[Scott]

So I'll first start off by saying there are a lot of cool people at ACEN, you know, the regulars you almost always run into. As I spend a lot of time on photography, I walk around a lot and run into people I recognize. Often times I get a nod/gesture or hello, which is nice and I try to do the same when I recognize someone.

Although sometimes... People seem to go out of their way to avoid eye contact or other things that appear from my point of view as really awkward.

Could it be they are nervous I might approach them and ask for a photo? Also, I'm not talking about people who are in a hurry/fast walking, eating, on a phone, sitting in a corner resting, and similar. I never bother asking those people. Well really I'm talking about just being social rather than photography, so I digress. Maybe I'm old enough now that I don't care about saying hi to someone I recognize by the chance I don't get a response.

Have you had this happen or can explain different points of view on this?

This post has been edited by Scott: 24 May 2011 - 07:11 PM

[Rakuen]

Well, if it's someone I've only briefly met, there's that nervousness that the other person won't recognize you. It's awkward as hell to walk up to a person, ask if they remember you, only to be told they have no idea who you are.

That, and I'm not that predisposed to approaching other people as is. I'm quite chatty if you come up and talk to me, but I usually network and meet people through friends I already have.

[Scott]

Right, that's understandable. You don't even need to ask if they recognize you. Just say hello.

[ZomgBlue]

there are some people i will go out of my way to avoid at all costs, okay not all costs but i will fake being sick to get away from them. then there are others i will do the nod, hug, or w/e it is that it seems like is the right way to go about it.

i always make sure to be in 'street' clothes when approaching those i dont know that well, which this totally reminds me like 5 people said hi to me this year and i had no clue who they were.

[Stkbayfield]

Oh lordy, I have been this way on both sides and both make me feel bad. I help run a cosplay club at my college so I know a lot of people at the con. Of all 20+ of them only 2 stood out with moments that made me

One was an ex-member of the group who was walking with a friend and she was bemoaning that it sucks to bump into people you know because she just hates speaking to some people and would rather not have to. I said "I hope I'm not one of those people" to her (was walking behind her trying to catch up to say hi), she averted her eyes and walked away. I felt like such a douche at that moment. I want to think it was shame at having been overheard making a personal statement which makes me feel like an butt... but there is a stupidly high possibility I AM one of those people and that makes me feel even worse.

Then there's a member of the club who is such a party animal that I am fairly sure he was drunk and certainly shirtless. When he yelled out to me I coyly waved and pressed on yelling I had to be somewhere (I did... but for friends I make time). So I suppose yeah, bumping into acquaintances is awkward. Running into friends is awesome.

Oh and Knives seemed very uncomfortable when I spoke to him. But that's okay, he told me last time we spoke at a small con that he forgets people easily and probably had no idea who I was and just wanted to escape from the situation.

[BigBoss]

I'm a big scary monster type, so people avoiding eye contact is the norm for me. It's when people don't avert their eyes that I start wondering "shoot, am I their midboss?" But, Acen is an uncommon event, so it's understandable that some folks are going to behave differently - consciously or unconsciously - than the would on any other given day. Heck, with such a large congregation of people, it sometimes takes total focus to just avoid walking into other con-goers or one of those big steel pillars in the Dealer Hall. I wouldn't take it personal.

[NinjaJedi007]

When I met people at ACen parties, meet & greets, etc I always tried to say hi if I ran into them later. Things are usually more fun if you can make those connections, even if its just for small chit chat. Leaves room for future hangouts and whatnot.

[wolverine33]

Interesting topic...... when i say hi to people at an acen meet i try to chat with
them to see how it goes, if i run into them later i'll say hi, if we chatted for
a while (like i did with 2 guys that were at acen for the first time) we ran into
each other later on and chatted for a few minutes, that's the idea of an event like this...


I can say (being a slight outcast) it's the meets that lead to fucture friends that make the con more fun... DON'T get wrong there's times when your friends can end up
making things worse or to the point you don't know why you bothered to even
showing up... ....


To say "it sucks to bump into people you know because she just hates speaking to
some people and would rather not have to. I think it depends mostly on who and why,
there are times when you know the reason you'd understand why.....

later

[Naruto9thDemon]

I met a lot of new people there this year and if I saw any of them again I just did said a quick "Hey" or small talk like "Hey what's up? Enjoying the con so far?" It's not really so awkward.

[Pashy-chan]

See.. for me it depended on what I was wearing.. and in such cases, I was totally a culprit of this!

Amongst friends, since they're close to me and I know they know the real me.. I'm always 100% comfortable no matter what the wardrobe! We never /fully/ dress for any of the raves, and usually in comparison to them, I'm even a bit more conservative.. o.o; So I guess.. because we're close, and because I know them, I didn't mind going all out~

But then there's that akward moment of running into acquaintances, people you've just met and..classmates.. *shutters* and not wanting them to see you dressed or act a certain way. I mean, in school.. I'm ALOT more settled down.. so ACen is that outlet to well.. be a spaz *andlooklikeaslore* around those I'm close to! Not only that, but when it comes to people I've just met.. I never want to give off the wrong impression either! xD 0w0; So for me.. it just depends on where I am or what I'm wearing, and that's what makes it akward or not. It's those factors that change whether or not I'll approach someone with a hug, or hide behind pillar until they're out of sight.. Though this ACen, I made life easier by carring a jacket around at all times.. XD

"Crap, I'm going to see you in class tomorrow!! 0x0 *Zips up*"

This post has been edited by Pashy-chan: 25 May 2011 - 11:53 AM

[SJAkarma22]

I'm infamous for doing that exact thing and I feel bad but usually I meet people through being with other people and I'm supa shy when it comes to being on my own. I'm not sure how close I should be to a person before I stike up a wave or convo. I don't know what to say; also if I'm not 100% sure who the person is I think they're waving/motioning to someone around me.

[The Fujoshi]

I have been on both end of the stick:

I tried to make friends and said hi on the Hetalia panel last year. I didn't say nothing weird just 'Hello I heard about your LJ bags and I was interested.' It was like I was asking Iggy for porn She seemed off put even though she was REALLY loud and into the Hetalia spirit like through the whole con. Maybe she wasn't expecting America to ask? I don't know but she scribbled her information down from IJ and I said thanks. That was the whole conversation after the panel.

At the meet and greet I was nervous and thought I would pass out like Toris. I was actually amused that people, including Knives, thought I was interesting since I normally go on the forums >.< I was just worn out from running home and back but I still attempted to say hi and not be awkward.

Just be friendly and don't be a creep or have a stick up your butt if someone is stand offish or puts you on your square.

Non anime con situations don't care because most acquaintances from school are still in Chicago

[Kasin]

no one really notices me

[Scott]

I do! At least if I would have see ya. Actually We bumped into each other like twice at a local supermarket in the past. Were you thinking of having an Anderson Gardens meetup again in the future?

This post has been edited by Scott: 26 May 2011 - 07:38 PM

[Kasin]

yes, i was thinking june or august.

[Scott]

Kasin, on 27 May 2011 - 09:32 AM, said:

yes, i was thinking june or august.

Cool. Let me know and I'll help promote it. June is right around the corner.

[Ramza Beoulve]

Pashy-chan, on 25 May 2011 - 11:52 AM, said:

See.. for me it depended on what I was wearing.. and in such cases, I was totally a culprit of this!

Amongst friends, since they're close to me and I know they know the real me.. I'm always 100% comfortable no matter what the wardrobe! We never /fully/ dress for any of the raves, and usually in comparison to them, I'm even a bit more conservative.. o.o; So I guess.. because we're close, and because I know them, I didn't mind going all out~

But then there's that akward moment of running into acquaintances, people you've just met and..classmates.. *shutters* and not wanting them to see you dressed or act a certain way. I mean, in school.. I'm ALOT more settled down.. so ACen is that outlet to well.. be a spaz *andlooklikeaslore* around those I'm close to! Not only that, but when it comes to people I've just met.. I never want to give off the wrong impression either! xD 0w0; So for me.. it just depends on where I am or what I'm wearing, and that's what makes it akward or not. It's those factors that change whether or not I'll approach someone with a hug, or hide behind pillar until they're out of sight.. Though this ACen, I made life easier by carring a jacket around at all times.. XD

"Crap, I'm going to see you in class tomorrow!! 0x0 *Zips up*"

lol slore

[Kasin]

yeah, i need to make a FB and a thread. might do it next time i'm at borders.

[Ramza Beoulve]

Kasin, on 27 May 2011 - 01:48 PM, said:

yeah, i need to make a FB and a thread. might do it next time i'm at borders.

Library works too.

[Kasin]

YEAH! and i live right by it! but guess whats stupid, their closed on mondays! I only have sunday and monday off!

whos closed on a monday?!?!?!?

[Ramza Beoulve]

Kasin, on 27 May 2011 - 03:06 PM, said:

YEAH! and i live right by it! but guess whats stupid, their closed on mondays! I only have sunday and monday off!

whos closed on a monday?!?!?!?

Chinese resturants are closed on Monday...in Chicago. Its like their Sunday. :3 Many times have I craved Chinese on Monday and forgotten, only to be disappoint.

[Cherry_Wolf]

I am super, super shy. So I often do this. I feel bad after I realize I've been doing it, but I can't help it.

Though I was proud of myself this ACen, I met two people that I know from my Livejournal and didn't act too shy. I even hugged and got hugged by one of them. But then again, they were very much a kindred spirit, more so than I usually meet.

Either way, unless I really know you... I am going to be awkward around you.

[Kasin]

Ramza Beoulve, on 27 May 2011 - 03:12 PM, said:

Chinese resturants are closed on Monday...in Chicago. Its like their Sunday. :3 Many times have I craved Chinese on Monday and forgotten, only to be disappoint.

really? hmmm

but this is my hard earned...well...easily earned tax dollars!

[Scott]

Kasin, on 27 May 2011 - 03:06 PM, said:

YEAH! and i live right by it! but guess whats stupid, their closed on mondays! I only have sunday and monday off!
whos closed on a monday?!?!?!?

The Rockford Public Library system is strapped for cash, so they offset the open days for each of their branches. This is the alternative to closing some of the branches.

[Kasin]

so east state might be open?

[Scott]

Kasin, on 27 May 2011 - 04:31 PM, said:

so east state might be open?

http://www.rockfordp...ations/main.asp

On the left panel it has a link to every branch with open times and such.

The East State branch is:
Monday - Thursday: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED

Edit: It looks like the improved the open times since I last was using the system. Some of the libraries appear to be open 6 days a week.

This post has been edited by Scott: 27 May 2011 - 04:46 PM

[Kasin]

you ever check out the manga selection their last time u went?

[Scott]

Kasin, on 28 May 2011 - 12:08 PM, said:

you ever check out the manga selection their last time u went?

Nope, sorry. It was like half a year ago too.

[Kasin]

I remember the manga at the main branch 6 years ago...it still makes me sad. it was like 10 books.