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Anyone else feel isolated at game/anime/comic conventions?

A

Afrocious

Member
I know I do. More so when I don't have a costume on. I don't know why that is. I feel lost without a costume.

I just got back from Friday @ Momocon in Atlanta. It was dope but IDK why I feel so weird and alone. I played some games with folks which was good.

The odd thing is that people consider me to be a sunny person. When I go to a con, that all goes away and I'd like to figure out why lol.
 
Do you go to cons with friends? Meetup with people online? Just hang out in the wild?

How do you do in other crowded situations?
 
Barrylocke said:
Do you go to cons with friends? Meetup with people online? Just hang out in the wild?

How do you do in other crowded situations?
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I went to this one alone. I wouldn't have minded meeting with folks.

In crowded situations...I guess it depends on what we're doing. If we're all doing the same thing, then that's fine. If not, then that's fine too if I'm clicking with someone. But if everyone's doing whatever and I'm left alone, I guess I begin to feel...well...alone lol.
 
I feel that way too OP. Even though cons are incredibly big events with tons of people, I feel like many in the con demographic like to stick to themselves. On days when I go without my own friends, I'll do a freeplay and still feel lonely playing in a LAN server with other people. I did have a good experience in a console freeplay room playing smash, sitting right next to 3 other people, but it was just super small talk in between matches.

I can naturally weave into all sorts of conversations with all sorts of different people for my job, from talkin smack at a design lead that says he's rooting for the celtics, to sharing in complaining about local government with blue collar guys, chatting with VPs and shaking hands, but at a con it feels impenetrable.

Edit: I actually forgot about when me and 3 other strangers did a short DND campaign. That was actually a lot of fun and felt socially meaningful. Props to the DMs that go to PAX west.
 
I got dragged to one once. A bunch of people selling useless shit, a bunch of nerds reveling in said useless shit, and nothing interesting to do. Total waste of time and money.
 
I tend to be quiet since I like to roam around. I don't like being with a group of people and being rowdy or just fucking around without actually doing shit. If I'm at a convention, I like to check out exactly what I want without people sidetracking me.
 
I have a very specific group that I know from Giant Bomb that I stick with every time I go to PAX East. I don't really deviate at all.

If it weren't for that, yeah, I would probably stick to myself more.
 
zeshakag said:
I feel that way too OP. Even though cons are incredibly big events with tons of people, I feel like many in the con demographic like to stick to themselves. On days when I go without my own friends, I'll do a freeplay and still feel lonely playing in a LAN server with other people. I did have a good experience in a console freeplay room playing smash, sitting right next to 3 other people, but it was just super small talk in between matches.

I can naturally weave into all sorts of conversations with all sorts of different people for my job, from talkin smack at a design lead that says he's rooting for the celtics, to sharing in complaining about local government with blue collar guys, chatting with VPs and shaking hands, but at a con it feels impenetrable.
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I'm somewhat similar, and I'm glad we share that.

I think I like costumes because I like to make mine look as good as possible and get attention for it? Maybe I do too much and take cons too seriously when I cosplay, but I'll simply go to a con to see how well my costume is received by people.

Rest said:
I got dragged to one once. A bunch of people selling useless shit, a bunch of nerds reveling in said useless shit, and nothing interesting to do. Total waste of time and money.
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Yeah, that's another thing. I'm a major fan of the same things but I can't get into the consumerism of it all. I'm not blaming them because I've bought a few things here and there, but I don't have a wall of comic book posters or anything of the sort. Maybe I'm a shitty nerd.

Ironically, I've put 125 hours in my first playthrough of P5 and I'm still not done with it.

Mahonay said:
I have a very specific group that I know from Giant Bomb that I stick with every time I go to PAX East. I don't really deviate at all.

If it weren't for that, yeah, I would probably stick to myself more.
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PAX East was fun when I went in costume, but it drained me so hard that I took a break from video games.
 
If you go with friends: have a great time just hanging around, even more so when wearing cosplay

If you go alone: check what's there to buy and then leave.


There was a time when I used to go to anime cons ALL the time, even had friends there. But it gets boring after a while.
 
Rest said:
I got dragged to one once. A bunch of people selling useless shit, a bunch of nerds reveling in said useless shit, and nothing interesting to do. Total waste of time and money.
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If you feel that way then why did you go? Hope you told all your friends how they were wasting their time having fun.
 
I've been to three of the biggest Smash tournaments (including EVO) by myself, it was a little weird/definitely kinda isolated when I was watching matches by myself but I got used to it. Though when I was playing friendlies with people it felt totally fine.

I've always felt like anime/comic cons would be weirder though. Like....what do you even do at cons besides go to panels? There's one in my area this weekend and this is probably one of the biggest reasons I'm not going tbh (though I have other reasons).
 
GamerJM said:
I've been to three of the biggest Smash tournaments (including EVO) by myself, it was a little weird when I was watching matches by myself but I got used to it and when I was playing friendlies with people it felt totally fine.

I've always felt like anime/comic cons would be weirder though. Like....what do you even do at cons besides go to panels? There's one in my area this weekend and this is probably one of the biggest reasons I'm not going tbh (though I have other reasons).
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I basically go alone to places that interest me to see the fun stuff, and to maybe meet people who have similar interests.

However in conventions, I feel that while we all have commonality, folks aren't that interested in meeting folks or something. IDK. It's different from going to a tech conference (which I can meet folks and enjoy).
 
I have no experience of going to cons but plenty of music festivals. I'm extremely introverted so the reason i went to these events were always about the music, never the social part.
It's telling that you use the words "isolated", "weird" and "alone" though...

If anything i felt the complete opposite. Maybe you don't really like going to cons?
I can't grasp doing something intentionally that would make me feel isolated, weird or alone.
I get plenty of that irl.
Maybe that's something you're not used to in a normal setting and are seeking it subconsciously because, i dunno... Change? Experiencing something outside your normal life?
People have done "weirder" things. Not judging, just speculating!
 
accx said:
I have no experience of going to cons but plenty of music festivals. I'm extremely introverted so the reason i went to these events were always about the music, never the social part.
It's telling that you use the words "isolated", "weird" and "alone" though...

If anything i felt the complete opposite. Maybe you don't really like going to cons?
I can't grasp doing something intentionally that would make me feel isolated, weird or alone.
I get plenty of that irl.
Maybe that's something you're not used to in a normal setting and are seeking it subconsciously because, i dunno... Change? Experiencing something outside your normal life?
People have done "weirder" things. Not judging, just speculating!
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lol its fine. As I've gotten older, I've come to realize I'm not entirely introverted (I'm a mix of both) I like to be alone sometimes, but other times I get my energy from being accepted socially.

Maybe I don't like going to cons for the con sake... I probably should just check out panels and go from there lol.
 
I'm going to my first anime con (AX) in over a decade later this year, by myself. Will be very interesting how I approach this, heh.

Even if I don't end up liking it too much, at least I get to spend some time in LA. Will be my first time in the west coast.
 
kuYuri said:
I'm going to my first anime con (AX) in over a decade later this year, by myself. Will be very interesting how I approach this, heh.

Even if I don't end up liking it too much, at least I get to spend some time in LA. Will be my first time in the west coast.
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Dope!!!

Have fun!
 
I feel isolated in most large groups. Something about large gatherings that makes that worse, I have no idea.

I always feel like an imposter, no matter what.
 
kuYuri said:
I'm going to my first anime con (AX) in over a decade later this year, by myself. Will be very interesting how I approach this, heh.

Even if I don't end up liking it too much, at least I get to spend some time in LA. Will be my first time in the west coast.
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AX has a gargantuan exhibit hall and artist alley, plus the panels are generally top tier.

Out of all anime cons, it definitely has the most spectacle, and the most to browse when wandering around solo.

And if it proves to be too much, it's a good excuse as any to go on a self-directed LA food tour. Can't beat those LA donuts.
 
I love comics and I read them regularly. I love video games and I play them regularly.

However cons just aren't for me. I don't like the crowds and I'm just not so into it that I enjoy them.

For those that do its great however they just aren't for me.
 
I don't think that isn't unusual. I went to my first alone, made a bunch of friends who I go with now.

But even then, I still spend a pretty large time alone. I think when people say it's like nerd high school is pretty accurate, largely your experience will be based upon the people you surround yourself with.
 
I went to one once while attempting to wear cosplay...I thought it would maybe help be a conversation starter if anything. Nope, just ended up feeling lonely as hell, and regretted going.
 
Afrocious said:
I know I do. More so when I don't have a costume on. I don't know why that is. I feel lost without a costume.

I just got back from Friday @ Momocon in Atlanta. It was dope but IDK why I feel so weird and alone. I played some games with folks which was good.

The odd thing is that people consider me to be a sunny person. When I go to a con, that all goes away and I'd like to figure out why lol.
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im going to momocon tomorrow with a few friends. It's pretty much AWA Lite, but whatever.

It's always fun because i go with alot of friends.

And we bring alcohol. :)


The key is to not go alone. If less than like 5 of my peeps are going, i don't even bother with cons.
 
LordKasual said:
im going to momocon tomorrow with a few friends. It's pretty much AWA Lite, but whatever.

It's always fun because i go with alot of friends.

And we bring alcohol. :)


The key is to not go alone. If less than like 5 of my peeps are going, i don't even bother with cons.
Click to expand...

i feel that. i think i should have a similar rule unless im in a costume i worked on.
 
Hyrule Warrior said:
I went to one once while attempting to wear cosplay...I thought it would maybe help be a conversation starter if anything. Nope, just ended up feeling lonely as hell, and regretted going.
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The first two I went one I went too, a friend dragged me around and I felt miserable.

Next two, one I did a sort of online meet up for and felt better. Not sure what is popular now, but it was for an anime site. Maybe give that a try. It definitely helped break some ice.

So when I actually went to one on my own and for more than a few hours. I had some sort of experience. It also helped it was a smaller one too, which typically is better to make friends at I feel since you see the people around more.

The feeling doesn't entirely going away, but if you fight through it. Eventually, you always have some fun.
 
I went to San Diego Comic Con alone. I thought I could power through my social anxiety/agoraphobia and have a good time, but by the end I was just worn out and done.
 
Cons are always fun if you go with SO/friends who have similar tastes as you. Even just browsing the dumb little shops is fun, there's always some ridiculous shit to see.
 
i usually go alone (my friends don't like these kind of thing sadly, and never found a girlfriend who do too)

I never meet people, i can't engage a conversation with people like that, i try but most of the time it doesn't work (where i live the convention are small and most people tend to go only to popular things, game or anime, there's never obscure or retro stuff sadly, so i have a hard time meeting people with the same interest as me)

so i feel pretty alone in there, but even with that, sometime it's cool, it really depends on the convention, sometime there some silly stuff hapenning, and even if you don't connect with everyone you can have fun
 
Rest said:
I got dragged to one once. A bunch of people selling useless shit, a bunch of nerds reveling in said useless shit, and nothing interesting to do. Total waste of time and money.
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Rest said:
I got dragged to one once. A bunch of people selling useless shit, a bunch of nerds reveling in said useless shit, and nothing interesting to do. Total waste of time and money.
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Pretty much my experience. And it was PAX Prime, the mac daddy of these things.
 
Rest said:
I got dragged to one once. A bunch of people selling useless shit, a bunch of nerds reveling in said useless shit, and nothing interesting to do. Total waste of time and money.
Click to expand...

I haven't been to one, but have been around one.
I went to Video Games Live while also spectating the LA Kings winning the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Whoa, was there a culture clash. I felt way better with a sport that I vaguely follow than the nerd crowd.

I appreciate the effort, but something like comic con is unappealing.

I go to car shows that have similar attendance numbers and it isn't that. Just a normal crowd, as you might find around Christmastime.


And I gotta say: I'm a fucking total nerd. Just not "that nerd."

I think I would go to PAX Prime and enjoy that. But that's a different vibe.
 
went to Gamescon once. It wasn't worth it, despite posting on a gaming forum I don't much care for nerd culture. Got second place in a Mario vs Sonic at the Olympic games competition, the winner got a Wii, I got a shitty Sega bag and a t-shirt
 
Not really, since so many people share the same interest. Like I (usually) go to EVO every year (which has grown so large as to be considered a convention at this point), sometimes in a group, but we tend to do our own things while killing time between our games. We never really feel alone or miss each other or anything, since as I mentioned before there's literally hundreds of people there for the same reason you are. It's sort of the same thing when I went to Fanime and Anime Expo; yeah people there like different series and shit, but you're all there because you like anime and games.

From what you say in the OP, it could just be a mild case of introversion, but then again I'm not a psychologist so what do I know.
 
i don't think i've ever gone to a con alone...i'd prolly just get the autographs i wanted, see a panel, hit the floor to see what's for sale & dip. they're way more fun with a friend or two

i'd even go with beefy
 
IrishNinja said:
i don't think i've ever gone to a con alone...i'd prolly just get the autographs i wanted, see a panel, hit the floor to see what's for sale & dip. they're way more fun with a friend or two

i'd even go with beefy
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I'd be willing to toss you around with wolf in Virtua Fighter tbh

Assuming we went to EVO naturally
 
If I was going alone to one I'll have to be a nerd for some I.P. and buy some shit for it. Sort have an itinerary of what to buy what's going to there and where. I know well enough it's not for wandering around looking at shit you have no interest in.

Going in a group is ok, but just be prepared with what to expect. Look at shit, talk shit, then go and eat shit. Those sort of places aren't amusement parks.
 
I've been to comic con with a friend and on my own. I've enjoyed both.

When you're with a friend, you have someone to point out cool cosplay to and discuss nerd things. In addition, my friend is visibly less of a nerd than I am so I feel I can use him as a 'shield' to go do stuff that I'd normally feel too embarrassed to do by myself. On the other hand, when you have someone else with you, you have to take them into account; make sure you stay together, that you do and look at stuff you both enjoy. That can be a hassle at times.

Going to a con on your own can be fun, as it allows you to go see whatever you want to see and go at your own pace without worrying about someone else.
 
Ive gone to Pax Aus few times on my own, I met some decent people in the tabletop areas became friendly enough to have dinner with them etc. Its was actually a very good time.

But the other time I kinda felt out of place the whole time, I didn't find a group of people to hang with or interact with outside of just playing games. I also felt really old. So I get your issue.

However last year I went with a friend and that had its own problems, because I had been before I was the one "In charge" so I was sort of spear heading everything if we had a bad time I felt responsible.
 
I've only ever went to a con once and it was with friends and I had an awful time. You're basically paying money to get into a place to spend money. Very odd.
 
Nah that shit is fun as hell. You can literally meet people in the easiest format by simply going up to them and talking about their costume or subjective matter of the event. I've met a bunch of people at PAX that way. Just come outta your bubble a little bit and you'll find some sick dudes.
 
I've only been to a comic con, a really small one. I still want to make it to the big one in San Diego or wherever. Anyway, I was actually surprised with the broad array of people there. Kids, teens, adults, elderly. Couples, groups, singles. Every color under the sun. Preps, punks, whatever. Cons attract everyone.
 
I went with friends and family to gamescom and therefore it wasn't so bad but I definitely wouldn't go there alone. I would absolutely feel alone there with people who I can't really relate to (like their entire life is appearently video games and nothing else)
 
I brought my SO who knows next to nothing about games and my sibling who plays here and there to PAX East and we had a blast. Also been to Detroit Comicon with my entire family.

There is no way in hell I'd go to one of those things alone though.
 
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