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Old story, I know, but one that I'd like to share.
I frequent a wonderful gather that is sometimes called Nerdi Gras, or more commonly known as Dragon Con.
Over the years as word got around about Dragon Con, 3 statements got accepted by those listening, 2 true, 1...not so much
Statement 1
DragonCon is a 4 day party where the booze does flow like water - FACT
Statement 2
Hot, HOT women in various costumes ranging from Victorian age coverage to barely there - TRUE
Statement The Third (This is the important one)
Said scantily clad women, being surrounded by geeks, freaks and NNEEEEERDS are obviously in need of good, strong fratboy loving. Not so fucking much.
Despite what CNN's fluff reporting piece here would have you believe, here's the reality of the situation.
During that weekend there were dozens of assaults, most of them sexual assaults on female attendees.
As of friday night of the con, there were 11 police incidents, 1 of which involved a con goer (average is 3-4 from Thursday night, when about 1/4 of the attendees arrive, to Monday, the final day of the con). A boardroom meeting table was thrown out a window, an elevator was set on fire, TRIPLE the amount of convention badges were reported "lost" or stolen, and many of the costumers had to put up their costumes and go mundane for half the weekend.
Reports were filed with the police, this past year new security procedures were put into effect that made the con safe and fun again, but those of us who complained to the colleges that the frat boy and jock influx had come from got told basically "Sorry, we can't control the students or influence how they act when at a football game, and no, we won't send word of this behavior nor will we be bringing it up again. Sorry your friend got bit till she bled. Toodles!"
Why am I bringing this up now, when the incidents happened a year and a half ago?
To be honest, a combination of the recent bullying thread got me to thinking, and then the SuperBowl, All Saints Day for armchair quarterbacks all over the country. It got me to thinking that someone who spends $1000 on the materials to replicate the War Machine armor (And I've seen it done. HOLY SHIT!) is pathetic and "needs to get a life", and yet if you blow $4000 per ticket to sit for a couple of hours and watch a football game you're AWESOME.
And please don't say "well, the costumer spends hundreds of hours a year on well made costumes and sports fans don't"
You mean the same sports fans who obsess over fantasy leagues, who spends countless hours watching baseball/football/basketball games, who LIVE for the next game day. These guys who give me shit because I play RPGs, LARP and enjoy time with the SCA?
So who's the bigger pussy, the one who only attacks in groups or the LARPer who is being chased down at 2 in the morning in the dark woods by a group of screaming goblins?
Hell, in high school and even some colleges, it's STILL accepted practice that if you read too many books and don't like sports you WILL be targeted and ignored if you dare to complain.
I frequent a wonderful gather that is sometimes called Nerdi Gras, or more commonly known as Dragon Con.
Over the years as word got around about Dragon Con, 3 statements got accepted by those listening, 2 true, 1...not so much
Statement 1
DragonCon is a 4 day party where the booze does flow like water - FACT
Statement 2
Hot, HOT women in various costumes ranging from Victorian age coverage to barely there - TRUE
Statement The Third (This is the important one)
Said scantily clad women, being surrounded by geeks, freaks and NNEEEEERDS are obviously in need of good, strong fratboy loving. Not so fucking much.
Despite what CNN's fluff reporting piece here would have you believe, here's the reality of the situation.
During that weekend there were dozens of assaults, most of them sexual assaults on female attendees.
As of friday night of the con, there were 11 police incidents, 1 of which involved a con goer (average is 3-4 from Thursday night, when about 1/4 of the attendees arrive, to Monday, the final day of the con). A boardroom meeting table was thrown out a window, an elevator was set on fire, TRIPLE the amount of convention badges were reported "lost" or stolen, and many of the costumers had to put up their costumes and go mundane for half the weekend.
Reports were filed with the police, this past year new security procedures were put into effect that made the con safe and fun again, but those of us who complained to the colleges that the frat boy and jock influx had come from got told basically "Sorry, we can't control the students or influence how they act when at a football game, and no, we won't send word of this behavior nor will we be bringing it up again. Sorry your friend got bit till she bled. Toodles!"
Why am I bringing this up now, when the incidents happened a year and a half ago?
To be honest, a combination of the recent bullying thread got me to thinking, and then the SuperBowl, All Saints Day for armchair quarterbacks all over the country. It got me to thinking that someone who spends $1000 on the materials to replicate the War Machine armor (And I've seen it done. HOLY SHIT!) is pathetic and "needs to get a life", and yet if you blow $4000 per ticket to sit for a couple of hours and watch a football game you're AWESOME.
And please don't say "well, the costumer spends hundreds of hours a year on well made costumes and sports fans don't"
You mean the same sports fans who obsess over fantasy leagues, who spends countless hours watching baseball/football/basketball games, who LIVE for the next game day. These guys who give me shit because I play RPGs, LARP and enjoy time with the SCA?
So who's the bigger pussy, the one who only attacks in groups or the LARPer who is being chased down at 2 in the morning in the dark woods by a group of screaming goblins?
Hell, in high school and even some colleges, it's STILL accepted practice that if you read too many books and don't like sports you WILL be targeted and ignored if you dare to complain.
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