Signs are banned at the convention.

[PyronIkari]

Yes I think you are right Common sense is what needs to be used. But just like the weapons policy, any weapon like item needs to be tagged. even if its common sense that it is in no way a danger to anyone. Im just trying to look at this from a legal stand point. a set policy must be set just as we have a clear policy on weapons, If we only said that if you see a weapon and your common sense says it is ok and not a threat, then you have a rule based on someone making a judgment call based on there ideas. I am all for No signs but a clear policy needs to be made. You eather have Zero signs being held by Fans or Fans that are allowed to have a sign that has been approved, Or Having a Fan with a cosply sign allways being asked by some staffer who may not know its a cosply sign to remove it then having to expline it is a cosply sign, over and over again. But what do you do with a Cosplayer that has a sign that has nothing to do with the anime? you end up with a staffer or SOS member saying that you can have it, because the cosplayer tells them its part of the Cosplay. but then the same Cosplayer with the same sign gets stopped down the hall by a staffer that knows the anime that he/she is cosplaying and says that sign is not part of the show so you need to throw it away.  I just like to see Clear policy on a subject. I don't believe leaving the judgment call to random staff'ers or such, will work to well because it leaves alot of personnel common sense judgment calls. Whats common sense to me Is not necessary Common sense to some one else. Its sad that in this world we live in now, that we have to break down a policy to much to dumb proof it.

There is no legal issue. Weapons policies have an obvious legal issue... because they're weapons. I'm not going to go into detail for this, because I don't feel like explaining an obvious law to people because they want to know details(such as... it's illegal to walk around with a baseball bat on the streets).

However, a signs policy is for private structure. It is not illegal to carry signs around... at all(unless it says something illegal), but the convention is a privately run organization and they have put a ban on them. Common sense, is common sense. It's obvious what signs are attention whoring and which belong to a costume. Wearing a costume doesn't make the lines any less clear on a signs intent.

[Akito Starwind]

i agree

[Mizuki]

I don't know why people complain about the banning of attention whoring signs, it's not like it's going to be lifted. And if you guys just try and find an alternative way i.e. shirt, Fanime staff will probably take action, do you want to be restricted so much. Just stop trying to find loop holes guys.

[Jeanne]

I think that Anyone with a sign will be told to remove it, unless it is part of a Cosply. If the sign holder clams the sign is, then the staffer/SOS member says "ok then if you wish to have the sign you and me can walk to Con Ops and they will check out your sign and make a judgment call on it." then If it is a cosply sign your sign will get a Tag Just like for a weapon. then you would have your sign, and if anyone stops you for it you can show them the tag saying its ok. 

First, I'll start by saying that if signage is banned, Con-Ops has not been informed of it, and we certainly have not been asked to enforce it.  Consider us Switzerland on this one.  We are not in the business of deciding what is and is not cosplay, and will be making no decisions on what does or does not fall under such a policy, if it exists.

Second, I think you have Con-Ops confused with Rovers (now called Safety).  Con Ops will be located in the Willow Glen I room in the Marriott.  We will be there all weekend (24 hours a day) with answers to questions, lost and found, missing badges, etc.  Safety is the team with the radios that roves around and does crowd control and props tagging.  If there were a sign ban, Safety would be responsible for enforcement, not Con Ops. 

If you need to find your lost cell phone, or to get hold of someone on staff, my team is there and ready to help.  For questions on signs, we're likely to just read the policy on the website to you if one is posted, or point you down the hall to Safety for more information.

Regards,

Jeanne Goldfein
Con Ops Head
FanimeCon 2008

[Akito Starwind]

Sounds Like a plan. lets run with it Jeanne.

[PinkHairSasuke]

wow signs are banned that's ok to me eventhough i made a totally awesome unique sign

Signs made me chuckle, but I won't miss them. If you want attention take the time to cosplay.

taking the time to cosplay is a good idea to get attention but arent some cosplays more popular then others?

[Jun-Watarase]

wow signs are banned that's ok to me eventhough i made a totally awesome unique sign

Signs made me chuckle, but I won't miss them. If you want attention take the time to cosplay.

taking the time to cosplay is a good idea to get attention but arent some cosplays more popular then others?

...

[IamTetsuo]

All I can say is finally, I'm absolutely behind this idea.

Thank you Mikey for bringing this issue to the attention of the powers that be!

[Jun-Watarase]

All I can say is finally, I'm absolutely behind this idea.

Thank you Mikey for bringing this issue to the attention of the powers that be!

Nah, he didn't have a discussion on it or anything. Fanime already had the rule on their website, that no one had noticed, before we asked. Their answer was just confirming it.

[Nyxyin]

Fanime already had the rule on their website, that no one had noticed, before we asked. Their answer was just confirming it.

Where is it?  I've been looking through the web site, and I can't find any mention of any rules banning signs.

[PyronIkari]

Fanime already had the rule on their website, that no one had noticed, before we asked. Their answer was just confirming it.

Where is it?  I've been looking through the web site, and I can't find any mention of any rules banning signs.

From what I heard, it's in the registration and rules of conduct thing you agree to when you buy your registration.

[phoenixphire24]

Fanime already had the rule on their website, that no one had noticed, before we asked. Their answer was just confirming it.

Where is it?  I've been looking through the web site, and I can't find any mention of any rules banning signs.

From what I heard, it's in the registration and rules of conduct thing you agree to when you buy your registration.

Hehehe, do people actually read that? They should really make a more prominent post about it, or they're going to be spending lots of time taking signs away from people at the con and creating a lot of trash.

[luckyends]

i have been to other conventions that have done this same thing where you get your sign aproved just like you would get your weapon peacetied even though we talk about using common sense to diferenciate i still agree with the whole get it aproved with a sticker on it or something because that way you could make it like bright orange and then people would be like oh ok as aposed to  an atention whore sign that has no bright orange sticker on it would be like trash now kthanksbai
so i definetly agree with the aprove signs because there are quite a few cosplays that require signs like get backers and things like that

[Jun-Watarase]

i have been to other conventions that have done this same thing where you get your sign aproved just like you would get your weapon peacetied even though we talk about using common sense to diferenciate i still agree with the whole get it aproved with a sticker on it or something because that way you could make it like bright orange and then people would be like oh ok as aposed to  an atention whore sign that has no bright orange sticker on it would be like trash now kthanksbai
so i definetly agree with the aprove signs because there are quite a few cosplays that require signs like get backers and things like that

To the guys who even support this idea, you don't seem to understand how problematic and inane (as in, pointless) this practice is. I mean, as much as I am aware of the little hope left for common sense within the con-scene, Fanime shouldn't have to spend time and money sticking stickers on signs when it should be common sense to differentiate from a cosplay sign, and a sign that says "LOLOL HUG ME!"

So what if someone goes to an office supply store... and sticks a sticker on their own sign, themselves? It could be blatantly obvious that the sign shouldn't have been approved... like a "Hug me if you like my cosplay" sign with an orange sticker on the back. But that means it was already approved of, right? And staff can't take it away? No. Once people start doing that, you've wasted everyone's time with this idea.

Anyways, as for character/cosplay signs... I'll quote my reply to you on the OTHER thread. You're welcome.

If it's from the anime and part of the costume, it should be fine-- but it has to be actually RELATED in that way. I don't mean a sign that says something in character. I mean... RELATED as in, actually IN the series and USED in the series by the character you're cosplaying.

And just in advance, since you asked about shirts and loopholes on the other thread, it'll probably be brought up here.

And if it's a normal sign... it wouldn't make a difference if it was on your shirt. That shouldn't even be even thought of as a loop-hole around "Signs are banned." Period. If it's print on your shirt, it's probably okay-- like, manufactured. If you WROTE it on your shirt, then you're getting a *facepalm* from staff and patrons against signs in the first place by trying SO HARD to find a loop-hole around something people were trying to get rid of. Stop. Signs are banned. No means no.

If it makes it any easier for anyone else, if you're not sure... DON'T BRING A SIGN AT ALL! If you're afraid of your efforts into making your sign will be destroyed by having a staff member confiscate it, don't bother to make the effort. Unless it isn't blatantly obvious that it's part of the costume, and you really really really need to know and absolutely have to carry it around with you, ask a legitimate question towards someone who might know the answer, e.g., Fanime staff.

[luckyends]

when i asked about shirts on the other thread i was just wanted to bring it up becasue i wasnt sure if that constituted as a sign im a cosplayer at fanime so i never wear shirts with things taped on em

[DivineChaos]

Really, I don't see what the big deal is all about.  I will admit that the first few signs are fun, but then, as I walk around the convention, I begin to realize that half of the people not in costume have a sign.  I believe that this detracts from the overall experience of a con, because then, as I said earlier, all it becomes is one huge contest to glomp others just to say you hugged x amount of people.  And that's not fun.  I always thought that cons were meant to bring together a group of people with common interests.  What I'm saying is that we should help turn it back into an anime con, and not a glomp-con.

That saidddddd.... I have no idea where the rules of the forum are at, but we should honestly ask that this rule be enforced, if it hasn't been established already. 

For those of you asking if signs would be taken from cosplays that have a sign.  Are you serious?  There would be no reason for such a thing.  The goal of this, should it be put through, would be to remove the unnecessary signs, superfluous and adding nothing.  Therefore, signs that are a part of cosplay would not be contested at all.   

And, as much I wanna continue, my hands are cold and I can't feel them typing.  LoL.

But yeah, I think this should be an official rule:

No glomp/hug me signs (or equivalent) that are not a part of a cosplay.  Cosplay is defined as being a part of some anime, manga, movie, or other type of visual entertainment. 

[PassingTheBuck]

Hi Everyone,

A ban on signs at FanimeCon 2008?!?  I dont' think so...

Let me start by saying that unless you are in senior management with FanimeCon, you shouldn't be making any statements about what's banned and what's not banned and why you think it has been banned.  This thread was not necessary, it has caused panic where it wasn't necessary and the more important fact only senior management of FanimeCon should be making those kinds of announcements and no one else.

Second, there are legal issues with signs, especially if the legal authorities' interpretation of it is for solicitation with a minor AKA sexual favors for monetary gain.  Again, this would apply to underage minors as well as adults who are willing to exchange what would be constituted as an act they are not legal able to engage in, whether you are a minor or not and made by someone else for monetary gains.

Third, T-Shirt would in fact have to be rated with sign, whether you are doing Cosplay or not, if you are evoking your First Amendment rights, think again, but those rights do not always apply.  Consider what any first year law student in a legal review case has to think about when someone shouts "Fire" in a crowded theater when no fire exists.   I can tell this much, FanimeCon will not allow you to advertise sexual favors for monetary gain nor use profanity or racial slurs on those shirts.

Fourth, there is nothing official on the web site that I can find; neither can the head of the division that runs Registration.  However, I'm willing to admit I've made a mistake, if you can point it out to me where it says that signs are banned at the FanimeCon website.  If such a ban were to be made, it would be an official announcement on the web site, also on a thread and ConOps would definitely be in the loop on it.

Fifth, hell, I'll take a fifth of anything at this point.  This thread has no real reason to exist and shouldn't have been started unless there was an official announcement made, not the word of... Say, exactly who did you talk to about this ban?  Which Con Heads did you talk to; I would like names to go along with Con Heads...

The only rules we have is no signs on pillars and such are obviously still banned.

When Senior Management at FanimeCon comes back with something official, everyone will know about it, until that time, signs are not banned at FanimeCon 2008.

Craige...
CFO, ARG
Treasury, FanimeCon 2008

[~~Loktera~~]

Hi Everyone,

A ban on signs at FanimeCon 2008?!?  I dont' think so...

Let me start by saying that unless you are in senior management with FanimeCon, you shouldn't be making any statements about what's banned and what's not banned and why you think it has been banned.  This thread was not necessary, it has caused panic where it wasn't necessary and the more important fact only senior management of FanimeCon should be making those kinds of announcements and no one else.

Second, there are legal issues with signs, especially if the legal authorities' interpretation of it is for solicitation with a minor AKA sexual favors for monetary gain.  Again, this would apply to underage minors as well as adults who are willing to exchange what would be constituted as an act they are not legal able to engage in, whether you are a minor or not and made by someone else for monetary gains.

Third, T-Shirt would in fact have to be rated with sign, whether you are doing Cosplay or not, if you are evoking your First Amendment rights, think again, but those rights do not always apply.  Consider what any first year law student in a legal review case has to think about when someone shouts "Fire" in a crowded theater when no fire exists.   I can tell this much, FanimeCon will not allow you to advertise sexual favors for monetary gain nor use profanity or racial slurs on those shirts.

Fourth, there is nothing official on the web site that I can find; neither can the head of the division that runs Registration.  However, I'm willing to admit I've made a mistake, if you can point it out to me where it says that signs are banned at the FanimeCon website.  If such a ban were to be made, it would be an official announcement on the web site, also on a thread and ConOps would definitely be in the loop on it.

Fifth, hell, I'll take a fifth of anything at this point.  This thread has no real reason to exist and shouldn't have been started unless there was an official announcement made, not the word of... Say, exactly who did you talk to about this ban?  Which Con Heads did you talk to; I would like names to go along with Con Heads...

The only rules we have is no signs on pillars and such are obviously still banned.

When Senior Management at FanimeCon comes back with something official, everyone will know about it, until that time, signs are not banned at FanimeCon 2008.

Craige...
CFO, ARG
Treasury, FanimeCon 2008

Thank you for the clarification on that, sir.

Let "Secret Plan 02" commence.. :3

[OniCourseMusha]

Oh what the hell!

I had this feeling it wasn't official yet when I asked my friends about it!  But I am gonna be aware of this!

[otakuya]

Let me start by saying that unless you are in senior management with FanimeCon, you shouldn't be making any statements about what's banned and what's not banned and why you think it has been banned.  This thread was not necessary, it has caused panic where it wasn't necessary and the more important fact only senior management of FanimeCon should be making those kinds of announcements and no one else.
...
This thread has no real reason to exist and shouldn't have been started unless there was an official announcement made, not the word of... Say, exactly who did you talk to about this ban?  Which Con Heads did you talk to; I would like names to go along with Con Heads...
...
When Senior Management at FanimeCon comes back with something official, everyone will know about it, until that time, signs are not banned at FanimeCon 2008.

Thanks for clearing that up, though I'm for sure not going to use signs or t-shirts of any kind. I'd like to hear real announcements from the (real) con heads themselves, especially regarding policies, procedures, and important issues.