As has been echoed many times by many cosplayers who have experienced these actions, Sexual Harassment is not okay. However, after viewing this article over at the Mary Sue I became more enraged.
Did you skim the article yet?
Okay here we go..
Why did this guy enrage me so much? For the mere pretense of being a journalist this sleazy guy used to elicit a response. This is a good reason why Conventions have tightened their collective belts on letting bloggers being designated as “press”. I asked my former interviewees for input on this case. Bethany Maddock, whose interview will be up soon linked me to a similar account on her tumblr (insert link).
Really cheese balls? Really? You are so sure that you are the hottest thing in the room that you chose to set back progressive thinking men back to the Fifties? There is no room for understanding for actions like these to being existing in 2013. You are not a journalist, you are not curious about anything that cosplayer is doing, stop acting like you can hide behind that press badge.
I work hard to get behind the itch that drives these cosplayers to make their costumes and for these pigs to ruin my shot at having cosplayers speak to me just to get their rocks off is unspeakable.If you cannot be forward thinking enough to respect the woman you interview, do not interview them. There are plenty of men who do great costumes as well.
These actions jeopardize the rest of the supporting blogger culture from getting a real interview from these cosplayers. These cosplayers work tirelessly to prepare these costumes. There are varying degrees of the work they do, but each one puts substantial effort into making a costume or wearing a costume for their own. To quote cosplayer Aigue-Marine “The moment it happened to me, with some guys who wanted to take pictures of me, I was way too startled to think of anything proper.” Debasing such a noted cosplayer to a part of her body is ridiculous. I really feel for this cosplayer. I hope that this guy never works as a journalist again.
Gina G., who I interviewed a while back also chimed in with her story:
“I’ve been the victim of this kind of treatment more times than I can count on one hand, and that’s too many. It has happened to these girls, it has happened to me, and it has and will continue to happen to others, and that’s not okay. If you wouldn’t say something to me in front of my parents, you shouldn’t say it. End of story. But there are far too many people out there who think that just because I like to dress up in spandex in my spare time, that I not only welcome those comments, but enjoy them. I do not. Keep it to yourself. While a compliment is lovely, it’s easy to take it too far, and simply thinking before you say something lewd and offensive to someone will save you a whole lot of trouble. After all, if you want a girl to like you, you should be respecting her and her choices, and not acting like a pig. That will NOT gain her interest. The bottom line is, people should be treated with respect no matter where they go, who they are, or what they are wearing. Treatment to fellow con-goers should be given kindly and respectfully, always.”
In closing, If your gonna be a creep, be a creep at home, and stop purporting to be a journalist when your a creep.
*Featured image copyright 16bitsirens*