Conventions.

[rogueslayer452]

Taken from this fandom meme:

What's a favorite, or at least memorable fandom meeting/interaction that you've had?

I have to say attending fan conventions has been probably the most memorable thing, because while befriending and interacting with fandom people is always a wonderful feeling, actually getting to meet and just be around fannish people in a public space is such a surreal experience. Attending my first convention and meeting up with someone who I only knew online, and fangirling out together in real life? There is nothing quite like it, to be honest. And not even just meeting up with online friends, but just seeing other like-minded people such as yourself who share similar fandom interests as you in a convention setting. Going to the vending area and seeing people selling their fanart and merchandise, things that you cannot buy anywhere else unless you go to these conventions or to these people's personal online stores. Seeing people either in cosplay or just wearing fandom-based shirts, it's so great. Even if you don't talk with anyone just being in a space where fandom and being enthusiastically fannish is openly celebrated and encouraged is a fantastic feeling, in my opinion.

Like, one of the biggest draws for me to attend conventions is to experience that more than who the guests are, to be honest.

(Also, I've been missing conventions terribly since the pandemic started. I'm hoping that we will eventually get back into the swing of things, though considering how conventions are they would need to find a better solution of having possibly outdoor events more than indoors. But in general, I miss attending them.)

Comments

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

It's a huge thing I miss this year as we won't have conventions again - maybe in the fall but I'm not sure I feel safe about that. I'm still seeing friends but there are people who I run into at conventions who I don't really see otherwise and I just miss that feeling of being in a place where you have so many of your people.

The guests are cool and I'm very happy to have met them but the full con atmosphere has more to do with the social part for me.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'll feel safe at conventions anytime soon, unless they make adjustments to how things are run, like having smaller ones outside or something. But that would have to be meticulously planned out. And it just sucks, because I really miss going. :(

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

Big crowds don't feel safe to me yet. Especially as while the vaccine aims to make sure you don't get really really bad Covid and wind up in the hospital I'm first hand evidence that a mild case is not as mild as people thinks it is so I don't want to take big risks in a crowd just yet.

I know we have one currently scheduled for the fall, it's just not for me. I mean concrud was a thing in the before times. Pretty sure I don't want concrud Covid.