Otakon

[delen]

Who is going to Otakon? Post here.

[whispering]

...what is Otakon? You make a topic, and dont even explane or provide a link or anything. You asumed everyone in the world would know about this particular con? ;)

[Ayame]

It's the biggest convention for nerds known to man.

[Chelsums]

It's the biggest convention for nerds known to man.
second biggest*

[Quartermaster]

Would the biggest one be the Star Wars convention?

[whispering]

It's the biggest convention for nerds known to man.

Biggest convention for nerds known to man around here is ;)

Witch is like a big lan party -> [url]http://www.assemblytv.net/2005c/img/mediagallery/20050728171747.B4CED16BA10_at_moukari.assembly.org .jpg (]Assembly[/URL)

[delen]

...what is Otakon? You make a topic, and dont even explane or provide a link or anything. You asumed everyone in the world would know about this particular con? ;)

if you don't know what it is then you probably can just ingore this thread :-P

[Lambda]

Thank god for MGS, otherwise i wouldnt know what this was.

[Kusoyaro]

Hahah OTAKON!!!
I know some martial artists who went there dressed as narutareds and they PWND all, with their deadly tricking. But it was so lame. I saw people dressed up and I felt like tearing my heart out through my anus and then spit-roasting it in the skull of this one loser who was dressed as Alucard (whom everyone says I look like when i let my hair down).
I will never go to another con (that's what it is: when you are thinking about going, it makes you feel excited, "wow, a place where fellow manga/anime lovers congregate and chill?! neato!" and then you realize what a cesspool of degredation and self-humiliation it really is) in my life.

[Praetorian]

Thank god for MGS, otherwise i wouldnt know what this was.


Indeed. Otacon was sweet.

[SeRGiY]

Didn't he wet his pants?

[mugen]

Indeed. Otacon was sweet.
wtf? you went to otacon? you live in europe:O

[Praetorian]

I'm talking about Otacon.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4b/Otacon.jpg/250px-Otacon.jpg

[Solid Snake hides in a locker]
Solid Snake: This reminds me of when we first met.
Otacon: I was the one inside the locker that time. We're equal now, huh?
Solid Snake: Not unless I wet my pants.
Otacon: That's a low blow, Snake.


Anyway, I digress. Please go on about Otakon. (Notice the k).

[Kaji]

I was planning on going (gone every year since 2002), but unfortuantely they keep pushing the damn date back, and it's in direct conflict with when I need to check in at school, which just happens to be the Friday it starts (and out in West Virginia, on top of that). Lacking my own transportation, it's just not possible this year, sadly.

[h2orowe]

I'm not going, I might go to Anime Expo next year. With friends though. I'd never go to a con without someone I know just in case I get surrounded by creepy cosplayers.

[Kit the Angel]

I'm going to try to go. But because I'll have no choice to register at the door AND scheduled to go on a saturday, it's more than very likely that I'll not be going.

[Zaysho]

From what I understand "Otakon" is supposed to be some HUGE anime convention. I would go, but I'm lazy and I don't think I'd enjoy myself that much honestly. Besides, school starts this Monday for me, so there's no way I could go even if I wanted to.

[delen]

I'm talking about Otacon.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4b/Otacon.jpg/250px-Otacon.jpg

[Solid Snake hides in a locker]
Solid Snake: This reminds me of when we first met.
Otacon: I was the one inside the locker that time. We're equal now, huh?
Solid Snake: Not unless I wet my pants.
Otacon: That's a low blow, Snake.


Anyway, I digress. Please go on about Otakon. (Notice the k).

snake....?
snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!

[Lambda]

Indeed. Otacon was sweet.
Exept for the incestous Stepmom/Sister thing...

[PopCulturePooka]

Why the FUCK would people call it Otakon?

Isn't it prett calling it PatheticSocialRejectDespisedByMostIfNotAllOfTheJap anesePoluaceButStupidWesternAnimeFansThinkItsCoolT oBeOneCon?

[Lambda]

Why the FUCK would people call it Otakon?

Isn't it prett calling it PatheticSocialRejectDespisedByMostIfNotAllOfTheJap anesePoluaceButStupidWesternAnimeFansThinkItsCoolT oBeOneCon?
I heard that that got into the final stages before being outweighed to Otakon...

[X the Eliminator]

Apparently, Otakus are to Japanese what the Trekkies are to Americans.

Am I getting warm with how they are percieved?

[PopCulturePooka]

Apparently, Otakus are to Japanese what the Trekkies are to Americans.

Am I getting warm with how they are percieved?Close.
But occasionally Trekkies have an element of ironic chic.

Otakus don't have that are pretty much reviled.

[Praetorian]

I honestly don't see what makes anime fans "socially rejected"; Doesn't that reveal that society in general is quite sad? "If you don't have the same hobbies as we do, and don't have the exact same preferences for TV (Basically MTV only) and don't wear the exact same brand clothes that we do, we'll reject you and call you a loser because we really can't have that?"


Sad indeed. I only got into anime 4 months ago or so and I'm pretty much addicted, and I have yet to notice any radical changes in how people perceive me.


Then again, I have to admit I was always the odd one out. I'd rather watch Geography and Discovery channel than MTV, I'd rather sit behind my computer playing Battlefield than going out and "dance" and generally acting like a retard. However, aside from some mild teasing people don't really mind as long as I don't talk about it non-stop. And don't use "expensive words" as they'd like to call it when talking to me. I often get "Dutch please, I don't understand.".

[whispering]

Isn't it prett calling it PatheticSocialRejectDespisedByMostIfNotAllOfTheJap anesePoluaceButStupidWesternAnimeFansThinkItsCoolT oBeOneCon?
Then how do you explane events like that? ;) ->

http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~y05k/kokumin/osv2.jpg

Thats a flyer of an Japanese Hardcore dance event.

[Mr.Babalo]

The true deep and secret pleasure of the Cosplayers is that if they dress up like the character they like, they will become him/her/it. In their minds reality holds no place and they basically live their fantasy.


And "fantasies are for the weak"-marc olden.






the end result:


http://cosplay.baka-tenshi.net/ushi2004/cosplay53.jpg (http://cosplay.baka-tenshi.net/ushi2004/cosplay53.jpg)

[PopCulturePooka]

Then how do you explane events like that? ;) ->

http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~y05k/kokumin/osv2.jpg

Thats a flyer of an Japanese Hardcore dance event.Flyers for Australian raves sometimes feature anime too. Becuase some underground cultures peel pop cultural sources from other places, and its undergrounds (like rave parties) that other undergrounds will find the most referencing.

Just because a culture is occasionally referenced, doesn't mean its accepted. I could guarantee that this event, if it is a dance party, is not actually aimed at the otaku market.

[PopCulturePooka]

I honestly don't see what makes anime fans "socially rejected"; Doesn't that reveal that society in general is quite sad? "If you don't have the same hobbies as we do, and don't have the exact same preferences for TV (Basically MTV only) and don't wear the exact same brand clothes that we do, we'll reject you and call you a loser because we really can't have that?"

Sad indeed. I only got into anime 4 months ago or so and I'm pretty much addicted, and I have yet to notice any radical changes in how people perceive me.

Then again, I have to admit I was always the odd one out. I'd rather watch Geography and Discovery channel than MTV, I'd rather sit behind my computer playing Battlefield than going out and "dance" and generally acting like a retard. However, aside from some mild teasing people don't really mind as long as I don't talk about it non-stop. And don't use "expensive words" as they'd like to call it when talking to me. I often get "Dutch please, I don't understand.".Hehe I'd say the reason why people MAY tease you isn't your hobbies, but the elitist way you lord it over other peoples past times as 'retarded' etc. I've noticed you tend to rubbish what others do for fun occasionally, and that can lead others to resent you. Hey, its why some don't like me.

But I am talking in Japan when I say social outcast. Remember Japan is extremely conformist. More than any other place I've been to or studied, its easy to stereotype groups there. Even 'underground' types like the gothic lolitas seem to conform to the sub culture they identify with. I encountered very few completely mold breaking people in my time in Japan, compared to Australia in a similar time. In Japan the desire to fit in is everything. A good deal of energy in life is spent towards 'fitting in', even if its just fitting into the social group you lump yourselves with. An outcast in Japan, a loner, is truly that.

In terms of 'social outcast', otaku in Japan bring it on themselves. They are the very essence of stereotyped geek. I had to teach a good deal of them because the staff didn't want to let female teachers teach them and the other guys were 'mean'. They have bad hygiene, poor social manners, lack imagination and get overly obssessive about things etc etc. They do the very things that would lead to them not being very popular people. Its not just the 'cool' MTV kids that would look down their noses at otaku. I taught nice run of the mill schoolkids that disliked them. I recall a very interesting 1 hour lesson with three middle aged women who all talked about how bad otaku was.

A room-mate I had came to Japan and proudly declared himself 'otaku' in the American sense. On his first week teaching some students asked 'What is your hobbies?' (an insanely popular question Japan). He apparantly got quite excited, straightened up and declared 'I am OTAKU'. From then on, at that school, he was outcast. Students heard about and he wasn't much invited to any drinking parties, nights out or social events with students. People would come up and aski him, extremely worried, if he was otaku. According to him they pitch it the exact same way someone would ask 'Do you only have 4 months to live? Oh, I'm sorry'. This was a guy who by all accounts should have been Gaijin Gold in Japan. 6 foot something, muscular, blonde and blue eyed. A walking Norman Rockwell painting. But calling himself an 'otaku' wrecked a good deal of his social standing amongst people he was teaching.

[Praetorian]

I see. Well, you're right. I am rather elitist, I guess that is is a vice rather than a virtue. However, I wasn't always like that. People want to watch MTV? Fine. Have fun. Just don't go around saying how much of a "Proffesor Pi" (degoratory term for anybody that uses at least half their brain, which is still substantially more than they use) I am for watching and enjoying Discovery Channel and spending time on the internet rather than, say, getting wasted in the pub "dancing" to hip hop. (Whilst not actually liking Hip Hop, but its the popular music at the moment, thus everybody must assimilate or be outcasted.)

[PopCulturePooka]

I see. Well, you're right. I am rather elitist, I guess that is is a vice rather than a virtue. However, I wasn't always like that. People want to watch MTV? Fine. Have fun. Just don't go around saying how much of a "Proffesor Pi" (degoratory term for anybody that uses at least half their brain, which is still substantially more than they use) I am for watching and enjoying Discovery Channel and spending time on the internet rather than, say, getting wasted in the pub "dancing" to hip hop. (Whilst not actually liking Hip Hop, but its the popular music at the moment, thus everybody must assimilate or be outcasted.)
Hahah, see there you go again. Bitching when people pick on you for doing what you enjoy, while slagging people for doing what they enjoy (clubbing) in the exact same sentence. By acting like that you merely fuel what becomes a vicious cycle of resentment.

[Praetorian]

I don't see how I was slagging people. I merely said I'd rather watch discovery channel than going to a pub getting wasted. I don't see how I was offending anybody with that, I just said what I like and dislike.

Yes, I did bash people that listen to Hip Hop just because it's "Cool" to do so at the moment. But that had hardly anything to do with the people that club, per se.

[PopCulturePooka]

Bah, tried three times now to post a reply at each time IE has crashed. Please stand by.

[Mr.Babalo]

Hahah, see there you go again. Bitching when people pick on you for doing what you enjoy, while slagging people for doing what they enjoy (clubbing) in the exact same sentence. By acting like that you merely fuel what becomes a vicious cycle of resentment.

hahaha, I admire your analytical skills. I also concur with the fueling of the viscious cycle: Praetorian(no offense to him), said those who go out to places such as clubs are stupid, in a nutshell. I already feel a slight resentment towards him, because the fact is clubbing in many cases is quite the opposite. It really depends on your location, for example: im on my second year medical school, most of my friends who come clubbing with me are from the same precinct(i live on campus). So you can imagine they are all very educated. And the big stereotype is that they are all bookworms who don't do jack but study and ignore social life, but ill assure you that's rarely the case. In fact, alot of us go drinking everynight and still manage an 80%+ average, some people have to get tipsy before a seminar, just so they will have a clear mind. Personally i don't drink everyday, but i do 2-3 times a week. Anyways, in my area people who go clubbing are usually very educated . Basically, what im trying to get at is future doctors party hard too, as well as lawyers, engineers, pharmacists, etc. Now i don't know if they watch MTV (i dont watch tv much at all).

From my expierence however (in highschool), the anime fanatics turn out to be the "stupid" people, they do poorly in school, and hygiene-wise they parallel their marks. They tend to be the loners and outcast. However im speaking for my highschool alone. And there's a difference between a fan and a fanatic. Some of my friends are anime FANS, they just watch naruto everyweek and they may have bought a few videos, but that's as far as it goes.

[Praetorian]

I also concur with the fueling of the viscious cycle: Praetorian(no offense to him), said those who go out to places such as clubs are stupid, in a nutshell

I did not. If you thought I meant it like that, you misunderstood me or I formulated it the wrong way. (I must admit after re-reading it it was probably the latter) I said people that like the music that is currently hot and popular, just for the reason that it is hot and popular are stupid. Also, the people that resent me from having different hobbies than them are stupid. Never did I blatantly say "Clubbers are stupid", otherwise Loc wouldn't be one of my best e-friends.

I already feel a slight resentment towards him.


Honestly, I don't care. Please don't get me wrong, I'd like for that resentment go away, however, it's not like it'd be any harder for me to sleep at night knowing that some guy some where "resents" me.



Personally, I wouldn't mind going to pubs as long as the music wasn't so shitty, and the whiskey with cola wasn't so expensive.

[Daishikaze]

I went to Otakon in 2000. I didn't go there for any other reason but to shop. Thats all I ever really go to cons for, to purchase items that I wouldn't usually find (import video games, Art Books, that sort of thing)and DVDs at discount prices. I don't dress up for any reason, least of all for a convention, thats like dressing up to go to the Mall IMO.

I'd go again if the gate was so expensive, it just wasn't worth it for the little time I spent there. Mind you, it was a damn sight better than the last "con" I went to, Only one shop, and it was slim pickens to be sure. Most of what they did sell had to do with the more popular animes that I had no interest in, but I did get 3 art books, so it wasn't a total washout.

Man, the Swiss don't know how to put on a good convention, I swear.

[Kaziel]

I am going. And yes, I'll be one of those who dress up like an anime character. I enjoy it, b/c like many other things, it's a means of escape. I'm also going to meet up with a bunch of friends I know from another site, and a few others I've met at the various cons I go to.

As for what Praetorian is talking about, I agree on, totally. What he's talking about is liking or disliking something for reasons outside of the material itself. I'll use the liscensing of the Naruto anime for example. For a 121 episodes, it went unliscensed. This is a very long time for such a popular series. Honestly, most people were pretty shocked it lasted that long. Anyhoo, upon it's announcement that it was being liscensed, a lot of people started claiming that it suddenly sucked, and they wouldn't watch it anymore. While some were just saying it as a joke, there were a few people that were serious. Their dislike of Naruto was not based around the quality of the anime, but the fact that it was being translated by a major company. To me, this seems really stupid to like something for reasons outside of itself. That's what Praetorian means. Liking anything for reasons other that the item itself is stupid.

Also, Otakon is the biggest Anime convention in the US (not sure about world wide).

[Rogue_7]

If I lived within a few hundred miles rather than thousands of miles, I may go. Wait.. who am I kidding? Couldn't get me in there if you paid me! (well maybe if you paid me, but just to say hi to Tim from CAD)

Ok I will admit I went to the first Star Wars Celebration, being it was in my backyard and all. One of the best 'geek' things I have ever seen was there, a few guys dressed up as KLINGONS in the middle of Star Wars city. dorks.