Discussion in the Fandom Community

[angelmage99]

Intro

Hey guys. I thought we'd do discussions about things that go on in the Fandom/Cosplay community. I'd figure I'd post a different topic here each month and we can discuss our thoughts on what is going on in our community. This topics will be more mature and is for discussion purposes only. Please do not insult each other or put down another of a different view-point.

Current Discussion

Should conventions ask for your gender prefers (not pronouns)?

Past Topics

 

[angelmage99]

I kind of have to agree with the commentator in this video. They do not need to ask for the gender preferences, but pronouns are a must. It makes it feel like someone who is heterosexual has less of a chance. They also don't recognize other minority sexual groups such as gray-sexual and their viewpoints.

I think a better way to approach this would be to do a general survey which has an option for attendance status to be added. It takes a larger look at the con as a whole and where the convention staff may want to go in the future. They could also ask artist to do a post-con survey. It gives a 'done is done' feel versus a 'judgement up front'.  

[angelmage99]

smithers456

angelmage99

I kind of have to agree with the commentator in this video. They do not need to ask for the gender preferences of people who are buying booths and tables at conventions. It makes it feel like someone who is heterosexual has less of a chance. They also don't recognize other minority sexual groups such as gray-sexual and their viewpoints.

I think a better way to approach this would be to do a general survey which has an option for attendance status to be added. It takes a larger look at the con as a whole and where the convention staff may want to go in the future. They could also ask artist to do a post-con survey. It gives a 'done is done' feel versus a 'judgement up front'.

My wife the other day asked about gender definitions and when I looked it up on the internet their was a list of over 15 different types. I remember that these additional gender types started showing up about 10 / 12 years ago. I happen to belong to a Guild where the Guild members freely let everyone know what their gender was. It took some doing to learn what the different ones meant. The Guild was a safe place on Gaia and is inactive now.

As for the question at hand I don't think that a Convention has the right to ask what some ones gender is these days. From what I learned in the other Guild it is a very personal thing to some people. For some it's like asking what medical or mental conditions they have.

Also their are more important things to consider for getting a booth or table. Yes confirming attendance is important and making sure that the convention is payed for the space. In my opinion they are going to far. Imagine if they did the same thing for a general convention ticket. Their could be less people going to the con due to the question.

I also had another thought. I first want to make it clear that I think asking pronouns is a great idea, but asking pronouns also kind of covers that second question when the person shows up at the table. It'll be clear that the sex is different from the gender when you see the person.

Having this extra question does help to make it a little more like 'oh, wait'.

On top of that it, the specific con that he was talking about is a bigger con and hence has big name people. I understand that they may be trying to get more webcomic people, but you're still going for big names. You don't need to know about the gender, you just need to know they're well-known.  

[angelmage99]

smithers456

angelmage99

smithers456

angelmage99

I kind of have to agree with the commentator in this video. They do not need to ask for the gender preferences of people who are buying booths and tables at conventions. It makes it feel like someone who is heterosexual has less of a chance. They also don't recognize other minority sexual groups such as gray-sexual and their viewpoints.

I think a better way to approach this would be to do a general survey which has an option for attendance status to be added. It takes a larger look at the con as a whole and where the convention staff may want to go in the future. They could also ask artist to do a post-con survey. It gives a 'done is done' feel versus a 'judgement up front'.

My wife the other day asked about gender definitions and when I looked it up on the internet their was a list of over 15 different types. I remember that these additional gender types started showing up about 10 / 12 years ago. I happen to belong to a Guild where the Guild members freely let everyone know what their gender was. It took some doing to learn what the different ones meant. The Guild was a safe place on Gaia and is inactive now.

As for the question at hand I don't think that a Convention has the right to ask what some ones gender is these days. From what I learned in the other Guild it is a very personal thing to some people. For some it's like asking what medical or mental conditions they have.

Also their are more important things to consider for getting a booth or table. Yes confirming attendance is important and making sure that the convention is payed for the space. In my opinion they are going to far. Imagine if they did the same thing for a general convention ticket. Their could be less people going to the con due to the question.

I also had another thought. I first want to make it clear that I think asking pronouns is a great idea, but asking pronouns also kind of covers that second question when the person shows up at the table. It'll be clear that the sex is different from the gender when you see the person.

Having this extra question does help to make it a little more like 'oh, wait'.

On top of that it, the specific con that he was talking about is a bigger con and hence has big name people. I understand that they may be trying to get more webcomic people, but you're still going for big names. You don't need to know about the gender, you just need to know they're well-known.

Identities of people has become more complicated. From what I learned a person can have a Gender Identity and a sexual orientation. It's hard to keep up with the changes and many people don't want to offend them. Freedom of expression and Freedom of speech often go hand in hand. In the United States their is a lot of problems with that lately. So using pronouns can be confusing and I feel not needed when setting up a booth or getting a ticket at a con. Unfortunately culture is now confusing. Hopefully people will act like adults at a con and everyone respectful. I'm going to be really curious as to how things go at Colossalcon in Ohio. I'm hoping for a safe and fun time for those going. I've noticed that Cosplayers in general are more accommodating than the public in general (My Opinion).

I just say what I think they prefer (if I don't know in advance) and if they correct me, then they correct me. I tell them I'm sorry and I will use what they want.  

[angelmage99]

 

[angelmage99]

smithers456

angelmage99

That was quite a telling video. What's up with Anime NYC not allowing Cosplay. Horror is a huge genre in Anime, TV series, and movies. I bet their ticket sales will be a bit lower.

From what I gathered it was cosplays that represent a fictional hate group. The ban mostly focused on Tonya the Evil cosplayers.  

[angelmage99]

 

[angelmage99]

smithers456

Interesting, sad, and typical article for these times. Ashleigh as you know Cosplay originally came from Japan. In America their is an ever growing divide between cultures, races, and color. Cosplay is suppose to be about the joy of expressing characters that you like in Cosplays and outfits.

With people who are or not Japanese complaining about people cosplaying variations of characters like color is absurd. They wouldn't do that. Everything lately is under attack. Cosplayers need to rise above the nonsense and not fall into the traps like the one that the streamer mentioned. I really feel for the lady.

Cosplay originated here in the US in the 1920s, however the modern interpretation of it is very Japanese in origin.

I watch a lot of Joey's videos. One of the topics that I wished he touched on was that African American cosplayers will often use hairstyles that are considered "black hair" for a special reason. It is a symbol of pride for them during a time that natural hair can be considered "ugly" by some (I personally think if you can rock an afro, then rock it).