The downside of being a TMNT fan part 2

[TommyT]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

The alternate is what though, try to be the fandom police? Tell people they can't do something because it makes some outsiders think all fans are weird?

Wasted effort since no one is going to stop them from doing their own thing, and wasted worry, because people who generalize all fans of a thing based on a few, just like people who generalize all people of any demographic, are the ones with the issue and aren't worth the concern.

Most people do actually generalize, to some Extent, including yourself with that last part of your quote. Obviously I wouldn’t suggest a policing of fans, but bad actors in any group, do the group no favours.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

The alternate is what though, try to be the fandom police? Tell people they can't do something because it makes some outsiders think all fans are weird?

Wasted effort since no one is going to stop them from doing their own thing, and wasted worry, because people who generalize all fans of a thing based on a few, just like people who generalize all people of any demographic, are the ones with the issue and aren't worth the concern.

A small fact that escapes a lot of normally operating people in our day to day lives - we assume that we are just watching an "idiot" jump around, or you read something on a forum and assume the guy is an "asshole" when in fact the internet gives anonymity to all people.

If anyone here wants a real wake up call? Consider this - you go to a comic convention and talk to any given, slightly short tempered comic book dealer. You, a normal person who is just living your life as correctly as possible, never gives any consideration to who that dealer is outside of how he treats you in that moment. But think about the total sum of the situation. Why exactly are so many of those guys going around the country, from con to con all the time, no health insurance, super vested in comic books? Because they love them? How about how many of those guys are ex-cons and can't land a structured job so they do stuff like convention sales of collectibles to make some money. I'm not saying that all conventioneers are ex-cons - hahahaha! But I'm giving you some perspective about the truth of these hobbies.

Normally operating people often don't even consider these things because it's so far off our radar that it doesn't make sense. But it's true. How many people never check their sex offender registry in their neighborhood - go head and do that after you read this. Everyone go ahead and do that.

The point I'm making for everyone here is that, sure there are a lot of good people in the hobby. But also that a lot of the strange **** you read from some "asshole" on the internet could very likely be coming from a sociopath or some handicapped person, or even just some dumb kid - but you'll instinctively visualize some adult, confrontational male. Then you turn off your computer to go to the comic book convention where all of the "good and great fandom is". Consider that nice and dedicated comic book dealer and then consider how many of those guys are there because their hugely felonious record is keeping them from any standard employment. Then go home to your house, in your nice neighborhood where you realize that you've got 5 registered sex offenders within 4 blocks of your place.

This all sounds really terrible, but again -perspective-.

[TommyT]

Originally Posted by IMJ

I'm not saying that all conventioneers are ex-cons - hahahaha! But I'm giving you some perspective about the truth of these hobbies.
Normally operating people often don't even consider these things because it's so far off our radar that it doesn't make sense.
This all sounds really terrible, but again -perspective-.

Hold on, I’m not an asshole. I am saying we all get painted by the same brush, and that’s just reality.

If you’ve been to enough cons, you realize its made up of broken people, and outsiders, and then the famlies that like to go slumming to laugh at the animals, so to speak. Yes, a good number are there because they can’t get a real job. The others are addicts. Its not good natured when you roll back the log and shine a light. Not by a long shot.

That kid could just be a super fan, but if I was less forgiving, I might see an young man, whose lost his grip on reality, and owns weapons. If he were dressed like the Punisher, we’d have an even steeper hill of denial to climb.

[IndigoErth]

Eh, I guess I'm just less cynical on the assumptions than you guys. While an ex-con would give me pause...if some previously troubled person is turning their life around and if it's something they've found to do with it and are making a better life...then really, good on them and a past they've left behind is not really my business if they're a different person today.

Geeze, I hope you guys don't assume everyone at those things is an ex-con, or otherwise troubled or jobless.

From experience of having been behind the table once at NYCC, I can vouch for the fact that there are also some wannabe upstarts, etc too, not just people selling junk. I'm sure my friend who bought the spot to try to promote his little studio would be shocked to hear that he's a jobless ex-felon seeing how he's an animation teacher and just an eternally big kid at heart. lol

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by TommyT

Hold on, I’m not an asshole. I am saying we all get painted by the same brush, and that’s just reality.

If you’ve been to enough cons, you realize its made up of broken people, and outsiders, and then the famlies that like to go slumming to laugh at the animals, so to speak. Yes, a good number are there because they can’t get a real job. The others are addicts. Its not good natured when you roll back the log and shine a light. Not by a long shot.

That kid could just be a super fan, but if I was less forgiving, I might see an young man, whose lost his grip on reality, and owns weapons. If he were dressed like the Punisher, we’d have an even steeper hill of denial to climb.

Yup, really well said dose of truth.
As for the kid in particular, I go back to the developmental level thing. He's probably not operating at a well adjusted level in any situation.

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Eh, I guess I'm just less cynical on the assumptions than you guys. While an ex-con would give me pause...if some previously troubled person is turning their life around and if it's something they've found to do with it and are making a better life...then really, good on them and a past they've left behind is not really my business if they're a different person today.

Geeze, I hope you guys don't assume everyone at those things is an ex-con, or otherwise troubled or jobless.

From experience of having been behind the table once at NYCC, I can vouch for the fact that there are also some wannabe upstarts, etc too, not just people selling junk. I'm sure my friend who bought the spot to try to promote his little studio would be shocked to hear that he's a jobless ex-felon seeing how he's an animation teacher and just an eternally big kid at heart. lol

I've been to a llloottt of conventions in the past. As I get older they tend to be less and less fun, and I don't go like I used to. But I was just painting an eye opening picture for how these things work, and that picture was more about the selling population than the regular convention attendee or the guys on artist alley, you know?

There are some truly high profile sellers at many of these cons as well - make no mistake. Guys who have built really good buying relationships across the country or otherwise have really dug in and somehow always have market mover books.

But everything is just some perspective to maybe consider when you run into that weird booth with a semi-rude or awkwardly adrenaline seller at a show.

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Geeze, I hope you guys don't assume everyone at those things is an ex-con, or otherwise troubled or jobless.

Dude, I said verbatum in bold face letters above, "I'm not saying that all conventioneers are ex-cons - hahahaha".

[IndigoErth]

My bad, didn't retain that part. Long week already used up most of the short term memory.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

My bad, didn't retain that part. Long week already used up most of the short term memory.

[Leo656]

I used to buy comics from a guy who is almost certainly on a "list" somewhere. He used to do every small local "convention" or show around here. Had a little bit of everything, but a HUGE assortment of porn comics, and he was clearly way more knowledgeable about those than anything else that he sold. Invited us over to his house one time to look over some swords, battle axes, etc. Come to find out that this clearly 50-something grown man was literally living in his parents' basement. To be fair, it was a very nice house and outwardly they were very nice people.

That said... Yeah, there's definitely a story there and I'm kind of glad I don't know what it is.

[TommyT]

Con's give me a headache, not sure what it is, the lack of circulating air, or the body odor, the lights, dust, I can't say. I used to really get a kick out of the stuff, but these days, We're over stimulated, and I feel like there's nothing new or exciting to see.

[IndigoErth]

I don't know how people even enjoy those things with the crowd. Maybe some are better, but my one experience with NYCC... holy hell. Not an inch of breathing room in that place, and I really dislike crowds. Wish I could have had a look around and didn't waste the whole thing bored behind a table, but leaving just once for a bathroom break and to go hunt down an overpriced bite to eat was aggravating enough. Fun in theory, but the crowd size makes it a whole lot less so.

The genuinely fun part was having an exhibitor/vendor pass and not having to wait in that long line in the cold.

[pferreira]

Speaking from experience obsessions can be a result of neurodiversity like autism. It's only a problem if it affects finances, affects others or his ability to live.

More power to him although if I were him I'd stay away from any TV shows that claim they want to present his fandom. That way he won't have clips from his appearance used on YT videos ad nauseum for the next twenty or so years.

[TommyT]

Originally Posted by pferreira

Speaking from experience obsessions can be a result of neurodiversity like autism. It's only a problem if it affects finances, affects others or his ability to live.

More power to him although if I were him I'd stay away from any TV shows that claim they want to present his fandom. That way he won't have clips from his appearance used on YT videos ad nauseum for the next twenty or so years.

He isn't being watched very carefully, if that's the case.

[IndigoErth]

Someday he's gonna look back and wish the internet hadn't existed yet.

I mean, I tend to avoid old forum posts as it is, I can't imagine having to revisit pictures like that someday. lol


Also, holy spoiler tag, Batman, that pic is huge. I could live without such a ginormous crotch shot. lol

[pferreira]

Originally Posted by TommyT

He isn't being watched very carefully, if that's the case.

On the Internet he can kind of get lost but when you're on TV presented by Fred Willard all bets are off.

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Someday he's gonna look back and wish the internet hadn't existed yet.

He does look like he's desperately trying to pop one out.

[TommyT]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Someday he's gonna look back and wish the internet hadn't existed yet.

I mean, I tend to avoid old forum posts as it is, I can't imagine having to revisit pictures like that someday. lol


Also, holy spoiler tag, Batman, that pic is huge. I could live without such a ginormous crotch shot. lol

Sorry about that, I just linked the FB image. It is a little big.

[IMJ]

The whole point to what I was saying above about the internet giving anonymity to all people was a ginger way of explaining that you never really know who you are watching or talking to.

The kid in the video probably falls somewhere on the autistic spectrum. You have to consider that.

[pferreira]

Originally Posted by IMJ

The kid in the video probably falls somewhere on the autistic spectrum. You have to consider that.

That might be true but yeah we don't know. To be fair there are a lot of kids his age dressing up in their favourite franchise costumes. Think about all those kids who have run around in their garden dressed as Batman or Superman. Or what about kids running around the house dressed up as a Power Ranger? It's not uncommon.

[TommyT]

Originally Posted by pferreira

That might be true but yeah we don't know. To be fair there are a lot of kids his age dressing up in their favourite franchise costumes. Think about all those kids who have run around in their garden dressed as Batman or Superman. Or what about kids running around the house dressed up as a Power Ranger? It's not uncommon.

He’s not a kid. He’s a young adult carrying a weapon.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by TommyT

He’s not a kid. He’s a young adult carrying a weapon.

Dude doesn't even have a bed - his mattress is just chillin' on the ground.

[Andrew NDB]