Is DragonCon broken?

[foehelm]

I posted this in the dragoncon LJ, but its in moderated mode and may get modded out. So, let's discuss it here

Comments

[pktaxwench]

While not accosted like others, but I shy away from naughty costumes this year, I was right next to a fight in the mariott on Sunday night right under the elevated bar. I got slammed into by two guys in a head lock. I credit my superior sense of balance due to being a stage combatant as to why I didn't fall. I instead opted to pull my companion (a soldier who just got back from Afghanistan) back to keep him from getting into the middle of it - he wasn't on duty and it wasn't his job.) By the time the cops got them wrestled outside to the smoking area, there was blood and bits of clothing all over the floor.

They definitely weren't fans... they were thugs with gang colors on their heads.

[foehelm]

This year was just weird. While I never felt threatened myself, there was an uneasy, unsafe feeling in the air.

[dianne_the_geek]

Tearing but not torn, I think. I enjoyed this year more than last, and found the crowds a little more manageable, but it's still nowhere near what I remember 7 years ago when I started this crazy ride

[foehelm]

Oh, to be back in 2003 again... sigh... those were the days. Thanks for your comments on the subject

[tk7602]

I went from 2003 to 2007. I stopped there, because even by 2007 it had shifted to where I wasn't really happy anymore.

I don't drink, don't go to crazy parties, and am not looking to hook up.

I went because of the great costumes, interesting panels, and cool celebs.

Over time, the costumes became less "wow, cool" and more "ooh, naked". Mind you, the day I object to a gorgeous woman wearing less fabric than can be found in the average iPhone case is the day I stop leaving the house. But, hot women that I'm not planning to even talk to aren't really worth the airfare and hotel fees ;)

The panels became either retreads of the same old, or so popular you had to spend 1/2 your day waiting to get in.

The celebs became the same... either the same people, or the current "big name" that you couldn't get near if you tried.

So basically, it stopped offering me the things I wanted, in favor of drunks in plain clothes wooping and leering.

No thanks.

[foehelm]

There are others who have also given up already. I don't want to give up on it! I'm hoping TPTB will listen and do something to fix it. Hey, they are using barcodes next year for badges, maybe a sign of change...

[foehelm]

I guess it just depends on where you were and when. *shrugs*

[captain_drew]

I really want to try to make it out to the little Sci-Fi Summer con again next year. It reminds me of the purely fan-driven conventions of the 1980s. Btw Foe, that article has >40 comments now. Should post some stories about DixieTrek I think. Just go whole hog nostalgic.

[foehelm]

I told you, its gone viral.