So I came across this link a few days ago, but I’ve been battling an up and coming sickness, so I haven’t had the right words for a proper retort. Now it breaks down the type of guys to avoid at conventions.
Here’s an excerpt for #3, Mr. Grab-Hands:
3. Mr. Grab-Hands
This guy thinks that personal boundaries are left at the con’s door. He’ll do anything to put his hand below the level of decency and this level usually ranges mid-back to thigh. He is of the opinion that any exposed skin is fair game. And that female friend of yours you use for The Buddy System? He’ll casually suggest that you kiss her for the picture.
I have an ex-girlfriend who has fallen prey to that guy. Now I do claim to be a “costume enthusiast”, but I wouldn’t say it’s a “problem”. Nor do I think I’m a guy who should be avoided, then again I’m a bit biased. Also, #6 cracked me up, “the Name-Dropper”. Though, sometimes that guy who you think doesn’t know Mark Waid, Ron Marz, Ted Naifeh, or Big Boi from OutKast and actually does…try not to be embarassed too much now when you try to call him out on it.
In addition to the “fangirl invasion“, should there be a list of types of girls to avoid at cons?
Why can’t we all just get along?
August 31st, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Please, Lan. Tell us of the horrible fangirls ruining your convention experiences.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Mr. Trippe, you may be a very talented artist, but your condescension there is obnoxious. As a female fan and occasional con-goer, I think that it’s reasonable to make a comparable list. To say that there are only bad male fans is its own kind of sexist.
Among the bad female fans I’ve seen:
1) SOME Twilight fans: Yes, I do thinking camping in the middle of the hallway with complete disregard to others is crappy behavior.
2) The Groupies: We know they’re there. And so do you.
3) Cosplayers that reveal too much in a desperate bid for attention.
4) Squealers: Yes, that is your movie star crush on stage. Act like you don’t have to sound like a dolphin to show your appreciation.
5) The Tragically Hip Indie Girl.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:40 pm
@ Mr. Trippe: I don’t let anyone ruin any con experience
con crud, however, is another story.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:02 pm
with so much recent attention to fangirls (and not just of the twilight variety), i don’t see why there shouldn’t be a list of females to avoid at cons. jenny’s list is a good start. and anyway– i think the article is purely in good fun. as in any large social or professional gathering– there are just bound to be those stereotypes that one cannot avoid. but we can certainly try.
NOW– as an aside, mr. pitts– i shake my head at you. name dropping in an article that chides the name-dropping fanboy?
for shame.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:44 pm
While I have limited experience at cons, I find that both the original blogger and Mr. Pitts have valid points. As a general rule, nerds aren’t always socially acceptable, even among their own people, and can be more than a little creepy in such settings. However, being a girl, and a teenage girl at one point not so long ago, I can tell you with ease that there absolutely women to avoid at cons. Or in general. Fangirls are scary, crazy things, and not too few of them are obsessed to the point of being questionably dangerous.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:09 pm
@ Jenny: I don’t think Dean was being condenscating, but your list is a good example. Especially #1…ESPECIALLY @ SDCC. As well as the groupies. It is rather annoying.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:16 pm
I think that cons are going to be getting a huge culture shock/surge as time goes by since I think the face of the “fanperson” is changing. I think we all have the love of whatever genre type we are into in common though we all should realize that we’re coming from all different walks of life and places. Let’s all grow up
August 31st, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I implore you to make your own list. Thank you for reading mine and discussing it, guys.
August 31st, 2009 at 10:27 pm
The tragically hip indie girl!! She can be spotted by the tell-tell clothes that are found at a thrift shop and are worn by the dozens of other indie girls plus by the chronic fatigue she shows from staying cutting edge hip 24/7!…I was at Charlotte con this year and i saw numerous examples of the fanboys to avoid.The fangirls i saw looked totally harmless,most of them looked quite shy and kept to themselves.
September 1st, 2009 at 8:03 am
way to continue the stereotypes of the annoying fanboy at conventions. sure, im betting all of those are true to some extent but it comes across like every convention is full of nothing but them. which just makes people that normally dont go to conventions, probably not want to attend.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:23 am
I think the list is made in fun i got quite a laugh from reading it.As comic fans we all have met at least 1 of the people on the list.Does that mean that everyone at cons is like the people described on the list?No.Its just a list that was made to pick a little fun at fanboys and fangirls. I love my fellow fanboys and fangirls but i dont see anything wrong with a little self deprecating humour.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:39 am
Mike T, you couldn’t have said it better! Have I experienced all of those kinds of guys (and more) at conventions? Yes. Have they ruined my convention experience? Not so much.
This list was purely made in jest. I cannot believe I even have to explain that point. And if people read my list and take it seriously enough to not want to go to a convention instead of experiencing it themselves, I’d have to assume they’d also jump off a bridge if everyone else was doing it.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
My favourite part of this rebuttal was the name-dropping.
As a fangirl myself, I wouldn’t be embarrassed about “calling out” a name-dropper. Even if you do know the people you’re discussing, when the hell would “Big Boi” ever come up in conversation with a stranger at a convention? I’d more than likely wind up embarrassed on behalf of the person resorting to name-dropping in an effort to keep a conversation interesting.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Once and for all, LAN PITTS DOESN’T KNOW ME! It’s all LIES!!!
See you at Dragon*Con, Lan.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Seriously, name-dropping is lame. I know because Scatman Crothers told about it one time.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I tend to do the opposite of name-dropping; when I’m talking about someone and I think it may be misconstrued as name-dropping, I tend to drop their last name from the conversation and end up with “My friend ____” or “my old buddy ____.”
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 am
Dude name dropping guy is soooo annoying….Mark waid,bendis,brubaker,Van sciver!
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:55 pm
i am definitely the mobile boozer. although instead of a flask of balck velvet, i just walk around with a bottle of southern comfort. i also have no interest in chasers or frat houses. i will see you at dragon*con in 2 days. avoid me if you want/can…
June 19th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Seriously, name-dropping is lame. I know because Scatman Crothers told about it one time.minolta np-200 battery