Con troubles?
It seems this year's Ushicon went horribly. I keep finding wank on both sides, in Marzgurl's LJ especially this thread, and this from one of the con heads. I can't quite figure out what's going on, other than it won't be held next year.

ETA: I think I might have figured it out. Partially, anyway. Marzgurl had problems getting her press pass, wasn't allowed to film in the dealer's room, and thought everything basically sucked, so she said so. Calls of entitlement whore by driftpeasant, and lots of wanking between them and other random friends, gonsai and gaara_shinobi. The other entry in the journal of snaketao seems to sum up as UshiCon goers suck, a lot, and people were arrested, and they're sick and tired of this, so they're not doing the con anymore.


From tintedkun,
And then you wonder why many people just don't want to do this any more.

Gonsai - we (security) did NOT "shadow" you or Kris, for your information. You're not that important. Hell, I seem to remember going out of my way just to make sure your sword was returned to you, despite the fact that you have apparently gone out of your way (as have many who have replied to this post) to make the con experience an experience that has drained any willingness to continue doing a convention.

Marzgurl - the same goes for you, and that is exactly what you've done to dick me over. Truth be told, if it weren't for asshats like you, there would be no such THING as staff burn-out. I'm honestly glad I wasn't at closing ceremonies, as unlike the rest of the staff, I would have had to taken that outside immediately, and you would have been in for one hell of an argument. </b>While I admit things didn't go smoothly the entire con, you've made too much of a damn ruckus for what small crap did happen to you. You know what that tells me? You're spoiled to hell, and I have no respect for people like you.</b>

Let's just say you aren't as popular as you like to think you are, and your self-imposed power-trip will end in a burning heap as they usually do. I'm honestly hoping to be there when such a thing happens, as I'd like to see it commencing.

And as a side note, you mind explaining just what the hell I've done on the boards as a moderator to be called a nazi? I need a good laugh, after all. And before you even say I deleted personal opinions, if it's shit like calling one of our guests a hack, that's going to get deleted. I personally would rather see our guests happy than some idiot who can't keep their vicious opinions to themselves.

From moryath
Lady, what you don't know about conventions (or Ushicon) could probably fill an olympic-sized swimming pool, so I'm going to try to fill you in on a few things.

"I want my Ushicon back." I was volunteering at Ushicon before you ever went to one. I understand the underlying reasons it was created. I understand the philosophy behind it.

Allow me to clue you in.

See, here's the thing. Ushicon was created because anime fans thought A-Kon had gotten too big, too powerful, and too asshat-laden. While technically "fan-run", A-Kon was beyond pointless. They didn't feel respected as fans when they went to it, and there was no maturity to be seen. A-Kon in this regard, hasn't changed - though last year's was certainly a low point, since the dance competition mysteriously vanished and they had wonderful amounts of "fun" with the video game setup.

Oh, by the by - remember A-Kon's video game room? Gee, four screens of Soul Calibur, four screens of Halo, three of Smash Brothers, and nothing else, all the time? Here's a hint. It gets that way because the video game room is where the 12 year olds whose parents dropped them off for the weekend gravitate. Nothing more, nothing less. Sad but true, get used to it. If you want anything else in a video game room, you'll have to work hard at it and be ready for a bunch of prepubescent asshats whining about wanting to play Halo or Smash Bros all weekend long.

Getting back to point: Ushicon was created by mature fans, for mature fans, who wanted to go to a convention and enjoy themselves. They wanted a convention where they were able to have a good time, enjoying things.

They wanted a convention where real fans were respected.

Unfortunately, with success comes asshats. Lots and lots of asshats. And with asshats comes security nightmares, and customer service nightmares, and everything else.

Every time they had to compromise - putting extra security measures in the dealer's room or elsewhere, being extra careful about the badges, or whatever else - it's because, in a previous year, some asshat did something phenomenally stupid. They tried to warn people this year. They did their level best.

The sad truth is, conventions are not what they once were. A few years ago, they were real fun, and part of it was that the people going to conventions really liked anime, respected the people trying to put on a fun time for them, and wanted to enjoy being part of a community.

That's changed, and not for the better. Sadly to say for those of us who still enjoy anime, the advent of Cartoon Network and its "big" shows has started overshadowing everything.

I seriously wish we could have an ID-checked anime convention. Nobody allowed in under 18 years of age. You'd call it fascism, or evil, or whatever else I'm sure.

But if the alternative is a convention full of 14 year old asshats whose parents dumped them there for the weekend? I'll take the evil, thanks.

And as for you going on a bitchfest because some things weren't to your liking? Tough cookies. If they don't bring Ushi back at all next year, it's because of people like you, who were more interested in either being asshats or attacking the organizers than trying to help make the convention better.

Katamari Edit-cy:
From here
What's disappointing is people who see it as "I'm paying for a weekend of fun" rather than "I'm contributing to an event for the fan community". Maybe YOUR (and I don't mean you Selphish) "one comment" or "one sign" or "one action" wouldn't be a killer by itself. But it's not by itself. You do it, and someone else does it and someone else, etc. And THEN it's too much. That said, signs were not a problem this year and one member who supported the lack of signs really made a HUGE difference to the staff.
I thought cons were about watching free anime and splurging on shit I don't really need anime merchandise. Am I supposed to feel responsible and shit now?