I can't stress enough courtesy to people having mobility issues... many times last year I saw scooters or wheelchairs at a dead stop for minutes or more while people just pushed past them and around them without letting them move...
This will be my first D*C, but I've been doing other cons for years, and this is one I rarely see brought up:
COMFORT LEVEL, COMFORT LEVEL, COMFORT LEVEL. This is about more than just 'no touching without asking,' this goes for a lot of behaviors. Believe me, I'm really happy to go to D*C and let my freak flag fly, and I'm not saying 'COVER UP!' or 'BEHAVE!' (heavens no, I'd be a hypocrite) but there's a difference between making really awful jokes 20 minutes into a conversation at the bar with a new friend and walking up to a total stranger and starting a really uncomfortable conversation.
Like there's a difference between 'yeah, I'm having a great time at the con. I've actually been to a few drawing panels, I draw some 18+ stuff so I like to see other artists, and share my work at D*C' and 'HI STRANGER CAN I SHOW YOU MY PR0N.' I know most of us are wacky pervs, but I'm sure there are people there who aren't and. It's just rude to assume you know what everyone's comfort level is based on the fact that they're a nerd like you. :D
I am not joking, people do this. I promise you, you will only serve to make yourself the horror story I tell people about when they ask 'why might cons not be for me?'
On the same note, if you've in a scooter or wheelchair, recognize that it is not your god given right to go everywhere FIRST. You can wait to move through croweded areas like the rest of us.
If I find the 300 lb cow on a motorized scooter than ran over my foot in the Mariott 2 years ago, I will bitch slap you into next week and crash your scooter for good measure. (trust me, after my scream, she just barreled through the crowd.)
I'm sorry, people on scooters with no obvious disability other than obesity... you will never have my sympathy after that. Police your own.
Don't act like a nobler than thou self appointed nazi bitch, whose ostentatious displays of brovado are all for the good of the community. This isn't your personal dominatrix studio, even though it's hard to do; stop acting like it's your day job as a floor manager at Walmart. Your displays of power tripping disgust me.
"Oh noes, we are such noble geeks here we can't be bothered with redundant questions, it's a waste of time cause we really have something better to do than hang out on livejournal(really..no joking..you gotta believe). Please do searches cause you know.. I haven't had a chance to douche the sand out yet today."
there is always a line to get into the good panels and shows. so its cool if you want to hold a place for your sweetie, maybe even cool if you hold a place for your sweetie and her friend, but when 20 of your closest friends show up and cut in line with you, that pisses everyone else off.
Speaking as a vendor, please be patient if a dealer's booth is swamped. Last year, I was the only one working the SEBC booth during the parade, and we were slammed! Luckily, Browncoats are some of the nicest folk out there and were content to let me fumble along as best I could.
If you really, really have to get to that panel/Q&A/whatever, please come back! We can only go so fast, especially since almost everyone pays with a CC. Then we're stuck going as fast as the machine can process.
To add to that one. Don't all pile into an elevator when there is quite obviously a person like MY WIFE! in a motorized chair waiting for the same elevator. Have some courtesy and don't say 'Sorry!' after piling into it like you really mean it.
There are some people, like me who are introverted though you wouldn't think it to look at my costume and unless they have had a few bottles of dutch courage are not necesserily social animals. I smile and a nod of the head, subtle though it may be- may be all that you get after a "hi".
It's nothing personal, it's just the nature of the beast :)
As for somebody flipping you off in an elevator, that's probably the same invidiaul who threw the glass over the balcony in the marriot. I'm going to get all crude now.
Some punk ass who doesn't belong at the con but enjoys the bandwagon.
Sadly, though we are all a loosely termed 'family' at con, there are the fools and buffoons. THankfully they are a minority.
I think when you consider the hygene factor, it really is not a terribly good idea. Also, the celebrity might be very 'Monkish' when it comes to human contact.
Also, no easy way to say this. If your butt is big enough to occupy two seats don't expect it to. Last year my wife had to tolerate an individual who assumed it was perfectly acceptable for her tush to enter into my wifes personal space.
That's all well and good, and I do understand that some people decide they want to play spped racer regardless of humanity around them, but none of us really have an idea about anothers physical impediment.
Sometimes there are accidents and in my line of work I have really learned to 'look' at a situation rather than assuming, not to disrespect you of course.
It's a tricky situation at con. It's courtesy vs logic and safety.
I think that if that were to happen in 'my' line there would be a raised objection and if necessary security involvement.
On a much smaller scale myself and wife waited in line for the Weasely twins. I just wanted to say hello. Halfway into it a mother attempted to sneak her daughter into the line and after my wife raised a diplomatic objection she was accused of being 'indignant'.
If you *are* going to hold a place in line, don't be suprised or dissagreeable if another objects to this. Everyone has to wait in line.
I'm hoping that this year things will be different. I understand that last year the vendors had a 'ridiculous' influx of customers.
I remember with a smile my attempt to look around the tables of wares, I had to pick a direction and fall into the flow of humanity, moving with the tide.
In general, I think it's fine if it's one other person, because sometimes someone has to go to the bathroom or get food for the person standing in line or run up to the room to drop something off for the person standing in line or check on the kids in childcare or call the kids or the elderly grandmother from the hotel room phone or whatever.
And on the other hand, just because you're in a chair doesn't mean that you have priority in the hallways. PLEASE watch for the people around you. I can't name the amount of times I've seen people in a hurry pop those bad boys on high and start running over feet because they felt that traffic was moving too slow
On the subject of vendors....if someone is browsing in a booth and wants to be let out, PLEASE take that step out of the booth rather than keeping them trapped in there.
I would agree. But then, I think that if it were legitimate like that the other party might state this :) We are all, for the most part very reasonable people :)
Re: Let's make it simple for the kids...
Date: 2009-07-24 12:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 12:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 12:47 pm (UTC)COMFORT LEVEL, COMFORT LEVEL, COMFORT LEVEL. This is about more than just 'no touching without asking,' this goes for a lot of behaviors. Believe me, I'm really happy to go to D*C and let my freak flag fly, and I'm not saying 'COVER UP!' or 'BEHAVE!' (heavens no, I'd be a hypocrite) but there's a difference between making really awful jokes 20 minutes into a conversation at the bar with a new friend and walking up to a total stranger and starting a really uncomfortable conversation.
Like there's a difference between 'yeah, I'm having a great time at the con. I've actually been to a few drawing panels, I draw some 18+ stuff so I like to see other artists, and share my work at D*C' and 'HI STRANGER CAN I SHOW YOU MY PR0N.' I know most of us are wacky pervs, but I'm sure there are people there who aren't and. It's just rude to assume you know what everyone's comfort level is based on the fact that they're a nerd like you. :D
I am not joking, people do this. I promise you, you will only serve to make yourself the horror story I tell people about when they ask 'why might cons not be for me?'
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 01:02 pm (UTC)If I find the 300 lb cow on a motorized scooter than ran over my foot in the Mariott 2 years ago, I will bitch slap you into next week and crash your scooter for good measure. (trust me, after my scream, she just barreled through the crowd.)
I'm sorry, people on scooters with no obvious disability other than obesity... you will never have my sympathy after that. Police your own.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 01:19 pm (UTC)Don't act like a nobler than thou self appointed nazi bitch, whose ostentatious displays of brovado are all for the good of the community. This isn't your personal dominatrix studio, even though it's hard to do; stop acting like it's your day job as a floor manager at Walmart. Your displays of power tripping disgust me.
"Oh noes, we are such noble geeks here we can't be bothered with redundant questions, it's a waste of time cause we really have something better to do than hang out on livejournal(really..no joking..you gotta believe). Please do searches cause you know.. I haven't had a chance to douche the sand out yet today."
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 01:50 pm (UTC)dont do it.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:41 pm (UTC)If you really, really have to get to that panel/Q&A/whatever, please come back! We can only go so fast, especially since almost everyone pays with a CC. Then we're stuck going as fast as the machine can process.
Thank you in advance! :-D
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:41 pm (UTC)Here endeth the rant
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:45 pm (UTC)There are some people, like me who are introverted though you wouldn't think it to look at my costume and unless they have had a few bottles of dutch courage are not necesserily social animals. I smile and a nod of the head, subtle though it may be- may be all that you get after a "hi".
It's nothing personal, it's just the nature of the beast :)
As for somebody flipping you off in an elevator, that's probably the same invidiaul who threw the glass over the balcony in the marriot. I'm going to get all crude now.
Some punk ass who doesn't belong at the con but enjoys the bandwagon.
Sadly, though we are all a loosely termed 'family' at con, there are the fools and buffoons. THankfully they are a minority.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:49 pm (UTC)Last year my wife had to tolerate an individual who assumed it was perfectly acceptable for her tush to enter into my wifes personal space.
My rant will be brief:
I despise selfish, ignorant people.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:50 pm (UTC); D
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:54 pm (UTC)Sometimes there are accidents and in my line of work I have really learned to 'look' at a situation rather than assuming, not to disrespect you of course.
It's a tricky situation at con. It's courtesy vs logic and safety.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:59 pm (UTC)On a much smaller scale myself and wife waited in line for the Weasely twins. I just wanted to say hello. Halfway into it a mother attempted to sneak her daughter into the line and after my wife raised a diplomatic objection she was accused of being 'indignant'.
If you *are* going to hold a place in line, don't be suprised or dissagreeable if another objects to this. Everyone has to wait in line.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 03:01 pm (UTC)I remember with a smile my attempt to look around the tables of wares, I had to pick a direction and fall into the flow of humanity, moving with the tide.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 03:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 03:22 pm (UTC)Watch it, love it, live it
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 03:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 03:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 04:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 04:01 pm (UTC): D
no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 04:19 pm (UTC)