Afternoon all!
As some of you have experienced, or are starting to hear about, more and more conventions are saying no to any weapons of any kind. Unfortunately, this is the reality of the world we live in. And whether we agree with the decision or even understand it, we must understand that each group needs to make some hard decisions based on a lot more facts than Halo people look silly if they don't have weapons.
Your costume is still a fantastic costume even without your weapon. Does it feel weird not having it? Yes, of course it does. Did you work really hard on it and are now utterly disappointed that you can't bring it? Yes, definitely! It sucks.
I am going to, however, ask that all of you please respect the decision of the conventions on this matter. Calling them out on it and telling them how disappointed you are in their decision is going to do nothing to change the situation and everything to make us as a group look, well.....whiney.
As some of you may or may not know, it was widely publicized that Lucas Films gave us in the 501st the direction that we could not use weapons of any kind at any event for a specific period of time. After awhile it was relaxed to anything that looked like a firearm and now it is back to business as usual. It was huge news even being talked about on news programs. LFL did what they felt was respectful and proper given the current situation around the world. For the premier of The Force Awakens you could tell who were the actors hired by LFL and who were 501st because none of the 501st had weapons. I thought this was the oddest thing. Either everyone has them or no one has them. And then it was explained to be my someone much, MUCH wiser. I'm hoping that sharing this wisdom with you will help settle the ruffled feathers I know these decisions are causing.
Certainly we can all say that if someone wanted to get in with a weapon to a convention it would be ridiculously easy. I've never been to one that had metal detectors or frisk searches or bag checks. So how to keeping all of us without weapons help that. In short, it doesn't. So....WTF FANGS....were is this tidbit of wisdom you claim??
People are currently in a state of uncertainty. And in some respects, that uncertainty leads to panicked decisions/reactions to something they might not otherwise have given a second look. Weapons of any kind can bring about that very real sense of panic. So who is this really unfortunate decision protecting?? YOU. It's protecting all of you. The last thing anyone wants is for some panicked personality to see someone with a weapon, freak out and do something that may harm that weapon carrying person thinking that they are saving the day, when really all they have done is injured someone carrying something made out of foam.
So please, I know it's really unfortunate but let's just comply without complaining and hope for the best in a turn around eventually in that decision. Let's work together on coming up with ways to pose etc. that doesn't require the weapon yet still looks badass.
If your local con has not yet made this ruling, please, please, PLEASE ensure that you comply with whatever rules they do have about props and weapons. Carry your weapon from your car to the event completely concealed. And do not point your weapon at people, especially children. The 405th can and should be a shinning example of what a really great club can be, and part of that means working with these cons, even when their decisions seem ridiculous.
P.S. I'm not going to pretend that I know every reason that every con has made this decision bases it on. However, if even one of those reasons is that it's keeping all of you safe from mistaken identity, I'm all for it. It's important to me that you all are safe at these cons.
As some of you have experienced, or are starting to hear about, more and more conventions are saying no to any weapons of any kind. Unfortunately, this is the reality of the world we live in. And whether we agree with the decision or even understand it, we must understand that each group needs to make some hard decisions based on a lot more facts than Halo people look silly if they don't have weapons.
Your costume is still a fantastic costume even without your weapon. Does it feel weird not having it? Yes, of course it does. Did you work really hard on it and are now utterly disappointed that you can't bring it? Yes, definitely! It sucks.
I am going to, however, ask that all of you please respect the decision of the conventions on this matter. Calling them out on it and telling them how disappointed you are in their decision is going to do nothing to change the situation and everything to make us as a group look, well.....whiney.
As some of you may or may not know, it was widely publicized that Lucas Films gave us in the 501st the direction that we could not use weapons of any kind at any event for a specific period of time. After awhile it was relaxed to anything that looked like a firearm and now it is back to business as usual. It was huge news even being talked about on news programs. LFL did what they felt was respectful and proper given the current situation around the world. For the premier of The Force Awakens you could tell who were the actors hired by LFL and who were 501st because none of the 501st had weapons. I thought this was the oddest thing. Either everyone has them or no one has them. And then it was explained to be my someone much, MUCH wiser. I'm hoping that sharing this wisdom with you will help settle the ruffled feathers I know these decisions are causing.
Certainly we can all say that if someone wanted to get in with a weapon to a convention it would be ridiculously easy. I've never been to one that had metal detectors or frisk searches or bag checks. So how to keeping all of us without weapons help that. In short, it doesn't. So....WTF FANGS....were is this tidbit of wisdom you claim??
People are currently in a state of uncertainty. And in some respects, that uncertainty leads to panicked decisions/reactions to something they might not otherwise have given a second look. Weapons of any kind can bring about that very real sense of panic. So who is this really unfortunate decision protecting?? YOU. It's protecting all of you. The last thing anyone wants is for some panicked personality to see someone with a weapon, freak out and do something that may harm that weapon carrying person thinking that they are saving the day, when really all they have done is injured someone carrying something made out of foam.
So please, I know it's really unfortunate but let's just comply without complaining and hope for the best in a turn around eventually in that decision. Let's work together on coming up with ways to pose etc. that doesn't require the weapon yet still looks badass.
If your local con has not yet made this ruling, please, please, PLEASE ensure that you comply with whatever rules they do have about props and weapons. Carry your weapon from your car to the event completely concealed. And do not point your weapon at people, especially children. The 405th can and should be a shinning example of what a really great club can be, and part of that means working with these cons, even when their decisions seem ridiculous.
P.S. I'm not going to pretend that I know every reason that every con has made this decision bases it on. However, if even one of those reasons is that it's keeping all of you safe from mistaken identity, I'm all for it. It's important to me that you all are safe at these cons.