Comicgeekdad's Anti-Troll Message concerning Heroes of Cosplay
Who the hell are You? You might be asking me that question.(Or Not-
since this is my first actual Blog on Tumblr,or most recent blogs on Blogger and Facebook notes) I'm no one of consequence
really, Just a guy who loves comic books and comic book movies, Science
Fiction, Fantasy, a founding member of the Band Sick8teen as well as
lead guitarist who was at one time President of the Richmond Star Wars
Fan Club, A member of Rebel Legion and 501st, a skinny "older Dude" who
has just recently started making youtube video Vlogs about what I love, a
former Cosplayer who is interested in returning to conventions... And
Dare I say it a viewer of Geek channel, as well as one of the millions
of viewers on SyFy's Tuesday Night line ups. I am a Father/stepfather
of Five kids, who has slowly turned my progeny into the the new
generation of Geeks or Dorks, or how about this adjective- Lover of
things that are cool. At least to me, and a few million others out
there. I am one of those who was ridiculed, and made fun of by people,
when liking things like Comic Books, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings,
Harry Potter, Dr. Who, werewolves, Monster Movies, Conventions, were not
cool.
But first and foremost, I am a human, not just text on a Blog. One who reacts to what I see, and read. And yet so are others who have taken the time or effort to try to show "the Masses" what us geeks and dorks like to do when we have a passion. Some of us are brave enough to put our thoughts into cohesive thought in a Blog, some are able to convey their passions in unique videos on Youtube,some are even Brave enough to go in front of a camera to do it,(although not me, I might break the camera) whether on Geek channel,Whether on AMC with Comic Book Men, whether they have their own SMODcasts. Or their own pod casts, Blogs etc. Some spend hours of sweat, blood, tears, time, effort, and money, to bring creations into real life for a weekend conference. Not for the sake of ego, but for the love of things, characters, people, they are passionate about. ( And to me it doesn't matter if they had a camera crew following them around or not.) It doesn't matter if they are expirienced Cosplayers, with a little cash to Burn, or the novice Cosplayer trying it out for the first time, the bottom line is...We who Cosplay have a Passion for what ever character we chose to inhabit during a convention.
Heroes of Cosplay has it's supporters and it's detractors. But let's not forget- It was a vehicle for the"masses". A window to hopefully draw attention to our Passion and an attempt to God Forbid bring new people into our world with fresh perspectives, and new ideas where they could for a couple of days not be them but be someone else who they love, admire, look up to whatever. A chance to see what happens in prepping for a convention. A chance to experience something those of us who have done for a while. Was it entirely without controversy, no because we (meaning both the viewers, as well as certain bandwagon jumping cosplayers) are human. A few of us are threatened when someone new may come in to an already established Clan of people, and try to participate. It happens with everything, A good Book, a band that you find personally motivating, a character who has gained the attention of the masses. And There is a subconscious fear that any one new might cheapen or lessen what ever it is that we think makes us cool, and set us apart from the sheep out there. This belief however is Horse Shit Guys and Gals. And it's this belief that seems to perpetuate the in fighting to not only Cosplayers but Dorks and Geeks in general, now that the masses have discovered things that we took ownership of, when we weren't always accepted. This goes for anyone who would call a Cosplayer from out of Town at a convention an unwanted out of towner or SyFy Plant, or any one who would consider themselves elite amongst others who do the same exact thing we do, whether it's done with the same price tag, talent, efficiency, what ever, just because we believe in our own hype and momentum, even if it could be just dumb fucking luck. We're clannish, suspicious, Judgmental, and sometimes stubborn and...dare I say it- Stupid. I'm right there too. I've prejudged others, I'm not casting stones with out having been guilty of the same things. Though I've grown up and become wiser in my years on this planet. it's not questing for world peace. Some of us need to take a step back and shrug, and remember why we chose to Cosplay in the first place. I might be naive but I could have sworn it was because of the love of our chosen mediums, whether it be animae, comic books, video games, what ever.
There has been bashing, trolling, and fallout from the events that happened at a convention in Kansas City, but that incident is only one of a million incidents that happens with people in the cosplay community. Whether they have a bit more exposure, or whether they fell into a situation and now feel victimized because "they were forced to swim in the deep end." Let's not forget one very obvious and important thing. We who cosplay- dress like fictional characters for fun, it's not curing cancer (unless we are doing an event for cancer), it's not questing for world peace. Some of us need to take a step back and shrug, and remember why we chose to Cosplay in the first place. I might be naive but I could have sworn it was because of the love of our chosen mediums, whether it be animae, comic books, video games, what ever.
To Chloe Dykstra, Jessica Merizan, Holly Conrad, Becky Young, Jesse Lager, and Rikki Lacotey...I'll say it again. Thank you for trying to show the cool side of Cosplay for the masses. For The Dr.'s Who troop in Kansas, sorry for those who are attacking you electronically through posts and Blogs such as this, but keep in mind there are two sides to everything, and truth is usually in the middle. Thanks to all for giving the masses some what of an understanding of why we do what we do. To those who are trolling, my thoughts are this.
"If you will practice being fictional for a while...you will see those who are fiction sometimes are more real than those with bodies and heartbeats"-Richard Bach
But first and foremost, I am a human, not just text on a Blog. One who reacts to what I see, and read. And yet so are others who have taken the time or effort to try to show "the Masses" what us geeks and dorks like to do when we have a passion. Some of us are brave enough to put our thoughts into cohesive thought in a Blog, some are able to convey their passions in unique videos on Youtube,some are even Brave enough to go in front of a camera to do it,(although not me, I might break the camera) whether on Geek channel,Whether on AMC with Comic Book Men, whether they have their own SMODcasts. Or their own pod casts, Blogs etc. Some spend hours of sweat, blood, tears, time, effort, and money, to bring creations into real life for a weekend conference. Not for the sake of ego, but for the love of things, characters, people, they are passionate about. ( And to me it doesn't matter if they had a camera crew following them around or not.) It doesn't matter if they are expirienced Cosplayers, with a little cash to Burn, or the novice Cosplayer trying it out for the first time, the bottom line is...We who Cosplay have a Passion for what ever character we chose to inhabit during a convention.
Heroes of Cosplay has it's supporters and it's detractors. But let's not forget- It was a vehicle for the"masses". A window to hopefully draw attention to our Passion and an attempt to God Forbid bring new people into our world with fresh perspectives, and new ideas where they could for a couple of days not be them but be someone else who they love, admire, look up to whatever. A chance to see what happens in prepping for a convention. A chance to experience something those of us who have done for a while. Was it entirely without controversy, no because we (meaning both the viewers, as well as certain bandwagon jumping cosplayers) are human. A few of us are threatened when someone new may come in to an already established Clan of people, and try to participate. It happens with everything, A good Book, a band that you find personally motivating, a character who has gained the attention of the masses. And There is a subconscious fear that any one new might cheapen or lessen what ever it is that we think makes us cool, and set us apart from the sheep out there. This belief however is Horse Shit Guys and Gals. And it's this belief that seems to perpetuate the in fighting to not only Cosplayers but Dorks and Geeks in general, now that the masses have discovered things that we took ownership of, when we weren't always accepted. This goes for anyone who would call a Cosplayer from out of Town at a convention an unwanted out of towner or SyFy Plant, or any one who would consider themselves elite amongst others who do the same exact thing we do, whether it's done with the same price tag, talent, efficiency, what ever, just because we believe in our own hype and momentum, even if it could be just dumb fucking luck. We're clannish, suspicious, Judgmental, and sometimes stubborn and...dare I say it- Stupid. I'm right there too. I've prejudged others, I'm not casting stones with out having been guilty of the same things. Though I've grown up and become wiser in my years on this planet. it's not questing for world peace. Some of us need to take a step back and shrug, and remember why we chose to Cosplay in the first place. I might be naive but I could have sworn it was because of the love of our chosen mediums, whether it be animae, comic books, video games, what ever.
There has been bashing, trolling, and fallout from the events that happened at a convention in Kansas City, but that incident is only one of a million incidents that happens with people in the cosplay community. Whether they have a bit more exposure, or whether they fell into a situation and now feel victimized because "they were forced to swim in the deep end." Let's not forget one very obvious and important thing. We who cosplay- dress like fictional characters for fun, it's not curing cancer (unless we are doing an event for cancer), it's not questing for world peace. Some of us need to take a step back and shrug, and remember why we chose to Cosplay in the first place. I might be naive but I could have sworn it was because of the love of our chosen mediums, whether it be animae, comic books, video games, what ever.
To Chloe Dykstra, Jessica Merizan, Holly Conrad, Becky Young, Jesse Lager, and Rikki Lacotey...I'll say it again. Thank you for trying to show the cool side of Cosplay for the masses. For The Dr.'s Who troop in Kansas, sorry for those who are attacking you electronically through posts and Blogs such as this, but keep in mind there are two sides to everything, and truth is usually in the middle. Thanks to all for giving the masses some what of an understanding of why we do what we do. To those who are trolling, my thoughts are this.
"If you will practice being fictional for a while...you will see those who are fiction sometimes are more real than those with bodies and heartbeats"-Richard Bach
posted by Joel at 5:31 AM
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