[Sephiroths Wife]

Alright......I have been going to Acen for the last 4 years and I've NEVER had any problems with the IRT. I've heard some interesting stories with other people and the IRT personnel.....But this year was absolutely ridiculous!!!! Oh good god this is possibly the first tine I've ever been this furious at the IRT!!!!!

I understand that the IRT have incredibly stressful jobs....

I understand that many people at Acen are rowdy and irritate the IRT......

I understand that Acen would be a complete mess without the IRT......

BUT rudeness is not acceptable!!!
I'm not going to rant viscously about the IRT since that would be childish but I want to get this issue across since some IRT members have truly offended me and many other people, the vast majority of them being a friend of mine. I know that there are countless IRT members that do their job right and properly. But there are power hungry sadists in the securities....I don't ever see a reason to call a girl a f##king b#tch...EVER....One IRT member said that as I was crossing the street.. The man said and I quote, "YOU STUPID LITTLE B#TCH!!! GET OUT OF THE F##KING ROAD!!! GET OUT OF THE F##KING ROAD!!" The ironic thing was I was at a LEGAL crosswalk while the "walk" signal was lit....What the hell??? I simply was to address this matter and I pray that this won't happen again.

[Divide]

You're kidding! You sure that was an IRT op? Have you got any info on which one it may be? A description maybe? If you have anything, please post it in the comments and concerns thread. I'm very interested in who this may be (my supervisors will likely be interested as well.) I mean, while I do admit we can be overly stern at times after congoers decide to be not so intelligent in front of us and actually pretend they never knew (I can sense this,) but wow. That's just plain unfriendly. I'm sorry you had to experience that. I really am.

~Neg 1

[misty]

That's just ridiculous.

I dealt with a rude IRT, as well. She was a member not to have fun, it seemed, but for a power trip. Don't remember her name, but when I asked her if I could take the walkway shortcut to the Dealer's/Registration Room on Thursday she got really rude with me and was not trying to be helpful at all. Everytime I saw her she was scowling. Why was she even there, then?

On an unrelated note, I was walking around on the 5th floor (I think) of the Hyatt, and I found a picture someone had drawn of a fat IRT member being his old grumpy self getting off to his own awesomeness. Don't remember the entire acronym was, but the I in IRT stood for 'Insecure'. Made me chuckle .

[BurnsideGT]

I second this (original post).

I've been going for 4 years as well with no issues at all regarding IRT, but this year seemed to be really iffy with the politeness. I too hear some pretty hardcore "IRT was rude to me" stories, but I think the elevated stress levels associated with the registration situation might have had something to do with it this year for a lot of the IRT group. The IRT member VIxen, she seemed like she was going to burst a blood vessel at any moment while she was working with the reg lines T_T.

My only issue with them this year was in the dealer's room/reg line, and as I was leaving the Halcali concert.

My friend and I went out to buy some water/snacks for our other friends who were stuck in the registration lines, but IRT stopped us from going in that way.. so; even though it -was- against the line area's IRT's request to not go into reg lines, our friends had been in there 7 and a half hours without anything to drink... so, we started to go around through the dealer's room entrance was wide open, when an IRT guy stopped us and started questioning us hardcore as though we were trying to sneak in there while it was closing Friday evening. Thing was, there were two IRT guards that were supposed to stop us from coming in there, and the guy who stopped us wouldn't believe us when we said "we just.. walked through. nobody tried to stop us until you did. We don't want merchandise.. we want to get this stuff to our friends at the other end of the registration room so they can eat and have something to drink..." So.. he finally let us go on.... and about 20 steps later, we got stopped again by 2 more IRT.. same scenario. Just doing their jobs, I know, but I don't need to be talked down upon like a criminal trying to steal stuff after I've explained I'm trying to bring a little comfort to my friends in the line.

IRT was just doing their jobs, I know... but the stress was giving them a really sarcastic and insulting streak which doesn't need to be present.

On a varied note, one of the two IRT members that dropped a healthy level of unprofessional behavior at my friend and I agreed to escort us around the dealer's room (which was still full of people so you couldn't tell it was closing at all), so that they would believe our "story". She didn't stay with us long, of course once she realized we were not lying to go get a last minute deal, but to me it showed that even though she was hellishly unprofessional in the talking department, she was willing to "help" us get what we wanted done, done. So.. I chalk some of the behavior up to massive stress.

Even legendary IRT god Bubba snapped pretty hard at me when I was walking through the dealer's room toward the exit because he thought I was going to stop at this one vendor's table while he was "fixin' the problem" (aka: closing it down), but I was just walking by.

The final snippy experience with IRT for me this year was when I was leaving the concert friday night (that I barely managed to make it to..) I couldn't see outside through the windows just outside of main programming, thanks to the dark room/bright room effect on my eyes after leaving concert, and there was nobody guarding said doors, and there wasn't an "emergency exit only" sign up, so I opened one up and stepped through ready to get out of there and back to my hotel room. Then... I realized "Woah. there's lots of bushes here.. not an exit..." so as I turned around to come back in, IRT guy is standing RIGHT in my face and drops down the hardcore "THIS ISN"T AN EXIT! YOU CAN"T GO THROUGH HERE!!!" And of course, I was trying to come back in, explained it was my mistake, that I couldn't see outside, and I didn't see a non-exit sign, so.. I got belittled a good little bit, and just bit my tongue and just said, "Do you want me to stay out here, or not use this exit?" cause I didn't want to walk through bushes, and I was right underneath the door. It was like he couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to keep me outside, or get me back in so his unmanned post wouldn't have been breached. In the end, I had to walk through the bushes and get wet mulchy stuff in my sandals '

It's a hassle that the con goers shouldn't have to deal with, but the big orange names on their vests help con goers report unprofessional behavior. None of my friends believed me when I told them IRT was pretty raw this year because the lot of us have been coming for 4-7 years now and we've never had issues with IRT before. But personally, I did this time.

I see IRT doing great work about 90% of the time with helping people out and responding to medical emergencies and such. But it's hard to ignore when a random IRT member is ripping into someone or a crowd for that matter with very little professionalism.

[Caleb]

We were discussing this during my 7 hour wait on friday... and the truth is, IRT staffers are kind of indentured to ACen, at least the way it's run now. The HAVE to be there doing their job for excessive hours... They have to take the crap from irate con goers... It's understandable why some could get rude. It's your responsibility as a con goer to make your con go well, and that means, you know, acting like a human. Be at least polite, especially to IRT. The more people are polite to eachother, the smoother things will go, for everyone. Granted, there are those that will be on a powertrip, but that's with anything. I did not encounter a single one this year. I mean, hell, the IRT staff do remember the people that were polite to them. It pisses me off that when I say "Thanks for doing this for us," I'm greeted with a sigh of relief. So really, just be polite, and try listening to IRT. That'll cause less frustration all around

[Wedge]

IRT comments & concerns

There is currently a thread for IRT comments & concerns. I encourage you to post there.
Please be able to include all important information including but not limited to:
Who was the IRT operative's name, radio call sign, or detailed description¿ (Please don't say they were wearing a black vest. Everyone name was on their badges and their radio call sign was in orange print on their vest)
What is your specific concern or comment¿
Where exactly did this event occur¿ (Main lobby between the elevators instead of lobby)
When did this event occur¿ (Please give date and time)
How would you like to see this matter resolved¿ OR How would you have handled it differently¿

We will be working hard to improve IRT and the services we render for next year but to do this we need detailed and specific information.

As I am sure you are aware that IRT is a large department within ACen and that your comments only reflect a small number of people. Providing detailed information regarding the operative involved, specifically a name (printed on the badge) or a call sign (in orange letters on the vest) will help us in determining which operatives you are talking about.
IRT comments & concerns

[Ghost Fighter]

Arrogant is more like it. And it stems from that uniform they have and how they try to act like Blackwater-lite. They just got an extension for another year in Iraq and the job pays 250,000 dollars and year. Plus you get immunity from local and international laws. Come on guys, gonna join the big leagues?

In all seriousness, I've been going to ACEN for a great many years and noticed a change in demeanor when Security became IRT and was given those vests. They really seem to think they have some sort of actual law authority in where they can use intimidation as a normal tactic or just act dickish because they can.

If you ask me, I think IRT should be disbanded and we should go back to plain old Security with T-shirts and no pseudo-military crap.

[rondo]

Wedge, on May 19 2008, 03:39 PM, said:

IRT comments & concerns

There is currently a thread for IRT comments & concerns. I encourage you to post there.
Please be able to include all important information including but not limited to:
Who was the IRT operative's name, radio call sign, or detailed description¿ (Please don't say they were wearing a black vest. Everyone name was on their badges and their radio call sign was in orange print on their vest)
What is your specific concern or comment¿
Where exactly did this event occur¿ (Main lobby between the elevators instead of lobby)
When did this event occur¿ (Please give date and time)
How would you like to see this matter resolved¿ OR How would you have handled it differently¿

We will be working hard to improve IRT and the services we render for next year but to do this we need detailed and specific information.

As I am sure you are aware that IRT is a large department within ACen and that your comments only reflect a small number of people. Providing detailed information regarding the operative involved, specifically a name (printed on the badge) or a call sign (in orange letters on the vest) will help us in determining which operatives you are talking about.
IRT comments & concerns

Hey Wedge, perhaps replace the other thread with a new one covering ACEN 2008 to ACEN 2009 and merge posts concerning this con into it and retire the older one? Just a suggestion.

[davebb]

One of the things about IRT instead of professional security services: COST. We are free, and are you going to have a private ambulance service sitting on site the entire 4 days of the event? Don't forget IRT is just not your so called gustopo. We also have medics, which there was only a few of us to handle all the trauma and medical issues, and substance abuse (alcohol being a primary). Thats more cost out of the congoers pocket. So you would need to pay 30$/hour/body for a professional service and these people are not anime people, they don't appreciate the enthusiasm for the con that IRT staff do.
This was my first year being on IRT/EMRT, and i put in 45.5 hours personally as a medic. That is starting friday morning at 8am on my shift until 6pm end of shift on sunday. within the 60 hours of contime I worked 45.5 hours. The remaining 14 hours were spent showering, eating and resting. All this for free. I am a nationally registered EMT. Do you think that many others will take all that time out of their lives for a bunch of congoers for free. I probably spent 1 hour of time (while on duty) to shop, and i dind't get to goto ANY hotel events. Also I couldnt do any photography for photoshoots. Being a hobby/parttime photographer, i always enjoy doing photoshoots. Well I was working this time and I do intend on working it again next year.
There are a lot of IRT that are good, though there may be some bad apples. Even professionals have bad apples. Heck even police do, for example (not bashing chicago since its my metro area and have a few friends on the force) chicago has a bad rep. Anyways I hope other congoers got a chance to enjoy the events

Ghost Fighter, on May 19 2008, 07:34 PM, said:

Arrogant is more like it. And it stems from that uniform they have and how they try to act like Blackwater-lite. They just got an extension for another year in Iraq and the job pays 250,000 dollars and year. Plus you get immunity from local and international laws. Come on guys, gonna join the big leagues?

In all seriousness, I've been going to ACEN for a great many years and noticed a change in demeanor when Security became IRT and was given those vests. They really seem to think they have some sort of actual law authority in where they can use intimidation as a normal tactic or just act dickish because they can.

If you ask me, I think IRT should be disbanded and we should go back to plain old Security with T-shirts and no pseudo-military crap.

[ExentricSage]

Ghost Fighter, on May 20 2008, 12:34 AM, said:

Arrogant is more like it. And it stems from that uniform they have and how they try to act like Blackwater-lite. They just got an extension for another year in Iraq and the job pays 250,000 dollars and year. Plus you get immunity from local and international laws. Come on guys, gonna join the big leagues?

In all seriousness, I've been going to ACEN for a great many years and noticed a change in demeanor when Security became IRT and was given those vests. They really seem to think they have some sort of actual law authority in where they can use intimidation as a normal tactic or just act dickish because they can.

If you ask me, I think IRT should be disbanded and we should go back to plain old Security with T-shirts and no pseudo-military crap.

Actualy, IRT DOES meet with Rosemont police and DO have clearance to use physical force or detain people who comit a crime. They've been involved with drug busts, confescating REAL WEAPONS, and aresting child molesters, and other very dangerous situations. So I guess you can say within the peramiters of the convention, yes, they do have some very necasary authority.

You judge them on the assumption that everyone comes to Acen to have fun and be nice to people. Reality check: When an event like a convention gets very large, criminals use it as a means to an ends. Pedophiles can find easy acsess to children, rapists can get easy acsess to naive young women, drug dealers get acsess to people heading to parties who are interested in 'experimenting', and some people are just a bit off in the head and can snap at any time. IRT has become almost militant in dealing with people because they HAD TO. Did you know a members of IRT were asaulted while trying to confescate badges this year? They were physicaly atacked when they caught some congoers doing something dangerous. This is not the small comunity of anime fans that Acen used to be.

Furthermore, staff and IRT are having trouble growing their ranks at the same rate as the con is growing. This means fewer people doing more work and a lot of stress.



I agree that they need to be civil with those con goers who are actualy behaving themselves. I agree that the grossly inapropriate incidents need to be adressed. However, those can only be adressed if people bother to get the name of the IRT member who offended them.

As for problems with masquarade line up... I was gofering it and I got in a yelling match with an IRT member myself. Miscomunications happen when people are stressed. Just brush it off for the most part. Constructive criticism is great, but those who act like IRT should all be punished for a simple mistake or for their tone of voice are not being resonable. During masquarade it turned out that they hadn't been given a clear plan for how to handle the new seating system, and they were desperately trying to keep lines organised and fair despite very limited space even outside. To top it off, they were having comunication problems over their headsets in organising wich lines go in first and where lines end. One of the IRT even was without any comunication because her batery died, and it took awhile for them to find a gofer to run her a new one. (I found her and took care of it, but the damage was already done so to speek. LOL)

[mmy-sama]

I personally did'nt have any real problems with them even tho I was supposedly on the watch list this year. However, theres still plenty of room for improvement. I did hear some stories. One friend of mine said that one night an IRT staffer was being overly rude and impolite to his girlfriend. He then told the IRT staffer that "if you can't treat people with dignity and respect then you don't deserve to wear that uniform" (Personally, I think that should be IRT's new motto). He claims that the IRT guy responded by saying that he could take the guys badge. Not cool, very not cool.

[Sexeh Cloud]

I second the comment on the vests bringing about a bit of a change in attitude. I'll admit, yes, they look pretty cool, and if I was wearing one, I'd feel like I was hot crap too. It crossed my mind to volunteer for IRT next year so I could get a cool vest. This is the reason I think they just weren't meant to be. Why do we stop there? Give them airsoft rifles and handguns too if you want. We might as well. The military-esque vests give anyone wearing them a sense of power and self-righteousness. I shouldn't say "anyone" actually, because that's not fair, as some people were responsible.

You guys are volunteering, and I respect that. You're not being paid (though you are getting a sweet butt vest and you're getting some privileges) However, the common congoer IS paying, and although I'm sure all that money goes towards the convention, we need to remember that they are paying to have an enjoyable weekend/day(s). One shitty experience can ruin a weekend for some people. Other people can shrug it off and not care. But for the one person whose experience is ruined, it kinda makes you feel shitty to lose 50 bucks (assuming they paid that for the weekend).

It's just my two cents, and I KNOW not everyone is a bad apple. This isn't so much to complain as it is a hope that people who will staff any con in the future will read this and take it to heart that, although you're volunteering, the common congoer is NOT. S/He is paying for an event. It's what I have to keep in mind when I do volunteer work all the time. (not at cons, yet)

[McWeen]

I think this is a person by person problem rather than department wide problem. I had problems with an IRT screaming at people last year but this I thought the ones I encountered were very courteous.

[SCH55]

i have found them to be much more than rude, they were ignorant, unhelpful, and arrogant. i was the first person in line for registration friday morning at 3am, and i waited eagerly untill 8am, at which point they delayed opening untill 830, and reapeeated this untill 930, by this point i was a bit frustrated and i stopped a passing IRT, and asked for an accurate estimate fo when they would open, he told me he had no idea, and know way of knowing, i then asked him what they were doing to solve the issue that was casing the delays, and at this he became very irritated, and in short told me he again did not know, and that i should go screw myself. of course the explative(sp) was implied not actually spoken. after finally getting in at about 945, i headed straight for the computers to register, and i ducked under the guide rails in the process, at seeing this, an IRT told me to go to the back of the line, i was the first person in line, whom was i cutting? i just wanted to screwing register. after 12 long hours of waiting, i finally got my badge and returned to my hotel room. then on saturday night at the second rave, after getting inside, i decided to take a bathroom break, after i had returned from my bathroom break i was told if i wanted back in i had to get back in the line of approx. 2000+ people, at which point i had no other option but to badger this poor IRT girl untill she let me in. they were separating us from our friends, there was no way to contact them, and after geting in line, what if they left looking for me? i am thoroughly dissapointed at the staff's lack of professionalism, and their unwillingness to compromise and listen to reason.

[youth]

Maybe making the vests some loud color like yellow/flourescent green/pink instead of black could help to diffuse any power trips & make them more visible rather then taking them away since they seem to have some utilitarian usefulness.

[sentinel28a]

"Actualy, IRT DOES meet with Rosemont police and DO have clearance to use physical force or detain people who comit a crime. They've been involved with drug busts, confescating REAL WEAPONS, and aresting child molesters, and other very dangerous situations. So I guess you can say within the peramiters of the convention, yes, they do have some very necasary authority."

IRT should NOT be involved with this. If they run into a situation like that, they should hang back and notify the pros. Putting inexperienced security staff up against possible hardcore drug addicts, other criminals, and guns/live steel is just asking to get people killed.

Self-defense is one thing, peaceably detaining people who have committed a crime is one thing. Using physical force is asking for all kinds of trouble. That almost seems like carte blanche for an IRT member to begin whaling on someone they don't like. I assume ACen and IRT is aware of the very real possibility of crippling lawsuits? Because if I got shoved around by IRT for no reason, you can bet that I would be notifying my lawyer.

Ben Da Mad Irishman

[Edrik]

Quote

Self-defense is one thing, peaceably detaining people who have committed a crime is one thing. Using physical force is asking for all kinds of trouble. That almost seems like carte blanche for an IRT member to begin whaling on someone they don't like. I assume ACen and IRT is aware of the very real possibility of crippling lawsuits? Because if I got shoved around by IRT for no reason, you can bet that I would be notifying my lawyer.

Ben Da Mad Irishman

That's actually, quite specifically, as far as our use of physical force goes, except for extreme circumstances. We are not allowed to use physical force on a whim to whatever degree we choose. In fact, the general rule is to avoid physical contact as much as possible.

[mmy-sama]

youth, on May 20 2008, 09:56 PM, said:

Maybe making the vests some loud color like yellow/flourescent green/pink instead of black could help to diffuse any power trips & make them more visible rather then taking them away since they seem to have some utilitarian usefulness.

Thats pretty much what they had in the past before IRT got started.

[Kankokujin]

My experience was not directly related to IRT but it was about a power trip nonetheless. I was walking in the hallway with some friends and a lady rudely asked my friend to move. He looked back at her and was like, "What the...?" And then she yelled, "YOU GOT A PROBLEM!? I'LL CALL IRT!".

[davebb]

Kankokujin, on May 21 2008, 02:37 AM, said:

My experience was not directly related to IRT but it was about a power trip nonetheless. I was walking in the hallway with some friends and a lady rudely asked my friend to move. He looked back at her and was like, "What the...?" And then she yelled, "YOU GOT A PROBLEM!? I'LL CALL IRT!".

was she IRT vested and what hallway and when was this. if it was IRT refer to the http://www.acen.org/...showtopic=17848 thread. Wedge is trying to get the complaints centralized for followups and feedback.

[Fullmetalcrusade]

Why is everyone defending IRT so much?
"Oh its a tough job" well then DONT DO IT! No one is FORCED to don the pretend bullet proof vest, they CHOOSE to do it. I'm sorry, but after my issue with IRT last year I realize that a majority of them are nothing but power hungry *bleep* They boss people around(people who aren't doing anything wrong mind you) and act like they are some kind of REAL cop. Last year I had one tell me to "Shut the F up" for really no reason. Sure, i was somewhat of a smartass to the guy, made a sarcastic joke about somethin or other. Admitadly, that was wrong, but I didn't say anything to him to require that kind of treatment. And this year. While my buddy was standing in that 8 HOUR LINE, someone threw a paper plane and he moved so it didn't hit him in the eye. In his movement he knocked over one of the dividers and caused everyone to cheer. this IRT guy RUNS up, doesn't walk doesnt jog RUNS and threatens to kick him out of Acen for the whole weekend for knocking it over. WHAT? Im shocked my buddy didn't knock him on his *bleep* right then and there. Point is, I think you guys need to be a bit more picky about who will be IRT. I've dealt with some IRT guys who were nice, but the bad really outweighs the good.

[Aj-chan]

KingofKOF, on May 22 2008, 04:58 PM, said:

Why is everyone defending IRT so much?

Because not all of us had overly negative experiences. This is a place for people to express both negative and positive feelings, so you're bound to see a bit of both.

Plus, there have been many IRT/staff people in here apologizing for things that were completely out of their control, but they are sorry regardless and have told us so. These people deserve some support for coming in here and trying to hear what everyone has to say and provide answers.

[ExentricSage]

I wish the people who had bad experiences with IRT would have taken a moment to get a name or a description of the IRT member. I'm going to defend the IRT as a department because I've spent time with them, I know about their work, and even though I've gotten in shouting matches with them before I'm as quick to forgive them as they forgave me. It's not about defending every IRT member. It just pisses me off a bit when people want to bash the whole department because of a few members actions. There's a lot of people who've had realy good experiences with IRT as well.

I definetly think those who abuse their power should be kicked out, but typicaly people who are posting complaints here aren't giveing any of the necasary information to have those members dealt with. Try to put yourself into the shoes of one of the good IRT members and look at these demands for pink vests, and all the insults being flung at them. It's been said before and I'll say it again, they are doing this for free, for fun. If you make their job myserable you won't just get rid of the bad members, they'll all stop working for Acen. Acen can't aford that.

[davebb]

quick note on bad apples... I am in the Emergency services field. Both emergency management and now as an emt. When i was in class for EMT there was a poster outside the classroom. Goes along the lines of:
No one will remember you arriving 30 seconds late to a fire, but no one will forget trying to arrive 30 seconds sooner and causing an accident. lesson in this context for this discussion. People ALWAYS remember the negatives, but rarely if ever the positives.

[jsieczkar]

davebb, on May 23 2008, 05:47 AM, said:

quick note on bad apples... I am in the Emergency services field. Both emergency management and now as an emt. When i was in class for EMT there was a poster outside the classroom. Goes along the lines of:
No one will remember you arriving 30 seconds late to a fire, but no one will forget trying to arrive 30 seconds sooner and causing an accident. lesson in this context for this discussion. People ALWAYS remember the negatives, but rarely if ever the positives.

To add a bit of statistics to what Davebb said: A person will remember a great experience for 1 year, a average experience 2 months, and a negative experience for 7 years on average.

[Irish]

Alright... firstly, to the guy that got yelled at for walking through the glass doors after the Masq. That was probably me that yelled at you. A LOT of people try and go through those doors every year and we can only really do so much (IRT has to follow the no-signs law too). We dont have the auxillary people to just stand as a sentry there so when it gets shoved off onto guys like us we kinda get a little aggitated by the 300th person. For the most part though I'll usually yell really loud to get their attention and then try and explain something (usually not as loud).

As for some of the other stuff. I'm not saying what a lot of the IRT people do is right. A lot of them do get a little... power mad? I'm a tunnel rat (which means you probably dont see me... lest its after 5pm and theres a really loud guy yelling for no real reason [thats me]) so I dont really associate with the con-goers too much. All I get is hearsay from friends, you guys, and fellow IRT people. For the most part, we do our best. I know that I personally will go out of my way to try and keep someone OUT of trouble (unless theyre just being stupid) and have a tendancy to reward people for acts of kindness. For example, when the guy dressed as a crossing guard helped me direct traffic on Friday/Saturday (I cant remember)... I made sure he had choice seating. He didnt expect anything in return - he was just trying to help IRT because he knew we had rough jobs.

Granted, I dont expect most of the con attendees or most of IRT for that matter, to act like that or myself. Most of IRT is well aware that we are here to ensure and safeguard your enjoyment. Some of us weirdo bastards (myself included) have more fun working the con than attending. I cant say that I agree with some of the outright assaults made on IRT but I definately sympathize with some of your tales. I'm a cranky, grumpy bastard when I've HAD sleep... during ACen I'm sorta like a comatose badger. I really dont care, I do what I believe to be the right course of action when the situation arises, and I dont look back. The necessity to get things done to ensure the saftey and enjoyment of the many, at the sacrifice of the few, is PROBABLY (I'm just guessing) a concept that floats around in the back of all IRT heads. Doesnt mean its right.

Again, if I personally pissed in your cheerios this year and it seemed a little over the top - sorry for being over the top. Every situation should be able to be handled in a civil manner... too many uncivil encounters sorta drain that ability to be civil from the IRT corps.

[Nobuta Power]

I love the IRT I even call them the Ignorance Response Team because some of congoers need to calm down a lot or take a chill pill because they be doing some really ignorant stuff and you wonder if you and that ignorant person are of the same species really they get too excited for no reason and they end up messing up other people's convention experience for good

[Imulsion]

Ghost Fighter, on May 19 2008, 06:34 PM, said:

Arrogant is more like it. And it stems from that uniform they have and how they try to act like Blackwater-lite. They just got an extension for another year in Iraq and the job pays 250,000 dollars and year. Plus you get immunity from local and international laws. Come on guys, gonna join the big leagues?

In all seriousness, I've been going to ACEN for a great many years and noticed a change in demeanor when Security became IRT and was given those vests. They really seem to think they have some sort of actual law authority in where they can use intimidation as a normal tactic or just act dickish because they can.

If you ask me, I think IRT should be disbanded and we should go back to plain old Security with T-shirts and no pseudo-military crap.

Dude, you're making both common city helpers and a semi-secret military organization that works for the US look bad. I plan to help around for next year NOT to act like a dick, but just to stuff some extra dollars into my pocket. If there are any complete dicks sighted in IRT vests, I recommend to report the activity to their main service and have them restricted to 100 ft away from all entrances of the Con and have them booted for the rest of the events. If that would be a new rule for the next con, I'd be more than willing to help enforce it.

[chompzie]

I had some bad experiences with IRT too this past year but, working customer service myself, I can understand. The IRT aren't robots, they have human emotions and limits as well and with the size of ACen there are a LOT of just plain rude and ignorant congoers. There are quite a few people pulling ridiculous stunts and causing trouble just for lulz and since the IRT is all-volunteer and understaffed for a con that size, it's a natural reaction.

Yeah, everyone SHOULD be polite and happy and nice but when you're dealing with a large amount of rowdy people (a good amount of which are troublemakers), it's almost impossible to expect that. And plus, a lot of people just plain don't respect the nice people (pushovers).

Not saying that there is any excuse for name-calling or anything like that, but the perceived rudeness and 'arrogance' is probably just normal human beings fed up with the ridiculous stunts being pulled.

Working only 4 hours as a hostess on a Friday night (Fish fries, ugh) has me almost pulling my hair out and staring at wonderment in my fellow human beings. A group of 12 people walking in (no reservation, no warning), in the middle of the Fish fry dinner rush, demanding IMMEDIATE seating in a small, privately-owned and run restaurant... and then throwing a fit when they don't get premium seats, and eating like pigs in a farm and leaving bits and pieces of food all over the floor... and letting their little kids run around screaming and giving us dirty looks when we tell their kids to sit down... HELLO, restaurant, hot food and heavy plates.

Anyway, I can understand.

I'm sure there are some bad apples, but give 'em a break.

A lot of people aren't making the IRT's jobs any easier.