"Why do they have all those rules?" Kan Stories

[Terra]

"Don't go running around barefoot kids, you don't know when you'll find razor blades."

And word, about the people selling themselves for s---. It can happen.

(Also, about the photography, another reason, specially in the art room....people are generally trying to sell those things, and with 2-d art a lot of people will take a picture, and consider that they're copy instead of supporting the artist. You run into it in Artist Alley too, but I think the con enforcing a no picture rule there would just be too hard. I don't even enforce it at my own table just cause it's easier to smile and remember at least it means they liked it.)

[bekka_alice]

Two girls staying in our room who were high on too much con and too little food (And hopefully nothing else, but IDK) came BURSTING IN at 3 am squealing in laughter about how there were Razor Blades in the carpet.... Sometimes we'll still use "Razor blades in the carpet." as "What the eff are you talking about go to sleep."

ROTFL
At least *something* useful came out of that incident.  For varying values of useful. 

The signage policy is one that came into play way back when while I was still managing and was directly related to a number of incidents where people at other conventions had personal problems and dangerous situations due to their own signs.  Any single individual person's issues have little to do with the policy as it was enacted because of a wide range of things happening across the country at the same time - which of course also means that no individual person is likely to get it overturned, as there is just too much collective evidence of problems from them, and one of the high priorities of the convention has historically been to encourage safe and legally appropriate behavior - both so that the community we love is safer and also so that the convention itself survives since high-profile incidents really can endanger the con itself.


BtA

[Usagi]

The first thing that comes to mind, for me, regarding the no pictures rule is it's also a method used to figure out the best ways to steal things. This mostly applies to the dealers room, over art rooms. In art rooms it's defiantly more about not making illegal copies. I think dealers are more worried about people studying a picture for blind spots and easily pocketable items then they are about someone trying to replicate the box of a random collectors figure though.

[gidastra]

The first thing that comes to mind, for me, regarding the no pictures rule is it's also a method used to figure out the best ways to steal things. This mostly applies to the dealers room, over art rooms. In art rooms it's defiantly more about not making illegal copies. I think dealers are more worried about people studying a picture for blind spots and easily pocketable items then they are about someone trying to replicate the box of a random collectors figure though.

I never thought of that possibility, but it's definitely true.  I used to work at the Wizard;s chest, and there are so many small, pocketable items there, too.

[bekka_alice]

O_o Will razor blades in the carpet become our equivalent to razor blades in apples? XD

Sorry Michi, just noticed your post up there.  Not really, I kept the rule after that year because I realized that at any time there could be hazards on the floor that we don't see, whether it might be broken glass from a dropped cup or cords running across a hall or anything else that could happen.  I expect the new guys probably keep it for the same sort of general safety reason.  The razor blades were a direct result of hotel irresponsibility, so I'll just say that there is more than one reason we *left* that hotel, but the current hotel is much more sane - I wouldn't expect any such nonsense with them.  It's not likely we'll experience crazy hotels attacking our feet again, but it is wise to plan to be safe whatever accident might happen, so shoes are always good. 

[Pestilence]

Sign were ban do to sexually offensive messages. There are obviously laws against sexual offense, including the indecent exposure law, which is also a NDK cosplay rule. Rules are created when law breaking and safety is a risk, not just when people simply get offended.

Again, though, there are plenty of clothing types that can fit that description as well, so I'm not sure how that is relevant to signs.

[Mahou Shoujo Michi]

Sorry Michi, just noticed your post up there.  Not really, I kept the rule after that year because I realized that at any time there could be hazards on the floor that we don't see, whether it might be broken glass from a dropped cup or cords running across a hall or anything else that could happen.  I expect the new guys probably keep it for the same sort of general safety reason.  The razor blades were a direct result of hotel irresponsibility, so I'll just say that there is more than one reason we *left* that hotel, but the current hotel is much more sane - I wouldn't expect any such nonsense with them.  It's not likely we'll experience crazy hotels attacking our feet again, but it is wise to plan to be safe whatever accident might happen, so shoes are always good. 

I really don't get your need for a long-winded reply. It confuzzled my head.. as it seemed like you were arguing against something nonexistant.  o_O;  I was making a comparsion to Halloween Candy..

Child- I'm going trick or treating!
Mother: Be careful! They put razor blades in the apples!
Now, we all know that the chances of finding a blade in your candy is nigh nonexistant, it's still a good thing to say, it enforces checking your candy and being safe ^_^
NDK goer- I can't wait for NDK!
NDK goer 2- Make sure not to go barefoot! Did you hear about the razor blades?
Will razor blades scattered about happen again?  Maybe not.. but if someone asks why they should wear shoes.. it's a good -example- to use.  Along with wires, broken glass, pins and pointies falling off costumes, getting your piggies stepped on.....
I didn't mean it in the sense that razor blades on the carpet -would- happen again.  I meant it in the sense of, will it become something that more experienced con goers talk about to newer ones?


On the other note, as far as what Detonate Infinity said about some costumes being offensive, and the arguement that NDK has rules to ban offensive costumes..

Well, I know people who think that a mini-skirt or showing any type of cleavage is offensive.  The "I love Yaoi!" t-shirts could also be considered offensive to some.  In other words, while NDK can narrow it down to block the most extremes,  ANYTHING can be offensive, can't it?  :p

[allpowerfulbob]

And with that I'm going to ask that there be no further replies discussing the rules of the convention but more in line staying with stories or brief descriptions as to why these rules are in place. Any further antagonistic replies to this thread will be deleted and/or the thread will be locked.

[NeoPhoenixTE]

Was wondering when someone was gonna jump on this thing...

...I wanna hear more stories. These are my favorite kinds of stories. I can't help but feel a bit depraved looking forward to the tales of people who made the staff make rules that some people find silly.....I hope that made sense.

[Terra]

I wanna hear about the Handcuff rules. Since the program states there's a story behind that one.

[NeoPhoenixTE]

I think I overheard something about this one. Something like someone got stuck in a pair, and ops got sick of having to come up with a hacksaw when someone did something stupid. They've disallowed metal cuffs, or any you can't get out of easily.

At the risk of veering back into rule discussion, I know for a fact there's metal cuffs with quick release mechanisms...but alot of them come in the "fuzzy" variety. Perhaps exceptions can be made for those.

But yeah, I heard it was due to too many cosplayers getting stuck in handcuffs and having too much trouble getting out of them. It was either keep bolt-cutters on hand, or just ban them outright. I think the right choice was made there.

[Mahou Shoujo Michi]

I think I overheard something about this one. Something like someone got stuck in a pair, and ops got sick of having to come up with a hacksaw when someone did something stupid. They've disallowed metal cuffs, or any you can't get out of easily.

At the risk of veering back into rule discussion, I know for a fact there's metal cuffs with quick release mechanisms...but alot of them come in the "fuzzy" variety. Perhaps exceptions can be made for those.

But yeah, I heard it was due to too many cosplayers getting stuck in handcuffs and having too much trouble getting out of them. It was either keep bolt-cutters on hand, or just ban them outright. I think the right choice was made there.

Well the rule specifically calls out metal handcuffs. 
Another reason could be safety reasons.  I imagine that metal handcuffs could easily cut into the skin..
So there could be a scenario where two cosplayers are handcuffed to eachother and one of them trips.. or another person comes up and excitedly pulls on the arm of one.. o_o
Also, I heard that one year people were handcuffing people to things without their consent

[Terra]

I also know, and since it does specifically say Metal, IDK if this applies, but when I've used handcuffs in a costume the cosplayers had issues getting around...and that didn't even TOUCH on the people trying to get around US. (At one point there were 4 of us handcuffed together, before we realized that was just completely ridiculous, but even with two it was hard)

[allpowerfulbob]

You guys have touched on everything that really needs to be said regarding the handcuff deal. While there are metal handcuffs with the quick release on them, they can be twisted in such a way that the quick release cannot be accessed, and once again the bolt cutters have to come out.

At least with plastic ones almost anyone can simply tear them appart at a moments notice to extricate said individual.

[gidastra]

You guys have touched on everything that really needs to be said regarding the handcuff deal. While there are metal handcuffs with the quick release on them, they can be twisted in such a way that the quick release cannot be accessed, and once again the bolt cutters have to come out.

At least with plastic ones almost anyone can simply tear them appart at a moments notice to extricate said individual.

I agree.  Plastic may seem flimsy, but since we're just doing cosplay and not reality, plastic works just fine.  =)

[NeoPhoenixTE]

Ah, was worth a shot speculating...

....so it was actually bolt cutters? Never a hacksaw? I woulda kept one around just for shock effect.

Or just go all the way with THE AXE!!!!

[Sarge]

Wow.  So many stories.  These few may interest you:

Handcuffs
One year an individual handcuffed himself to an elevator rail.  Ugh.  'Nuff said.

Photography in Dealer's
For many years I helped to run, or actually was the head of Dealer Room.  Photography not only messed up our traffic in a major way back at the Holiday Inn, but it also encouraged people to not only stop (see above) but to keep their props/wings with them, jamming up traffic even worse!  As mentioned, it enables professional bootleggers an in for creating their stuff as well as allows shoplifting rings to case specific vendors.

Throwing Things off Balconies
Not only is this rule pretty common sense, but did you know it's actually a Felony?  That's right, it's illegal because you never know what kind of harm a projectile like that can cause.

Insufficient Clothing
One year we actually had a girl wear lingerie as a cosplay.  It left little to the imagination.  Let me tell you, if just the costume makes you uncomfortable, try telling the person to put more on.  I know this rule gets many shades of interpretation by many staff members.  But I will say it was created for the reason that there were some extremely blatant violations of it like this one that have kept the rule completely alive.

That's probably enough for now from me

[starstreaker]

Handcuffs
One year an individual handcuffed himself to an elevator rail.  Ugh.  'Nuff said.

Was that the same year the handrail went missing from the elevator? My imagination always thought that it was broke by people playing around with/sitting on the rail. I felt bad every time I saw it, thinking the hotel had enough of the Con and was going to not let NDK come back the next year.

[Sarge]

Was that the same year the handrail went missing from the elevator? My imagination always thought that it was broke by people playing around with/sitting on the rail. I felt bad every time I saw it, thinking the hotel had enough of the Con and was going to not let NDK come back the next year.

I don't think the two issues were related, but I can't be positive...

[Sirblood]

We had this happen at Nebraskon last year (but its not really possible to make a rule about it, just warnings)

we had a raman eating contest, the water was being heated too hot (they fixed that) at the end we gave away the leftovers, some just heated water was used to fill the last couple of raman cups, (water was very hot ftw) a kid comes up, asks if he can have one, the say sure, he literally ate it in one or two gulps without chewing.

He walks past 2 sets of rest rooms and countless garbage cans to find a remote corner of the conventionand throws up everywhere (on carpet) for the rest of the day that area was closed off and had do not enter signs, and 1 or 2 "Bio Hazzard" signs up as well...  Did I forget to mention he threw up blood also?

Lessons learned:
: very hot raman = bad idea
: very hot raman on en empty stomache = very bad idea
: eat at least 1 or 2 'good' meals each day while at the convention
: if you feel like you might be sick, find the nearest trashcan or rest room

Its led us to a different method for mass heating the water