Not a lot of activity here--are we chatting somewhere else?

[BlackjackGabbiani]

Where else are people having the big Kumoricon discussions? Is there a Discord or something for it that I'm not seeing?

[LovelyAngel]

That's a good question. I'll be interested if you find out anything.

[Washougal_Otaku]

Sadly, most of the action tends to take place on Facebook.  I'd love to see more conversing done here, like in "the old days."

[Kimiski]

Sadly, most of the action tends to take place on Facebook.  I'd love to see more conversing done here, like in "the old days."

I miss the old days. I hate trying to follow things on Facebook. Feels like a giant page of spam.

[Washougal_Otaku]

Sadly, most of the action tends to take place on Facebook.  I'd love to see more conversing done here, like in "the old days."

I miss the old days. I hate trying to follow things on Facebook. Feels like a giant page of spam.

I know, right?  It's also more annoying/challenging to find specific talking points on Facebook than here.  At least things are organized on the forums.

[PicklePet]

Amen to all of the above. (Well except the good old days, I'm newish to Portland so I can't vouch for that : P )

The best way to revive the forums would be to just start using them again I think? I see 132 guests online atm, assuming they're not all bots for some reason I'm guessing they would make accounts and be posting if they saw activity they were interested in. It would be just a handful of people to start and who knows how long it could take to gather momentum, but that's how trends start after all.
I at least plan to post whatever pictures I take at con on this forum, I'd love to see any one else do the same.

[Washougal_Otaku]

^ I like this idea.  We can also try to spread the word at the con itself; I'm not even sure how many of the current attendees even know we have a forum.

[PicklePet]

Yaas! My delivery will probably be awkward but I'll tell people as I'm taking pics that I'll be posting them here. XD I'm not sure how else to tastefully bring it up, maybe I'll whip up a little badge and wear it on my backpack or something. Something like, "Revive The Forum" over the Kumoricon logo.

[Washougal_Otaku]

Well, I'll be running the Otaku 25+ panel on Sunday, so I can include the forums in my "meeting agenda."

[PaladinCecil79]

I relate to how you all feel. I miss this place being active as much as you do.
Several years ago, I posted a topic here asking if the message board was still important, because for most of the year, people weren't posting that often.
When I did, a lot of people responded saying it was, claiming it was the best way to organize gatherings, and they were right. At that time, the board was very active when the con was getting close and right after it ended, since people were posting pictures.
Back then, you think the forums would've continued to remain active that way, and it's sad that they haven't. I still prefer forums over social media sites, because it's so much easier to arrange events. That was why I was able to organize three Team Haberkorn dinners in the past, and when I tried to arrange one two years ago on Facebook, no one responded, because it's impossible to keep topics there organized.
Maybe it's just me, but I think a lot of the inactivity has to do with the con's website not having an immediately visible link to it. While you can still find a a link there when you put the arrow on where it says "Get involved," I think people are more likely to visit if they see the word Forums on main menu.
I still prefer message boards over social media, because topics are more organized and so many Facebook pages tend to be very hostile.
I agree with making efforts to make this place more active and like the ideas that PicklePet and Washougal_Otaku have and there are a lot of members here that I miss talking to.
One thing I think would be good to suggest to the staff would be to have the forums listed on the main menu instead of a sub-link. It was approximately at that time when it became less active and I think a more noticeable link would really help.
I want to see this place become more active again, and it would be depressing if it got closed. Hopefully, we can make it happen.

[PicklePet]

Waah shy but if you see this you know it's me. ; P Feel free to say 'Hi Pickle,' and don't mind my social awkwardness. I'm kinda quiet in person but a chatterbox in writing.


I'm glad you have a bigger net of influence than me, Washougal. ^u^

@Paladin: Hooray, another believer! There is a link to it in the last sentence of homepage, but a bigger hook certainly would help.It's true, also I feel like the ability to 'like' posts removes incentive to come up with thoughtful responses, you can only look through one giant chronological feed of every post made - meaning your post will only be seen by the people who happen to be looking at the group at the moment and the people that check every single notification in their feed. Facebook is convenient for being tapped into Kumoricon's announcements if you're already on there, but in terms of talking to people...

I just feel like this would be one of the best tools for keeping the community connected in between cons - and isn't that connection one of the biggest appeals of the event in the first place? If you like going to the con to meet cool people interested in the same stuff, or just to bask in that atmosphere - you should totally be on here!Don't be afraid of posting and not getting a reply, don't get discouraged from checking back every now and then, don't be afraid of replying to some one weeks or months after their post - worthwhile things take persistence. If you find the courage to take the first step, others will follow! (Tap into your inner protagonist! lol)
That's my pitch.
Have a great con y'all, I'll see you on the other end.

[PaladinCecil79]

PicklePet: I completely agree with what you're saying. I'll definitely work on posting here more often and hopefully, we can work on making this place more active.
And I relate to what you said about Facebook. There's nothing wrong with getting likes, and I often like to receive them, but as friendly as they can be, it means so much to get an actual reply, and at Facebook, I wish they'd come more frequently.


Also, I love the Lloyd and Genis chibis you have. Those are awesome. It's always nice to encounter a fellow Tales fan.

[PicklePet]

Photo dump posted in the cosplay forum! (also with links to people's photo posts on FB as I see them)

Also, I've had a couple more thoughts about this whole forum situation - I can't decide how much of a factor it might be that this forum host site seems a bit outdated - but regardless of that, A. people like things that are new, B. things that are new have an excuse to be officially announced. So - I've recently started studying web and app design. I'm officially making it my goal to build my idea of an app for the con (whether they can actually use it or not) - goal number two can be making a website that links up with it, and what would be on that site? An updated forum. I'm gonna make a new thread with my app ideas.

PaladinCecil: Dahaha thank you, I know they're super cute. > < If only I hadn't been an impoverished little teenager when I found them, I'd have the whole party. ToS is still my favorite, though that may also be because the only other ones I owned myself were Legendia and Graces, I only played some of the others when visiting friends - do you have a favorite?

[PaladinCecil79]

That's a good question. There are so many that I liked. I think my faves are Eternia, Symphonia and Abyss. I liked Phantasia and Legendia a lot as well and my first two RPG cosplays were Lloyd and Zelos.

[PicklePet]

Ooh, you're a real OG fan! Nice! XD I always wanted Abyss because the free run. And I've been wanting to cosplay Lloyd for forever~ Do you have pictures somewhere? : DAlso I JUST realized your username is a reference to Final Fantasy IV, isn't it? That one was a little too early for me but Final Fantasy VI is my childhood, did you like that one? > u < It's my ultimate dream to cosplay somebody in a suit of magitek armor.

[PaladinCecil79]

I do. You can view them in this link, along with some other Tales cosplays (I've never been good at posting screenshots on message boards. Sharing links has always been easier). The characters I'm dressed as are Zelos, Lloyd and Judas from Tales of Destiny 2. You'll see me at 1:50, 2:05, 2:55 to 3:50,3:59 to 4:10, 4:25 to 4:55, and 5:00 to 5:15. Ironically, I never played Tales of Destiny 2, but at the time, so many people were cosplaying from then current Tales games, so I wanted to do something different. Surprisingly, a decent number of people recognized the character.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74_JoG9KuGc


My user name is a reference to the Final Fantasy IV character. He's been one of my favorite RPG protagonists for a long time and is someone I would've cosplayed by now if his outfit wasn't so complicated. I strongly suggest playing that game when you get a chance. Even today, it still holds up as one of the best of the series (I started playing it back in '92 when I was thirteen and to this day is one of my fondest RPG memories), but I recommend playing the Super Nintendo version first, then the DS remake. Both versions are great, but the latter will be a much better experience when playing it after the former.


If you could cosplay in magitek armor, that would be awesome. I've never seen someone do that before.

[PicklePet]

Sorry for the late reply - I had a small panic attack when I realized exactly how close it is to the holidays and been busy with preparations.
Aw, I love the pic with the gal hugging your Lloyd - I find it so fun when some one loves your character so much they wanna hug you upon seeing you. You definitely get points for uniqueness with Judas!
Oh I trust you, I'm generally a little mistrusting of remakes any ways, though I'm not sure if I'll be able to find the original... I don't really have a working SNES any more, haha.

Honestly I don't think I'll get it done until I'm like, 40 (unless my life drastically changes) but I'm determined. I want it to be on stilts too - I don't think I'll be able to make one truly to scale but I'll get as close as I can.

[Washougal_Otaku]

Maybe it's just me, but I think a lot of the inactivity has to do with the con's website not having an immediately visible link to it. While you can still find a a link there when you put the arrow on where it says "Get involved," I think people are more likely to visit if they see the word Forums on main menu.
I still prefer message boards over social media, because topics are more organized and so many Facebook pages tend to be very hostile.



One thing I think would be good to suggest to the staff would be to have the forums listed on the main menu instead of a sub-link. It was approximately at that time when it became less active and I think a more noticeable link would really help.

That's a pretty good idea.  Perhaps someone should shoot an email to the correct department (which appears to be Publicity).

[PaladinCecil79]

Washougal_Otaku: That's a good idea.


PicklePet: Sorry for taking so long to respond. I had a lot going on last week.
Regarding the Lloyd cosplay. I know what you mean. It is nice when someone wants to hug you because they love the character so much. What's cool about that moment was it was the same place where I got a hug two years before when I cosplayed as Duo from Gundam Wing. I miss getting a lot of reactions when cosplaying. It doesn't happen remotely as much as before and I had some good luck when I did the Tales characters, with the most notable being Zelos. A lot of people were impressed and on one occasion, a girl gave me a stick of Pocky, since you get free items from females when he's in the front of the party.


Regarding Final Fantasy 4. I recommend going to a store that sells used games and getting a Super Nintendo, so you can play it. And I know what you mean about wanting a remake to be good. The DS one totally delivers, but is a better experience if you play the Super Nintendo version first. There's a lot to like about the original and playing through it will make the remake even more satisfying. Despite how long playing through the original would take, it's well worth the time.

[PicklePet]

No worries!You cosplayed as Duo too, niiiice~ That reaction to your Zelos is awesome, props to that gal for making that reference. ^_^ You've reminded me how any time I was low on gels I would just exit and re-enter the town with Zelos as the party leader a couple times and do a round talking to all the ladies, hahaha.The cosplay scene has definitely changed - as more people get into it there's a growing expectation for things to look professional, thanks to professional cosplayers, companies that mass produce cosplays and commissions. Not to mention there are just more people cosplaying in general at events so it's harder to stick out. Not to say this is all bad, it creates a larger pool of cool cosplays to be seen. But I do feel like there's been a general shift from appreciating the thought that goes into a cosplay to appreciating how polished it looks, and that makes me sad.

Now that you say just buy an SNES - I was convinced it'd be super expensive (since I was able to sell my used Harvest Moon SNES cartridge for like, ~150 I think) but the system and the cartridge are being sold for less than that so hot dang, I guess I will buy one. XD

[PaladinCecil79]

Zelos was a lot of fun to do. I even wrote down some of his quotes to memorize and a number of girls were impressed when they heard them.
You do have a point about the cosplay scene. Although cons have always had a large percentage of cosplayers, there is definitely a higher number, just because of the growing attendance. And I know what you mean about appreciation. From '11 to '14, I chose to dress as Locke, Edgar and Sabin, and despite good resemblances, few people recognized me. During that time, I also cosplayed Soul from the scene where he got caught cheating on the test and was certain that I a lot of people would react, just because the scene was so memorable, and I had never seen anyone do him that way before.
And that was the easiest one I had ever done, because all I needed was a white wig, a stitch mark drawn on my chest and blue swim shorts with bone cut-outs stuck on.
And at Kumoricon '12, I saw a girl in a Locke cosplay that was better and fancier than the one I wore the previous year and even it had few reactions.
But although I didn't get frequent comments and picture requests for the FF6 characters I did, I still had fun with the costumes, since I was able to find ways to get in-character. (i.e. As Sabin, I acted out cosplay character battles with blitz moves.)


Regarding a Super Nintendo, that's great to know. Harvest Moon is one of a small number of SNES games that sells for a lot, with another being Earthbound (a game I regret not getting the year it was released), which is to RPGs what Honus Wagner is to baseball cards, although less expensive.
If you can't find a SNES copy of FF4 at a used game store, be sure to order one on-line.


PS: If you own a Nintendo Switch, get Go Vacation if you don't have it. I play that game a lot with Miis I made of different video game and anime characters and would like to find more people to play it with. It would be awesome to do different mini-games multi-player with other people as names from Zelda, Final Fantasy, Tales, Soul Eater or Ouran.

PPS: Given that we're getting pretty off-topic (lol), it might be better that we continue this discussion in private messaging. If you'd like to PM me, feel free to.

[prussia]

i’m adding TW: because i realized i’m literally triggering myself a little by posting this. i’m literally afraid for my life to link their social media or post any names they do or have gone by.
tw:preditor tw:child preditors #child preditor #pedophile


i’m not meaning to start drama this is just the real reason for me and probably for alot of other people. to be frank i’m probably never going to kumoricon ever again, yeah it was really fun a couple times but its full of pedophiles. when i was 15 i had a 22 year old lie to me about their age to date me saying they had just turned 18, and starting at age 15 a 20 year old started grooming me to trust them as my best friend and number one source of knowledge and opinions, while additionally  pressuring me up until i finally turned 18 to date them. both of which i met through kumoricon and cosplay meetups i set up through the kumoricon forums. the second person mentioned begged me every day to break up with my boyfriends and to date them and that something must be wrong with /me/ for not trying to date them. at the time i was under the age of consent and they were nearly old enough to buy liquor. i literally wanted to kill myself during and after both of these instances, one of which lasted about 5 years(the second person mentioned.) when i finally was at the my breaking point and just had turned 18 they really started putting the pressure on me more and more and i finally just agreed to date them after being convinced that otherwise i’d be alone forever. after a couple weeks i tried to respectfully break up with them and stay friends and they went wild on me, stole 200$ from me 200$ from my grandparrents locked my esa (emotional support animal) out of out apartment, broke a bunch of my stuff, broke my bed in and stole a ton of cosplay and other stuff that i can’t even think about but slowly notice over the years(i was so heartbroken and afraid for my animal when they did this that i literally didn’t even count my stuff when i packed my bags and moved out in 3 days)


after i broke up with him and decided i wanted to have a chance to date people my
own age for once he started stalking me and my partners online, messaging me threatening to beat me and kill me and telling me, my family memebers and my partners throughout the years following to kill ourselves. he literally messaged me saying he was going to beat me to a pulp and get his cosplay friends and his siblings to beat me bloody if they ever saw me again especially at a convention. and if i report it the death threats are probably going to start avalanching in on me again, plus i’m nervous nothing would be able to be done because i didn’t actually allow him to date me until after i was 18, even though he was constantly flirting with me, asking me about my sexual fantasys, touching my legs and arms sensually and asking me to undress in front of him on multiple occassions before i was 18. both of these people have also changed their names countless times, and even their gender orientation a fee times to try to escape their reputations, and any repercussions. i’m nervous too for the kids that have to be exppsed to people like this. i’ve seen both the people i’ve mentioned and many other adults at kumoricon flirt with minors and try to play it off as a joke or a game, unfortunately as a teenager i was stupid enough to fall for it and stupid enough to believe the bad people when they said what they were doing was ok. its not a game and honestly if someone is acting like your comfort level is a game thats even a bigger sign that they are unsafe!


it makes me so sad because i literally started going to anime conventions to escape bullying in high school
and middle school, and now i feel like literally because i choose not to date an adult as minor and when i was barely legal continued to express discomfort in it i feel like worse than bullying will happen to me at a con like i’m seriously worried that i’ll be hospitalized or killed because i expressed discomfort, and i think everyone should have the right to their comfort and no one should have to feel harassed as minors or even as adults sexually or romantically or otherwise tbh. At the moment the only anime convention i feel comfortable going to is sakuracon, and i’m still nervous daily and have nightmares about it nightly, and being assulted at con. i pray to goodness that someday i regain the courage to go to other anime conventions again, but at the moment as it stands i could never see myself paying to go to kumoricon ever again. and  thats the sad reality of my kumoricon experience.


i used to set up monthly and biweekly cosplay meets via the forums and i would not reccomend it to anyone who cannot afford to set up proper security or in an area where law officials would be able to make a change the second it becomes necessary.

[prussia]

im going to add from my last comment that anyone can be a child preditors, even women, when i met some of these people they were assigned afab at birth.


there’s also a disturbing amount of adults who give and supply minors with weed alcohol and other drugs at kumoricon, the person #2 from my last comment also provided me and other minors with alcohol when we never asked, and convinced multiple minors including me to try it, i never even considered drinking or smoking until after interacting with person #2 who introduced me to drinking and smoking when taking me
to a sexually driven college party, marketing it to me as a cosplay party or meetup with friends. :’(

[Saki-the-cat]

(1234567890)

[Washougal_Otaku]

i’m adding TW: because i realized i’m literally triggering myself a little by posting this. i’m literally afraid for my life to link their social media or post any names they do or have gone by.
tw:preditor tw:child preditors #child preditor #pedophile

I realize that this is nearly a year later, but I wanted to let you know that I appreciate that you had the courage to come forward with this.  The person you're speaking of is vile, and that type of thing should never happen at a convention (or anywhere, really).  I truly hope that some day you will come back to Kumoricon, or any con, but only when you're ready to; no rush.  Your safety should be #1, and it sounds like you're embracing that.  Good for you.