Tales from Toy Con 2007

17Jun07

Where geeks of all shapes, sizes, and unfortunately, costumes, congregate in that great big shoebox in the middle of EDSA…

***

Interrupting a Transformers Trivia Contest, a 6-8 year old boy comes up on the mainstage, followed by one of the organizers. The organizer grabs the microphone and, thinking he was oh-so-very witty and funny and probably original, goes on to say (as he holds the boy’s hand)

“Attention, Mr. XXX, I think you forgot someTHING very VERY important.”

(because apparently the best way to deal with a kid clearly lost and has totally no idea where his parents are is to make fun of the situation and to refer to said child as an OBJECT)

Suddenly, a guy raises his hand. Everyone in the crowd turns to him, and the organizer exclaims,

“Ah! Mr. XXX!”

At which point, with everybody in the hall looking at him, the guy gives a weak smile and shakes his head. Just kidding!

(as if the quota for douche bags wasn’t already accomplished with the host, this guy actually thinks it’s even more hilarious if he pretends to be the father to the kid)

Not to be outdone, the organizer puts a twist to his initial, “witty” comment and says,

“Mr. XXX, if you come up on stage, there’s a VERY SPECIAL PRIZE waiting for you!”

(I guess the boy is supposed to cheer up now that his status has been upgraded from inanimate object to inanimate prize)

The same asshole as before then raises his hand AGAIN, but now points to his friend as the “father”, laughing all the way.

(clearly they think that a lost child is the absolute funniest thing in the world)

Finally, the organizer realizes that maybe it isn’t a very good idea to merely hint that someone’s child is actually missing and at last says,

“Mr. XXX, your son is here waiting for you!”

Nobody from the crowd responds. A good ten minutes later, we hear the organizer still looking for the parents of the kid.

Happy Father’s Day talaga.

Presumably the parents claimed the kid a few hours later, as the announcements stopped shortly before the Cosplay competition starts.

***

While ordering a schublig in the food area of the con, two guys fall in line behind me. The first guy is almost twice as big as I am, and is talking to his friend.

“Dude! do you know what’s the best part of graduating?” The big guy asks.

“What?” His friend replies

“You get to stay up as LONG AS YOU WANT!”

***

Announced over the speakers during the con:

“ATTENTION Mr. YYY, your MOTHER is at the entrance waiting for you.”

***

One of the first few contestants during the Cosplay competition was this guy who dressed up as Brawl from the Transformers. The crowd goes wild. One of the hosts then shouts, “Transform!”

The guy then grabs his crotch piece (WTF?!), puts it on his head, crouches down into a fetal position, and “transforms” into a truck. The crowd goes even wilder.

Subsequently after that, every time a really really bad cosplayer comes up onstage, like, say, a fat guy dressed up as Sailor Moon (true story), someone from the crowd (actually, Ben) would shout “TRANSFORM!!!”

Filed under: Geekery   |