Lost and Found

[Moonblossom]

I'm going to sound like a sap, but isn't the knowledge that you're returning something to someone reward enough? That's why I'd do it.

[Jun-Watarase]

I'm going to sound like a sap, but isn't the knowledge that you're returning something to someone reward enough? That's why I'd do it.

Most people could say they do it, to help others, to sympathize with having something lost, for balancing karma, for self-gratification, for reassurance that they're good people. That's the natural reason.

Though, I find the feeling of returning lost items a strange sensation. Even though my rationalization of why is due to the above reasons, I wonder if it's for any of that-- helping others, helping myself, being a good person. I don't usually mind going out of my way to do a deed like this, even if it's inconvenient for me... but I think I do it because I can. And that's probably my primary, maybe only, reason why I'd do it. I probably wouldn't even bother identifying myself.

None of this has to do with anything, though. Just felt like saying it.

[PyronIkari]

youre right, i didnt think of that. yeah, just recognition.  maybe a certificate, or something? 

Here's some fun irony. We should promote the idea of giving someone something for doing a "selfless act". Because you know... the whole point about it being selfless... doesn't matter. 

[THEBROTHERHOOD_CEO]

lets say someone finds a lost wallet.  it has 23$ in it. It has an ID and credit cards, etc.  Currently there is no incentive for this individual to turn this in to the lost and found other then them being a good human being.  I am just trying to find some way of creating a system by which a more scrupulous person would at least think twice before taking the money and throwing the wallet into the garbage, like I have seen people do.

Any ideas?

[Moonblossom]

No, because the idea of keeping it is absolutely alien to me. As it should be with most people ><''

If people just stopped for like, half a second, to think "Shit, what if this were -my- wallet? How would I feel?" then maybe they'd just be decent human beings and return it.

Between the idea that there are people there who wouldn't return it, and the whole glomping/lack of personal space issue that's been all over the forums, I'm starting to think Fanime is populated by selfish people who have no respect for anyone but themselves..

[THEBROTHERHOOD_CEO]

it is unfortunate that there are people at the con who are the type of person who would not turn it in whole to the lost and found. 

My chief concern is perhaps finding someone on this forum with a genius idea as to get them to turn it in when they otherwise wouldnt...

some ideas:

     signs indicating where the nearest lost and found is.  i think some people might keep the stuff out of laziness.

     paper fliers posted up that are like PSAs that encourage people to be careful with their things and for people to turn in what they find.

     also, we could have a good Samaritan wall where they take Polaroids of people who turn in the lost items.

its not that i want to reward people for doing what they already should, but rather am more concerned about people losing things and having it drag down their fanime experience.

[Moonblossom]

Last year, I remember there were PSAs about remembering to wash and whatnot over the loudspeaker. Maybe the occasional "Be careful with your stuff, nothing ruins a trip to the dealer room like a missing wallet!" or "If you've found something that may be important to someone else, please bring it to the Lost and Found or contact a Rover!" type messages, just to keep it on the general public radar then?

[THEBROTHERHOOD_CEO]

it would be a start.

[Akito Starwind]

Last year, I remember there were PSAs about remembering to wash and whatnot over the loudspeaker. Maybe the occasional "Be careful with your stuff, nothing ruins a trip to the dealer room like a missing wallet!" or "If you've found something that may be important to someone else, please bring it to the Lost and Found or contact a Rover!" type messages, just to keep it on the general public radar then?

Your right MoonBlossom I did Say over the PA " and a quick reminder to all fanime go'ers, Remember to take showers during the con and that soap is your friend." Some times I did add " and remember if you find Items that you know are not yours, then do the right thing and Bring it to the Lost and found, that would be Con Ops or if your unsure to where that is then bring it right here to the fanime booth. Normally the Fanime booth in the Dealers room is not the Lost and found, but We have found that When a Item is Lost and brought to Us we can see if Its an item that Need to be returned to its owner fast, or can wait in con Ops, for you to find it. Last year We returned two digi cams, 3 cell phones, credit cards and wallets. Anyone who comes to claim a item Must ID the Item per scratch and such. we will not give out a item to someone it dose not belong to. Its fun and the right thing to do. Like last year we where brought a California ID, and so we made a PA that the person on the card, say "BOB" please come to the Fanime booth right now. so BOB shows up and we ask to see his ID for his gift  ;D so he Looks for it and discovers he lost it and he wins it back. Even BOB got a kick from it, walked away with a smile. 
The Only Down Side to Helping the Fan is the sometime we get alot of Lost items turned in and we know that when someone has lost a item they dont know its gone. so making a PA that we have your say " Digi Cam" at the fanime booth, the person is great full for someone turning it in. but Unfortunately some Dealers Do NOT like to hear PA's like that. so we try to tone down PA's to one a hour. I can see their  point but I think helping the Fan get his lost item back is worth hearing a PA here and there. but thats just me. So this year 08 I will try and cut down on PA's unless It is needed.

[Moonblossom]

That's a good idea, announcing that something has been found. Sometimes it takes me a while to notice I'm missing stuff ><

[Jeanne]

Lost & Found will be located in Convention Operations, Con Ops for short, as it has been every year since I took over the department back in 2002.

We will be located in the Willow Glen I room at the Marriott hotel, and we will be open the entire convention.  We usually open for business around 3 pm or so on Thursday, and we close on Monday when load out is complete. 

If the Marriott is too far away, any Safety person should be happy to drop the item off in Con-Ops for you, since their base is just down the hall from us.  Please be sure to let them know where and when the item was found, since that can be helpful in identifying the correct owners.  Please don't just dump things on Registration or Dealers staff if you don't absolutely have to - they have their own jobs to do and it's a hassle for them to run stuff up to us.

After the convention is over, lost & found items are turned over to the folks that monitor the e-mail address help at fanime dot com.  Items are held for 6 months after the con, and then donated to charity if not reclaimed.

-Jeanne
Con Ops Head
Fanime Con 2008

[Akito Starwind]

yes Go Con OPs  ;D