Now this may come as quite a controversial article, but I’m
always wondering if there are people out there who feel the same and have the
same problems. It can’t just be me right?
The cosplay community has millions of people all over the
world, I cant be the only one.
I started this hobby in 2011 and haven’t really stopped
since. I go to at least two conventions a year, have a decently sized online
following and I’m even facebook friends with quite a lot of Australian
Cosplayers.
If this is supposed to be such a loving community, why is it
that I feel so alone?
As a person I will admit, I am quite socially awkward and
don’t do so well in large groups, but I know others like that who have been
accepted quite easily. Every time I attend a convention I see new cosplayers
take the spotlight and that’s so amazing for them…but does that mean that my
time is over?
My first real cosplay experience was a Sucker Punch group in
2011 and it was such an amazing day…but then I feel like I peaked too early.
Was that my most notable costume and now anything after that just blends into
the crowd?
Its also the people, I see posts all the time of people
saying how amazing the cosplay community is and how they’ve made life long
friendships, but I just don’t feel that way. Yes I have made some close friends
that are amazing (most live in another state which is unfortunate) but I just
never feel welcomed in the con circuit. Like I’m invisible.
Taking a recent example, a good friend of mine has become
quite popular in the local scene, and why wouldn’t she. Shes such a charismatic
person and she rocks every costume she wears, but then there’s me. We cosplayed
together and I was hoping by being at her side, it would help me to be
introduced to new people and get my social life back…but it didn’t. One
particular instance was when I was introduced to a cosplayer, whom I already
knew online, and they just said hi and went back to speaking to people on the
other side of the group. But then there’s the other side where I passed by a
lovely girl I’ve only met once also not really spoken to, and she greeted me
with a smile and a “how have you been? You look awesome”.
Is it me? Am I the aspect that’s causing my own grief? Do
people simply not like me and ignore me at cons because they don’t want to talk
to me? Or is the fact that I’m simply not charismatic enough to hold a
conversation or draw attention?
There are so many factors to consider that I don’t know what
the ultimate answer is. It’s not like this is the environment where people will
openly say they don’t want to be friends with you…but I wish they would. Then I
could know why I feel this way all the time.
This post is in no way a dig at anyone in particular or just
a whinge session, but if people don’t know how you feel, it makes social
situations that little bit harder to encounter. Like if you are really quiet
around people, are you always like that or has something happened in your life
that no one knows about, causing you to act that way?
