Halloween is Nigh... Do Cosplay Rules Apply?

Many people look forward to Halloween all year long.  It's a time when millions of people... adults and children alike... will be wearing costumes... and it's not limited to those who identify as cosplayers and costumers.


The majority of people who will be wearing costumes to celebrate the holiday would not characterize themselves as cosplayers.  Which is fair... while the definition of cosplay states it's "the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga and anime"... and certainly Halloween celebrants might qualify... it's my opinion that the title of cosplayer is something one decides to take on.  It's a decision to be a cosplayer.


Am I saying that you can't be a cosplayer if you dress up in a costume for Halloween?  Am I saying that you can't be a cosplayer if you buy a Halloween costume from a store?  Absolutely not.  Cosplayers love to dress up for Halloween just as many others do... and wearing a costume, no matter the source, qualifies you to be considered a cosplayer.  I'm just saying it's your choice if you want to be considered a cosplayer.


So if anyone wearing a costume can be considered a cosplayer, does that mean anyone who wears a costume IS a cosplayer?  Someone actually said this would be the case.  But if you attend a Halloween party... that is attended by people who only wear a costume for Halloween parties... and ask them if they are a cosplayer, most of them will say no.  Some of them might even ask "what's a cosplayer?"


Traditionally, those who consider themselves cosplayers wear costumes at other times of year besides Halloween.  This is not a rule, just an observation.  There is no law that states you cannot call yourself a cosplayer if you only dress up for Halloween.  But there's also no law that states that you must call yourself a cosplayer if you dress up in a costume.


Halloween can be (and has been) a jumping off point for many cosplayers.  But for some, Halloween is the only time they care to wear a costume and might object to being called cosplayers.  While those of us in the community view the title with pride, those outside the community have varying views of what a cosplayer is.  Not everyone who wears a costume wants to join the cosplay community.


(Of course, anyone who does want to join is more than welcome... they are encouraged and applauded.)


So we will have a lot of people dressed in costume who do not call themselves cosplayers.  So do the cosplay rules apply?


For those who might not be sure, here are the rules for cosplay (as I see it):


1) Have fun
2) Respect other people
3) Respect other people's costumes and props
4) COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT


These are the basic rules of cosplay. Anyone can cosplay whomever and whatever they want because it's all about fun.  What cosplay might mean to you individually is not a rule, it's your take on cosplay (such as making your costume, striving for screen accuracy, etc.).


You've probably figured it out, but all these rules STILL apply.


It should be obvious that they would apply, but in my opinion it's better to state the obvious than have someone say "I didn't know."


One rule I would like to point out especially is that cosplay is not consent.  It's the principle that just because someone is dressed in a costume, this gives no one the right to have any physical contact with them without their permission.


I've always found this rule, while laudable, to be a little narrow in it's focus.  A better rule would be that EXISTENCE is not consent.  Whether someone is wearing a costume, a bathing suit, a party dress, tight pants or any (or no) outfit... in any situation... this doesn't give anyone license to have any physical contact without their permission.  And with so many parties coming up for Halloween, to be clear, someone who is drunk to the point of impairment cannot give consent.


To force physical contact on someone, especially in regards to physical affection, is harassment, assault, sexual assault and even rape.  It's a violation of another person no matter what they are wearing.  It's not just breaking cosplay rules, it's breaking the law.


So by all means... put on a costume, call yourself a cosplayer or not, get out there and party! Have lots of fun!


Just remember that your fun should never take away from someone else's fun.

Can you judge a candidate by their supporters?

In what has to be one of the most vicious Presidential campaigns in history (at least until 2020), I have seen a lot of complaints about the morals and quality of Clinton supporters.


It doesn't matter who you support, but think about this.. Lindsay Lohan is supporting Hillary Clinton... and somehow this is supposed to reflect badly on Clinton.  Ann Coulter just confused Beyoncé with Nicki Minaj... and the point being that Beyoncé (really Nicki) had some very sexually explicit lyrics.  And as Beyoncé is a Clinton supporter... shame on Clinton.


I say... so what?  None of these supporters that are being singled out are doing anything illegal.  You may or may not care for their form of entertainment, but that's a matter of taste, not law.  But the real point is... this country is filled with people who can vote that others might not like.  As long as they are a U.S. Citizen who holds the right to vote, they can be anything. And they are.


Here are some groups who might support either candidate and can vote in the election.


Porn stars.  Attorneys.  Strippers.  Employees of the IRS.  Hunters.  Ivy League School graduates. Tattoo artists.  Walmart employees.  Tailors.  Star Trek fans.  Dog breeders.  Car salespeople.  Ballet dancers.  Stand up comedians.  Wall Street Brokers. Firefighters.  People who sing karaoke.  Eagles fans.  Dallas Cowboy fans.  People who don't like sports.  People who work out everyday.  People who will work out... someday.  Tall people.  Short people.  Rappers.  Jazz singers.  Military personnel. Hippies. Psychics. Vegans.


These are just some of the groups... and you may admire some of these groups and hate others.  But everyone in this country has the right to vote and support whomever they like.


Do we really want to start blaming a candidate for their supporters?  Okay, then.


If we are going to say Hillary Clinton is morally bankrupt because Lindsay Lohan supports her... what does that say about Donald Trump, who is supported by Andrew Anglin, a well known Neo Nazi?  Or "Don Black, a former grand dragon of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and founder of the neo-Nazi site Stormfront; Rocky Suhayda, chair of the American Nazi Party; and Rachel Pendergraft, a national organizer for the Knights Party, the successor to David Duke's Knights of the Ku Klux Klan." (From How Trump Took Hate Groups Mainstream - The full story of his connection with far-right extremists by Sarah Posner and David Neiwert.)


No matter who is running for President, there are going to be supporters of that candidate that others don't like.


Trump supporters try to point at people they feel are "morally bankrupt" and support Hillary Clinton to show how "evil" she is.  Others say Clinton has the backing of Wall Street, which also makes her corrupt and evil. Brokers on Wall Street like to make money (which is so evil).  They back Clinton which may mean... that they feel her Presidency will be good for the economy so they can make money.  And a good economy means that others will make money too... by being employed, having money to spend, etc.  I'm not saying there aren't greedy, uncaring people who work on Wall Street.  Those are everywhere.  But if these guys make money when the country is in good shape financially and they support Clinton... think about it.


Which brings us to Donald Trump.  What does the endorsements of White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis, the Klu Klux Klan and other hate groups show about Trump?  If he is such a savvy businessman, why isn't he supported by financial analysts?


If you want to judge the candidates by their qualifications, experience and plans to deal with the issues we face as a nation, then good for you.  If you want to judge them by their supporters... well, go ahead.  I'll take twerking over hate crimes any day.