It's summertime, and that means one thing and one thing only for geeks and fandom lovers all over the world: conventions. From San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) to Gencon and everything in between, the fandom community gathers in groups to geek out, make new friends, and buy anything and everything a person could imagine.
Being in the fandom culture, I have experienced many prejudices. For some reason, there are people in the world who look down upon us geeks and make us feel bad about loving something with our entire beings. Despite this, several times a year we are able to gather in mass (read: thousands upon thousands of people), explore what we love, ask questions of our favorite celebrities, and, most importantly, feel supported among a group of people with similar interests who will not judge us for being who we are.
Do you want to dress up as your favorite character? Go for it. Want to go to a panel to learn more about something you're passionate about, or even something you'd like to become introduced to? Go for it. Do you want to have the most geeked-out conversation of your life? By all means, go ahead.
Conventions are wonderful places where individuals can not only celebrate what they know and love but become introduced to even more fandoms, games, and subjects. At broad-spectrum conventions, such as FandomFest, one can go from a Q and A session with Stan Lee to a panel on how to be a better novelist to a panel where you sit in a circle and discuss your various feelings about various fandoms.
At conventions, you can dress as your favorite character and be complimented, or even win a competition, for it. You can come as you are, and face little to no judgment from the fandom community.
Not only are conventions great for college-aged students, but they are great for everyone. Those with children can attend and introduce their children to the fandoms that have changed their lives. Teenagers can meet fellow teenagers and be exposed to the powerful message that they are not alone. Older people will have the chance to potentially meet a childhood (or even adulthood) hero.
Old, young, and everywhere in between, conventions allow us geeks to gather and communicate and celebrate what we love. We are able to put aside the real world and enter into the world of the fantastical. They allow us to meet new friends, learn new skills, and, let's face it, spend a paycheck on some pretty cool (but probably not very useful) items. If there is any doubt in your mind as to whether you should attend a convention, just go for it. You won't be disappointed.
