Guest Blogger

Outside Voices Inside Opinions

Guest Blogger

Thanks for having me guest blog, my name is Alan and I am currently writing my own blog on Community Self-management in online games. I do enjoy watching anime and the people who put hard work into cosplaying as these characters. Although, personally I have never cosplayed before, unless you count dressing up as a power ranger during Halloween. But I have attended an A-Kon event in 2013, where I saw tons of cosplays and even had a few friends cosplaying themselves. I did not witness any harassment in my time there, but a friend of mine, who cosplays frequently, explained how people harassed for their physical appearance or the quality of their outfit designs. There were even people who would deliberately seek out cosplayers and harass them sexually. It is disappointing to see that people go out of their way to put other down, especially when that person worked on their costume for week’s maybe even months just to be insulted.  Since I am not all too familiar with the cosplay community, I asked my friend what she would suggest to prevent harassment:

1.       Don’t let yourself get knocked down

2.       Don’t start a fight, but politely tell the person to back off

3.       Leave the area if you need to

4.       Tell someone! The police, convention staff, someone. They will be taken care of appropriately

Don’t change who you are because someone else is putting you down, do cosplay for yourself and to have fun. Don’t let harassment stop you from cosplaying, especially if it is something you enjoy.