'His head is detachable and it spits MISSILES and FIRE! AAGH!' by Kara
Monday, August 4, 2008 at 11:05 AM

Ohhhh, this week is gonna be busy. Damn busy. Scary-busy. Yipe. And I'm leaving for Baltimore Thursday night. And yes, I am hopping around in my seat. Constantly.

So last night, Mike of R5 Central sent me a very odd link to some people who are apparently trying to 'take back' cons or some shit. I'm not going to name or link them because I don't think they deserve the hits, but here are a few choice phrases.

The [NAME DELETED] has issued a call to anime fans everywhere to create productive programming, with free access to everyone. No more programming dictated by corporate marketing departments. No more pretending file-sharing doesn't exist. No more comped badges for minor-league "guests" and their friends, while the rest of us shell out upwards of $65 for a "corporation membership" with no democracy.

Create better programming based on your devotions, not the urge to save on trip costs. Swap media, crafts, food and ideas. Use public space and let anyone and everyone attend, participate, and orchestrate. Exclude nobody. Include everybody. Meet new friends and create something amazing~

BALLS.

Seriously. Just. BALLS.

First off, the world does not work this way on any level. These things never ever work. And if it doesn't work on a social level it ain't gonna work at a con.

Second off ... why? Where does a right to get something free come in just because other people get something free or get money? What is the sense of entitlement here? Yes, some people get in free because of whom they know, but as (sometimes) one of those people, trust me, they put you to work. Panelists, as a well-run con, get a free membership. Hell, there are some cons where guests have to pay. If you come to a con that costs other people's money, that other people are doing work for (and hey, some of these people are volunteering to do the equivalent of paid work), guess what? You have to pay. You have to give something to get something. It is the way of the world. Money in for services out and vice-versa.

I hate this ridiculous sense of entitlement. We know that, granted. People who think they should get my books free because they are 'devoted' fans. People who want discounts on reasonably-priced things Just Because. Unfortunately, part of this may be because of companies that really are jacking prices to a stupid level. (I'm looking at you, Bandai.) And yes, there are some cons that overcharge. But to say that cons should be free?

This is, unfortunately, what comes of people doing things for the love online. Fansubs are free. Most webcomics are free. The minute someone charges for their own work, people hit the ceiling because many of these kids have grown up with the interblag and gotten used to having what they want, when they want, free, for as long as they can remember. Anime-Classic got bitched at this weekend because they weren't posting releases and repacks as quickly as some people wanted. Entitlement.

I'm sorry, kids. You aren't entitled to anyone's work free. The fact that some people do let you have access to their work at no cost doesn't make it a right in every part of life. I believe people are entitled to things at a fair and un-ludicrous price. But just because you really really love something quite a lot doesn't mean you can have it. Trust me, if it worked that way, I would not be as pissed off about lack of money for a Sileighty as I am.

If you have been ... who is John Galt?