-===
Ranmamaniac: SOS, CON, COR, LOR, OCS, OAA
cesnyd01@starbase.spd.louisville.edu
URL: http://www.spd.louisville.edu/~cesnyd01
AlberCrombie ---- The One And Only Space Gopher
"Due to multiple budget cuts, the light at the end of the
tunnel has been turned off. Effective immediately."