Soapbox: Asking Too Many Questions
by otaking on Aug.26, 2009, under Soapbox
Lelouch Vi Britannia commands it!
I’ve had an exciting couple of days, haven’t I? First my Otaku Taiki comments page bursts into flames, and then I get accused of stirring up trouble.
All because I had the poor judgment to ask questions.
There’s an order to things, here, see? People who ask too many questions get in trouble. Keep your head down. Don’t ask any questions. Accept things the way they are.
But I asked too many questions.
I came back to the community a blank slate, with few preconceptions about how things work, which groups were active, what was considered proper decorum and what wasn’t. I met with as many people as I could, with an open and inquisitive mind. I noted the differing opinions of people on the hobby, started to develop an opinion of my own.
All I had was my love of the hobby itself and my fervent hope that someday I would cosplay at a con without it looking like I just pulled a few clothes out of my closet and hoped for the best. I still feel that way. But the hope keeps getting dimmer and dimmer.
What is it about cosplay that makes people want to crucify you for not taking sides? Oh right, I asked too many questions.
I’ve kept my head above the controversy, without rushing to take sides. I sincerely hope that people aren’t saying I should control my readers’ opinions, moderate out the more vocal comments. I’ve invited free speech on my blog to the point of having to weather personal insults without sinking to the level of my detractors or censoring them. But does it follow that I share the opinions of everyone who posts in my blog?
Why are people so quick to assume I’m causing trouble, or taking sides? Why put words in my mouth?
Oh right.
I asked too many questions.
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Soapbox: Cosplay and LARP - Project Otaking
August 28th, 2009 on 6:04 pm[...] again, this depends on the definition of cosplay, and there are many exclusionary definitions of cosplay being bandied around [...]
August 26th, 2009 on 8:27 pm
/pats /hug
August 26th, 2009 on 9:24 pm
The problem wasn’t that you asked too many questions. If that was the case, the previous post would have also burst into flames.
But it didn’t.
The problem with the first post was that you accidentally touched a subject that can both make people misunderstand your motives as well as invite trolls and rabble-rousers to start large (and pointless) flamewars. This allowed the post to degenerate to what it is right now.
In contrast, the latter post didn’t degenerate to a pro/anti-whatever discussion. Sure, there were some posts that were out of line, but they weren’t really that bad.
The lesson here is that it’s not wrong to ask questions, but please take extra caution when dealing with potentially explosive issues.
And people, please do not feed the trolls.
August 27th, 2009 on 2:24 am
I applaud you for your well-reasoned response, even if I may respectfully disagree. Welcome to the blog.
August 28th, 2009 on 2:49 pm
I have to agree with datenshi’s assessment, but would disagree about being careful. I didn’t really see you being the one to fan the flames. Being any more careful and you’d be blogging in blind items. Besides, it sometimes takes someone with an outsider’s perspective to ask the hard questions and you’re doing just that.
August 28th, 2009 on 3:21 pm
“Blogging in blind items”
Sounds familiar.
August 28th, 2009 on 9:21 pm
Being careful isn’t just about not naming names or withholding your own opinions if you feel it steps on others; that approach is too conservative for this century. What’s more appropriate is to take some time to re-read your entry before posting and ask yourself if it’s going to provoke a flamewar whether through misunderstanding, sarcasm, or the like.
If it is, you could either choose to reword some lines/terms to make it less of a flamebait (no need for stupid things like disclaimers), or you could just leave it be and just brace yourself for “exciting” lines of comments (wala ka rin naman kasing magagawa kung talagang naghahanap ng away yung kasuap mo =/ ).
Either way’s good in my book.
August 28th, 2009 on 9:27 pm
Self-censorship isn’t my cup of tea, so I guess it’s time to make sure the primary buffer panels can survive reentry.
August 26th, 2009 on 10:25 pm
honestly. dont even bother asking questions at all.
because no matter how much you discuss and argue with other people, your definition of cosplay will come from COSPLAYING as well. =___= i didnt want to be super blunt but some people just try to be know it alls to the point of being “epal”. just because a person likes hounding down hot cosplayers, it doesnt mean you can understand the hobby from that point of view.
it gets out of hand because people who dont even cosplay have too many opinions of a hobby they just observe from the outside. yes, this is coming from a very active cosplayer.
ive seen the big issues blow up from the side of people who havent even cosplayed at all. sadly.
the idea of wearing a costume looks very simple and it seems like its easy to rationalize but some things you cannot define unless you experience it yourself. not until you hold a sewing machine to make your costume or not until you grab greco and rubber sheets to make armor or mecha. not until you have that moment when you have a creation which is a part of you and the character to portray.
so stop listening to people. everyone has their own opinion. pick a character, cosplay, and then discover what it means to you. then keep it yourself and cherish it.
people are too bored and sensitive. ive seen smaller issues been blown out of proportion. but yeah, its best to just….keep quiet and enjoy the hobby.
see, if you’re actually cosplaying, you wouldnt be so concerned in asking questions since you are engrossed in enjoying the hobby.
you seem like a nice guy so i’d hate to see you caught up in another mess.
August 26th, 2009 on 11:48 pm
He has cosplayed. Hence the phrases – “came BACK to the community” and “love of the hobby”.
Meanwhile the phrase – “my fervent hope that someday I would cosplay at a con without it looking like I just pulled a few clothes out of my closet and hoped for the best” — is a statement on his perceived quality of his cosplay.
August 26th, 2009 on 11:59 pm
“see, if you’re actually cosplaying, you wouldnt be so concerned in asking questions since you are engrossed in enjoying the hobby.”
It looks more like the people who are cosplaying may also be too busy to ask questions, because they’re already holding exceedingly strong opinions one way or another and questions would just shake up their own worldview.
August 27th, 2009 on 12:40 am
I think what bram is saying is, you’re a ‘cosplay fan’.
and thanks to the handy guide, I know that ‘cosplay fan’ means ‘not a cosplayer’. so bram’s disqualifying you from talking about cosplay because you’re just a fan, just like men can’t talk about women’s issues because they’re not women, or parents can’t discuss children’s rights because they’re not children.
so educational!
August 27th, 2009 on 1:24 pm
And moviegoers can’t talk about movies because they don’t make movies.
Funny, I’ve never encountered a performance art where audience members aren’t allowed to voice opinions.
August 27th, 2009 on 3:15 pm
We hate you and all, but to give credit where it’s due, when you’re right, you’re right.
August 27th, 2009 on 2:07 am
@bram, sir, I don’t mean to pick a fight but did you just make it sound like that because Otaking hasn’t cosplayed like you have, he doesn’t have a right to talk about cosplay?
I really hope you know what you sounded like right now.
August 27th, 2009 on 2:55 pm
Sadly, bram, not everyone can shut their mouths about something sensitive to them. For some issues, someone should say something for their thoughts to get across. Just my two cents.
August 27th, 2009 on 7:48 pm
@bram
-sigh-
This is why we can’t have nice things… people dropping off random controversial comments without going back to clear things up. -__-
August 27th, 2009 on 1:02 am
Why yes, I don’t cosplay. I just watch. Of course, I do have friends in the community, so I catch wind of what goes on, albeit as second hand information.
You know, the opinions of an outsider still have value, especially since they have a different perspective from one who is in the community… you know, one that’s so busy cosplaying that he/she can’t be bothered with asking questions.
You must be satisfied with the way things are, since you don’t seem to have the urge to want to change anything. Either that, or you might even be somewhere in the higher end of the pecking order (every social group has one), and would loathe to lose your place if there were to be some kind of change in the order.
“honestly. dont even bother asking questions at all.”
This kind of attitude, in ANY endeavor/social group/etc., is damning. If nobody blows the whistle now and then on the way things are and how they can be possibly made better, there would be no change. Stagnation. The ones on top would grow fat and complacent, and eventually apathetic towards their inferiors.
“you seem like a nice guy so i’d hate to see you caught up in another mess.”
Of course. Why ruffle the feathers of the majority and risk being lynched, right? Don’t bother to stand for what you think is right, just go with the flow, don’t ask any questions, cosplay, and everything will be alright…
Now I see why this community of yours is so screwed up. It’s full of… people like you.
August 27th, 2009 on 1:40 am
“honestly. dont even bother asking questions at all.”
I find this statement sad really sad but that’s your opinion, what can I do?
August 27th, 2009 on 10:46 am
I find it quiet funny that there’s so much divisiveness for such a small community …. ha ha.
August 27th, 2009 on 3:56 pm
Some people can’t handle being in the hotseat of intrigues. If they can’t handle the heat, they should get out of the kitchen. Seriously, they are entitled to their opinions, but they should be able to handle whatever questions come their way.
By the way, you handled it well. You were neutral and unbiased. Good job!
August 28th, 2009 on 12:49 pm
And I know 2 people who were in the hot seat before about 2-3 years ago but they just disappeared from the community like nothing happend…
and all of the sudden they come giving comments and ranting against other people like they are clean…
geez. how pathetic of them.