Everyone should go to a scifi convention at least once in their life.  Yeah, the only reason I went to the last two Shore Leave is because a guest perked my interest.  Last year it was Gary Jones and this year it was David Hewlett (Jewel Stait was cool but I don't know if I'd have gone if it had just been her).  The reason to go:  The other people.  There's an amazing variety of people.  Of course, most of the people there the world would consider "normal" on average days of the week, but here, they don't have to worry about what everyone thinks.  in fact, if you're wearing "normal" clothes you might feel left out, at least left out of the fun of dressing up as something crazy.  

It's amazing!  The culture and environment.  I just love that I don't feel like I'm being constantly judged... something I feel like the more I have females (any age) around.  I actually am surprised by how many guys go to these things.  I know the stereotype for these things are nerdy boys go to them, but at least the people I meet online with nerdy fandom stuff are usually girls.  But it was a good mix.  One thing that amazed me this year... how many people over the age of 50 were there!  of course I realize the reason was George Takai (Sulu from the original star trek).  I guess I always assumed that most people get into their nerdy fandoms stuff when they're young (I'd say about age 8-28) but some of those people had to have become trekies when they were middle aged, so I think it's awesome that even tho on the home setting, age is a big deal (at least it is for me at church, but I guess it's more the circumstances, not the age that separates us... I do feel like I have more in common with a never married 40-year-old than a 5-kids 30-year-old.)

If you have low-self-esteem, go to a scifi convention.  No offense meant to anyone in this, but I've never seen so many people in one place with disabilities of some kind, all brought together with for a cause that has nothing to do with their disabilities.  and I'm talking physical (walking disabilities being the most easy to see), mental, and extreme weight.  But, all the things that we would be ashamed of on the outside world, don't make a difference at the convention because everyone's all just so excited to meet people who care about nerdy stuff like them!

And now I have to go back to the real world.  Work's ok because it's mostly guys on my team.  And the two girls are really nice.  I guess it's more church I'm more paranoid (to a stupid degree, I know) about whether the girls are judging the way I dress, or what I'm interested in (like spending my spare time vidding, or that I ship magic school bus... or that I went to a scifi con to get DH to sign a picture I made of him as a wraith...).  I'm much more willing to admit that I spent my weekend at a SciFi convention at work than at church.  shouldn't I feel more connected with my fellow church goers?  *sigh* I just still have the ringing in my ear from something a girl, who I would still call a friend about when I mentioned I went to a scifi con last year, "I wouldn't admit that to people".  Tho if someone said that to me again, I would repeat this journal to them about why they should go... but I'd probably be a little too nervous and hurt to make it through.  but I've probably just been too sensitive the last couple days (stupid walmart...)




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