2012: Year of the Ban Hammer?

Regional Southeast
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Most of you probably saw the post in the “franchises begging for money again” thread about this or my posts on facebook, but there is a costuming group based in Atlanta that set up a Kickstarter account to fund the building of their packs…

As I also posted on FB when arguing with a guy (who later recanted once he FINALLY read the link) I understand packs are expensive but they don’t HAVE to be. One of the coolest packs in our group is a nearly all cardboard pack the original build of which cost somewhere in the range of $50.00. If you don’t feel you can accept the inaccuracy that comes with a found item build, then you sure shouldn’t ask someone else to give you money. If you absolutely cannot settle for anything less, then save your own money or get another hobby.

Here’s the Situation we have, quoted from their kickstarter page

“Our dream goal (which we hope to soon make a reality) is of making 4 (and various accessories) for a team set which will be featured in the Dragon*con 2012 parade the September.”

I personally feel that since they just want someone to fund their cosplay. I would prefer that they not be allowed to march with us in the parade.

It’s a question of class.

Not the class of the build or the class of the costume, but the class of the individual.

I know we try to make this an all inclusive event. But to me this is akin to having someone selling recast pack shells at the PKE Surge table.

AND since we’re the ones registering for the parade we can include or disallow anyone we want…they are free to register on their own but they won’t be with the main group.

I have not yet contacted kristian hillsman or The Atlanta pro tech movie lovers guild but pending input from here (and the gagb site as well) as to what YOU think about the situation I will.

I leave you with a pic of their “Screen Accurate Costumes from Dragonball Z” I wonder who paid for them?

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I should add that my request for input is to make sure I’m not just being a dick.

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You’re completely in the right to be ■■■■■■ at them. I know I am.

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Boy, those funding incentives seem so tempting. Pictures of build updates? $25 for plans I can already find on the Interbutts for free? SIGN ME UP.

It’s my belief that if you can’t afford the costume or props, you either need to find a different hobby, get a lot more creative when it comes to sourcing pieces or just try to save your damn money. You don’t beg Joe Public to fund your cosplay…which, like Chace said, I’m sure is what happened with their “featured” DBZ costumes.

There’s not a single mention of them doing anything with these props/costumes AFTER D*C, much less anything about using them for charity appearances. Maybe if they had mentioned something like that, I’d feel a little more forgiving.

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I’m right there with you Chace. Make it clear they aren’t invited to be around the groups and other gb events. No hopping in gb photos. Nothing.

Let them know at dragoncon when they inevitably do come around that using kickstarter to fund ANY cosplay is wrong. If

they get away with this, more people will do it. Regardless the cost, everyone in any hobby should be responsible for the funds of their projects. Even charity groups using cosplay. Why should anyone pay for someone else’s costume regardless what they use it for? You can do charity work not in a costume. It doesn’t make a difference.

I also think if they show up here they should be given the

boot because of the example they are making. This isn’t the first time this has happened in this community, fortunately since they’re not apart of it, it’ll be easier to keep them out of/away from it. There are too many impulse buyers and impressionable people in this community for this to be left alone.

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Damn freeloaders.

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The only way they’ll ever “get it” is if people bitchslap them around. Not sure how we’d keep them away from the main group as the parade organizers will shove them in with us anyway but we should distance ourselves as much as possible.

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Maybe they need a clear message sent to them about the general fan response to this, and maybe a message neds to be sent to kickstarter as well, that this type of self serving BS will bury them over time.

While I’m generally accomodating, tolerant, and forgiving, I’m of like mind on this.

We aren’t made of money here, but we never begged anyone for anything to build our gear.

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Totally agree, Chace, and I hope they get the picture (or that they don’t even show their faces at all).

That said, I’m about to start a Kickstarter for people to pay my rent for the next year, and I’d really appreciate it if you all can chip in. $5 pledges will get you an actual sample of carpeting from my actual floor, suitable for framing. I’ll be announcing more prize levels soon. Thanks in advance!

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If I pledge $50 will you send me a picture of your front door and the ■■■■■ from your shower drain?

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I certainly don’t agree with their Kickstarter project, or how they went about raising money. You certainly can not allow them to walk with the group in the Dragon*Con parade if you choose… but they are fans like the rest of us. I don’t think anyone should be going out of their way to harass them.

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Agreed, Something like this should not even be a possibility on Kickstarter, I think that is where any attention should be directed. Afterall they did it because they could.

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Has anyone even reported this to kickstarter yet?

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I have, reported it as a charity. Not too sure what can be done since funding somehow succeeded and ended.

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I thought it still had 6 days to go?

Hmmm… I’m gonna call shenannigans on this. I KNOW I read a few hours ago it still had 6 days to go, and now its closed. I was wondering how much it’d climb before ending.

Sounds suspicious to me. I hope the pic is saved locally, in case they pull it for future identification.

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It says it -ended- 6 days ago, Gareee.

0

SECONDS TO GO

FUNDING SUCCESSFUL

This project successfully raised its funding goal 6 days ago.

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I agree, you guys should keep them away for your Booths/Pictures/Parade contingent. My new pack is on hold due to lack of funds, I buy a piece here and there when I can, but it would never occur to me to set up a kickstarter fund or “beg” people for money for it.

Maybe you guys could talk to the Parade organizers and tell them what’s going on and maybe they will listen and not lump them in with you guys.

Good Luck and either way I hope you all have fun at Dragoncon.

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Point well taken on the harassment front AJ.

I’m sending them the following letter, I feel that by doing this now it gives them ample time to register their group seperately for the parade so they get to be in it and we don’t have them lumped in with us, win/win.

"Hello,

My name is Chace Ambrose, I am the head of the Georgia Ghostbusters and a long time member of gbfans.com.

You and your group came to my attention because of your kickstarter project to fund your pack build.

As you may know DragonCon is among other things the largest annual gathering of Ghostbusters fans at our convention within a convention that we call, P.K.E. Surge. We have a table, do a dinner, and of course the parade.

It is the opinion of the P.K.E. Surge staff that using kickstarter to fund ANY cosplay is wrong.We understand packs are expensive but they don’t HAVE to be. One of the coolest packs in the GaGB’s is a nearly all cardboard pack the original build of which cost somewhere in the range of $50.00. If you don’t feel you can accept the inaccuracy that comes with a found item build, then you shouldn’t ask someone else to give you money. If you absolutely cannot settle for anything less, then save your own money or get another hobby.

This also presents the GB fan community in a bad light.

I started a thread on gbfans to make sure I wan’t overreacting and everyone that posted agreed

Therefore I’m letting you know that you and “The Atlanta pro tech movie lovers guild” are not, and will not be welcomed at any of the P.K.E. Surge events to include the parade.

We are the ones that have registered the Ghostbusters group there, therefore we can elect not to allow you to march with us. You CAN of course register the APTMLG on your own and march in a seperate area, you just won’t be allowed with us and the Ectomobiles.

You also are not welcomed at any of the regular Georgia Ghostbusters events throughout the year.

I hope in the future you make better decisions about how to fund your hobby.

-Chace"

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nailed it.

while mentioning the events also seems like an invitation to just “show up” it’s also saying what events they are to stay away from.

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Should be interesting to see the response.

I thought about sending a message but I leveled my head and decided against it. Good letter, Chace.