Otakon 2006

[Absaraka]

Baltimore, MD, August 4-6

TMNT Guests: None announced
Fans going:  Me, SCHEDULE PERMITTING

I'm throwing this out here for fans in the mid-Atlantic who might want to take in an anime con.  This thing pretty much takes over downtown Baltimore all weekend, and even if you don't go to the con itself, you'll see plenty of cosplayers hanging around the Convention Center/Inner Harbor area.  (Plenty of tourists for the locals to gawk at!)  Baltimore Convention Center is a great facility, been in there more than once.  San Diego it's not, but it beats a hotel.

[Michaelangelo]

I didn't post this one because it doesn't have any TMNT guest.   I don't usually post conventions unless there's TMNT related guest listed for them.

[Absaraka]

Let it be said up front that I'm not trying to pick a fight with site admin.  I'm not that idiotic.

I only mention it for the following reasons:

We do have some anime fans here, and this one is just so well-done it's worth a swing-by at least. And a lot of fans in the Mid-Atlantic are kind of strapped for conventions:  Stan Sakai or Peter Laird might show up for Anthrocon in Pennsylvania once every blue moon, but that's about it.  Fans in the Delaware/Maryland/DC/Virginia area are having to make some serious schleps to meet up with other fans.  And that's the whole point of cons, I thought:  regardless of who is or who isn't on the guest list, cons make good places for fans to meet up offline.  That is why I posted this one: as a possible event for Mid-Atlantic TMNT fans to get together in a convention setting without having to haul shell to New York or North Carolina.

I myself don't care who's on the guest list, frankly.  Most cons, you end up spending more time with your fellow fans, anyway.  That's where the real memories are made.  And that's why I'm putting this out there.

Absaraka Windholder

[Leonardo]

I have to support Raka on this one.
If a TMNT fan is going to a Con and hopes others in the area might go, too, then it's worth posting a note about it. Then it serves as a chance to meet or reunite with other fans.
I agree the Cons are nice when you get a chance to meet VAs or Comic Artists or Media-related TMNT guests, but as pointed out, that's not the only reason for going to them. That's just the extra icing on the cake.

[Michaelangelo]

I did not say at all in my post that it was not allowed, I just explained why I did not put up this convention.   Though for fans going, if planning a meet up, wouldn't ya want to at least add yourself?  

I go through a huge list of conventions before listing events here, so if I listed every con that is on there that'd be a huge list.  Though if listing an event that ya want to go to and stuff, instead of leaving "Fans going" with ??? it's usually good to put your name there so people know that it's a meet up.  

Please don't get so defensive though if I said something like "This is not allowed" or "don't post this kind of con again" or deleted the post I'd understand taking it as a threat towards this kind of meet up.  I just explained why I didn't post it, since this is one of the biggest anime cons in the US.

[Kazari]

I agree with Ivey. She simply stated that she didn't put up this con because she focuses on TMNT conventions, but it's okay if you post this one up yourself. She NEVER said that you couldn't. She just said the reason why she didn't.

[CriticalCrittles]

I'm not trying to offend people of course but, isn't this a TMNT board? I tried posting a thread once where people could write about cons they attend and which ones they prefer and why to help other people know what cons are best in people's opinions, and it got deleted because it wasn't exactly on topic for the section and I understood that and took no offense to it. My personal opinion is that if it's not a con where TMNT guests will be attending, it should perhaps be posted in the Off Topic section maybe? I mean, I understand that fellow TMNT fans might wanna meet each other at certian cons, but...ya know? I hope I didn't come off as rude, I was just trying to help out and express my personal opinion. Ivey's right, there are way too many cons out there to keep track of and post them all every year, and since this is a TMNT board, I think only the ones with TMNT guests should be mentioned. Once again, that's just my opinion.

[Raphael]

I agree...there's absolutely nothing wrong with posting about any cons that a fan thinks might be of interest to others. Nor do I see anyone saying that there is something wrong with posting it. Crittles' suggestion that non TMNT cons could be posted in the "Off Topic" area is a good one. If it turns out later that a TMNT related guest is appearing, then it could be moved back to being on topic.

Of course, since I play Devil's Advocate fairly well, and I'm a tad tired at the moment so I'm liable to say something stupid...if a con is being attended by more than one TMNT fan (whether for TMNT reasons or not), would that make it 'on topic'?

[Michaelangelo]

Heya,

Crittle I want to let you know that topic wasn't deleted it was moved to another area I believe.  Though a TMNT event and meet up is where a group of TMNT fans meet up... be it a guest thing or not.  Or if a guest is invold in something like a play we try to post those up here too.

Though if people are to post conventions here that no TMNT guest are listed, at least list themselves in the fan area to say "I'm going to this and would like to make it a meet up."

[CriticalCrittles]

Oh ok cool, fair enough, I didn't know that XD Where did it go? lol. Anyway yeah, that seems fair enough to me.

[Absaraka]

I myself am still on the fence with this one, and likely won't know until very close to the event itself.  I'm definitely INTERESTED in going, and if I have the chance, I'll definitely be there.  But because of several concerns on the home front, I can't positively say in June that I'll definitely be free that weekend in August.  I'll definitely be there if I can, so you can pencil me in with a single question mark.  Baltimore's a snap for me to get to: B30 bus to the Baltimore airport, then hop on the Light Rail and get out at the Convention Center.  So it will be an easy event for me to attend...IF I know for sure I'll be free that weekend, and as of right this minute, I don't.

Put it this way:  I'll be there Saturday at least, unless there's something happening on the home front.  But this far out, I don't know what that weekend is going to look like for me.

Raka

[Michaelangelo]

Oh ok cool, fair enough, I didn't know that XD Where did it go? lol. Anyway yeah, that seems fair enough to me.

It was moved here http://www.tmnt-l.com/index.php?topic=923  which is in the TMNT memory section.  

[Michaelangelo]

This event is coming up this weekend, anyone going?

[CriticalCrittles]

I might stop by for one day, being I have friends coming from New York to attend this. So I might go see them and hang out one day. But for the most part....nah prolly not going this year. Oh well, maybe next year.

[WolfofMibu]

I will be there all weekend causing chaos Division 11 style!