Con Safety 102: Navigating the Nerdy Social Scene
Conventions are awesome. You get to cosplay, buy stuff, and meet amazing new people. But sometimes, meeting those new people is hard. How do you make friends while waiting in line, or tell that cosplayer that she’s the best Madoka Magica you’ve seen all weekend?
Be patient. Some people don’t like to talk a lot, or get nervous around new people. Be friendly, but don’t get offended if they don’t seem interested. The most important things to remember are the basic rules you learned in kindergarten:
- Wait in line. You’ll get your turn.
- Indoor voices. “Buttscratcher,” “Marco Polo,” and other memes are only funny the first 80 times you hear them.
- Don’t touch things that aren’t yours. That includes cosplays, props, bags, and body parts.
- Keep your hands to yourself. Only glomp, poke, or pet with permission.
- Try and look at the person you’re speaking to. At their face. Boobs can’t talk back to you, and it’s hard to hear what someone’s saying if they’re talking to the floor.
Cosplayers, especially those who make their own costumes, usually love getting their photos taken, and will pose if they know they’re being photographed. Make sure you ask before taking a picture. And please ask questions instead of touching someone else’s costume. Ask what type of fabric it is, or if the Sesshomaru hood is real fur. A lot of cosplays are a labor of love.
On the other hand, if someone is making you uncomfortable, speak up. Sometimes people don’t realize that they’re invading your personal space or asking you awkward questions. Tell them you’re uncomfortable, say why, and then disengage yourself. If it gets too intense, or your conversational partner gets rude or abusive, leave. If you’re concerned about the safety of yourself or others, notify convention staff as soon as you can.
Conventions are also full of girls. Lots of girls. And boys. In addition making new friends, speaking with the opposite sex can be full of palm-sweating, nerve-wracking anxiety. If you’re an adult, it feels like you’re back in high school. And if you’re still in school, it’s a continuation of your nightmare. What’s a guy (or girl!) to do? The good news is you’re at a convention, which means you already have something in common.
But remember: Just because someone looks eighteen years old doesn’t mean they are.
“Operation Hammond is a group of like minded individuals within the anime, scifi, fantasy and pop culture convention scene dedicated to bringing awareness of first aid, emergency preparedness and training to people who attend, help and staff anime, scifi, fantasy and pop culture conventions. The diversity and social aspects of people in this social scene are unique. We aim to bring them all together into a cohesive group that can serve the anime, scifi, fantasy and pop culture community.” For any questions or advice, please visit www.operationhammond.com.
