Conventional Wisdom: Be Polite Be Be Polite
With DragonCon in the books and it doesn’t look like we are going to NYCC this year since we were not invited to participate and don’t have a table (which is the only way we can afford that convention), I have been reflecting on what works and doesn’t work at conventions in the interactions between various groups. And it seems to come down to one thing to my mind. Be Polite (or as the Doctor says Be Kind)
This year I saw more people on crowded elevators stepping out to allow those who had handicap sticker on their badges. They accommodated scooters and wheelchairs. In one case I saw people get off the elevator to let a very tired family on so they could go to their room. Now it didn’t happen all the time but enough that it gave me hope for the future of fandom.
Lines to meet your favorite actor, who is apparently everyone’s favorite actor, were long. I watch new friendships blossom and fans having fun talking to other fans while they wait for their time with their favorites. I love watching the actors and writers and artists interacting with their fans and giving their full attention so the fans have an experience that they will remember fondly.
The meet-ups were amazing. Getting a group of people together in costume and being able to talk fandom and share costuming tips is so much fun. And everyone was so nice to each other. All costumes were accepted. Compliments paid. And new friendships were formed. Everyone was so polite.
I apparently have that kind of face that says, “Ask me how to get to (fill in the blank)” because I gave a lot of directions this year. I am glad I could help people find their way to where they needed to go. This also happened at Disney and I gave my directions with the Disney full hand point. I was polite and stopped what I was doing to help others.
Being polite costs us nothing but it can mean the world to someone else. I try to be polite to all.
I am grateful for polite and helpful people.
This year I saw more people on crowded elevators stepping out to allow those who had handicap sticker on their badges. They accommodated scooters and wheelchairs. In one case I saw people get off the elevator to let a very tired family on so they could go to their room. Now it didn’t happen all the time but enough that it gave me hope for the future of fandom.
Lines to meet your favorite actor, who is apparently everyone’s favorite actor, were long. I watch new friendships blossom and fans having fun talking to other fans while they wait for their time with their favorites. I love watching the actors and writers and artists interacting with their fans and giving their full attention so the fans have an experience that they will remember fondly.
The meet-ups were amazing. Getting a group of people together in costume and being able to talk fandom and share costuming tips is so much fun. And everyone was so nice to each other. All costumes were accepted. Compliments paid. And new friendships were formed. Everyone was so polite.
I apparently have that kind of face that says, “Ask me how to get to (fill in the blank)” because I gave a lot of directions this year. I am glad I could help people find their way to where they needed to go. This also happened at Disney and I gave my directions with the Disney full hand point. I was polite and stopped what I was doing to help others.
Being polite costs us nothing but it can mean the world to someone else. I try to be polite to all.
I am grateful for polite and helpful people.