277 replies to this topic

[Arnold]

I was on the web boards for Anime Next, and I was struck by how many of them were kids in high school. Now, I used to recall that typical con-goers were in their 20s, maybe even 30s.

I just turned 30 last year. So was it A) just that board, not necessarily the actual con, B ) only Anime Next and not Otakon, or C) will I go to Otakon this year and find myself to be one of "the creepy old dudes"?

Edited by Arnold, 14 February 2009 - 02:28 AM.

[evaunit01berserk]

I was on the web boards for Anime Next, and I was struck by how many of them were kids in high school. Now, I used to recall that typical con-goers were in their 20s, maybe even 30s.

I just turned 30 last year. So was it A) just that board, not necessarily the actual con, B ) only Anime Next and not Otakon, or C) will I go to Otakon this year and find myself to be one of "the creepy old dudes"?

yes, i got called a creepy old dude when last year and i was 26.

the age gets lower and lower as parents take less responsibilty of their kids and take otakon as a baby sitting service.

but the ages actually range by a big margin

[Otaku Ru]

Ew.. that reminds me, I'll be 20...

[xxTemarixx]

I'm 19 But then again, I'm not your typical whiny frappuccino drinking stick-sized ohmygoshijustbrokeupwithmyboyfriend teenager. XD

[ZGL]

I'll be 22 by the time the con rolls around.

[The INfamous MC]

I'm 28...it seems like it was so long ago when I was 20 and a mere gofer for Otakon.....

[coolerninjathanu]

im a youngin.... 17yrs old ^o^
I wish my ma would let me go by myself but have to have a supervision at all times.

Edited by coolerninjathanu, 14 February 2009 - 11:30 AM.

[w-deremer]

32 here... turn 33 one month after Otakon, and been attending Otakon since 1999 when I was only 22 years old (wow, can't believe it's been that long, and I did not attend last year due to finances)...

Otakon is the proverbial "ages 8 to 88," so don't worry about feeling too 'old'... LOL!

[dragonclaw21974]

I'll be 35 on February 17th.

[Sacred_Moon]

Hehehe

I'll be turning 18 this up coming march >D so that means yay for the dealer's room!

[EmbersOfOmega]

I'm 24, I've been going since I was 16. Like was said before, at Otakon there's a good mixture of adults and teenagers and adolescents.

It's nearly impossible to be that "creepy old guy" at Otakon... almost everyone I've come in contact with has nothing but respect for everyone else... I know there have to be intolerant people somewhere at Otakon but I haven't found them yet!

[.Schala.]

I turn 25 in April, but I started going to Otakon when I was 18. I didn't make it last year and I don't know if I'll go this year. Even if I manage to be able to afford it in this economy, I don't know if I WANT to go, because I agree with you on the majority of crowd's ages. Most of the attendees seem to be high school or middle school age, and being surrounded by people from that age group, especially unsupervised, is just.....not fun for me. It's like being at a mall on a Friday night. Ugh. (Of course not every single teenager falls into this category. I am generalizing.)

This is part of the reason why I feel like, even if I can afford it, it somewhat doesn't feel like it's worth the money to me anymore. It's not the fault of Otakon itself or the staff, it's the attendees and the anime fan culture itself. It's like I'm growing up, but the majority of the fanbase stays the same age, so I just don't have as much fun as I used to back when I fell into that age group. :/

I know there have to be intolerant people somewhere at Otakon but I haven't found them yet!

I'm gonna go on a whim and say, you just found one; me. I'm pretty intolerant of obnoxious inconsiderate behavior, which I've encountered a lot more at Otakon over the recent years. I think when I get old, I'll be one of those bitter ladies who is always yelling at kids for misbehaving. xD

Edited by .Schala., 14 February 2009 - 11:02 PM.

[Arnold]

I'm 24, I've been going since I was 16. Like was said before, at Otakon there's a good mixture of adults and teenagers and adolescents.

It's nearly impossible to be that "creepy old guy" at Otakon... almost everyone I've come in contact with has nothing but respect for everyone else... I know there have to be intolerant people somewhere at Otakon but I haven't found them yet!

That's cool, I just didn't want me and my Maison Ikkoku and Patlabor DVDs to feel out of place surrounded by 16 year old Naruto fans

Edited by Arnold, 15 February 2009 - 11:47 AM.

[.Schala.]

That's cool, I just didn't want me and my Maison Ikkoku and Patlabor DVDs to feel out of place surrounded by 16 year old Naruto fans

Well, don't expect a HUGE variety of old and new. Most people seem to cosplay from Bleach, Naruto, or Death Note these days.

[RPGoddess]

I'm 26!

I've been going since 2001. Sometimes I do feel a little old, comparatively speaking. Seems like everyone gets younger every year, but I guess I'm just growing more ancient, hahaha. There are certainly pains that come with being an "older" otaku; I find squealing 16 year-old yaoi fangirls more than mildly disturbing, and I seriously don't get the fandom of Naruto. I also prefer subs over dubs.

That said, good to see other people as old as I am. :3

[IceCreamGuitar]

...I'm 15. =D

Last year was my first con, and I was 14 then...but I'm not a squealing Naruto fan. I hate Naruto. .__. It would be good, but...I dunno, something about it is off. I'm all Metal Gear Solid and Fruits Basket this year for some reason. xD And this year'll be my first cosplay...yay Okami cosplayers.

But, hey, all congoers gotta start at some age. We'll be the old ones too someday...I'm just going while we still have the money TO go. xD

[chen86]

I'm 22 ....but I feel old when I go to conventions. >_>

I see a bunch of 15-18 year olds there haha. I'd say a good amount of them are 18 and below, another large percentage may be 20-24...then as the age gets higher the number gets lower haha.

[Asrial Dune]

I'm 23, I've been going since I was 17. I've seen people who looked like they were 13 all the way up to their 60's attending Otakon (and all the other cons I work). As long as you aren't actually being creepy, don't worry about being a creepy old guy.

[EmbersOfOmega]

I'm pretty intolerant of obnoxious inconsiderate behavior, which I've encountered a lot more at Otakon over the recent years.

I think the kids who come to the con just have more energy than I do so I don't let it bother me. If they wanna go around screaming, running, playing, that's fine. As long as they don't pick on other people, act rudely towards other Otaku, and will listen when the Staff talks to them (if they get too out of hand!) and they don't bother me (come running up to me to get me involved in their shananigans), everything else is gravy.

If there are kids behaving obnoxiously or inconsiderately, let a staff member know about it. I've read elsewhere that if the staff doesn't know something is going on they can't do anything about it.

Anywho, I know how you feel. And the person who had the mall comment, lol, in the more crowded areas of the convention, I totally get the "mall" feeling sometimes.

[tstidm1]

I will be 31 in 34 days and I am starting to wonder that, also. I will still go to Otakon, but it may be for a day or overnight. I am tenatively planning on going to the Science Fiction Worldcon in Montreal. I may be among the youngest adults there. That kind of scares me.

Edited by tstidm1, 16 February 2009 - 07:59 PM.

[alabaster]

For what it's worth, I will turn 39 a week before Otakon 2009. I just spent about $200 on Doctor Who toys.

We've got several staffers in their 40s, and at least a few in their 50s.

Mr Maruyama of Madhouse will be 68 this year. He has a Stitch "ears" hat that he's worn in public.

We have at least one lady in her 70s who has cosplayed at the con.

We are truly all-ages. You're never too hold to have fun!

[Muramasa]

<--- 27, going on 50. This is probably why I'm hidden away in relations for most of the con.

[alabaster]

<--- 27, going on 50. This is probably why I'm hidden away in relations for most of the con.

You sure party like you're in your 20s!

(BTW, I have more funny stories about the aftermath of the "kicking guests out at 6am" thing last year....)

[syntaxerror37]

I just turned 30 in December and my wife will be 28 in May, We have no plans to stop attending or even to stop cosplaying. We even have plans on what to dress our children up as once we start our family. If you are a fan of anime, you are not out of place at Otakon regardless of your age.

[Cousinsue]

Guys, I'm 48, and am by *no means* the oldest Otakon member. I am nothing like Creepy, and certainly not old.

I have two teens (that we do monitor At Con), one of whom will Again be Fifteen At Con (she was last year also).

[mailechan]

Since Otakon happens a little early this year, I won't quite be 40 yet. Oh man, and sometimes I feel old.

[Urban_Deity]

I'm going on 32 and the friend I'm going with is going on 30. After reading some of these post I don't feel as bad. Lol.

[rdottriz]

I'm 25... And Otakon is always my birthday present to myself (in July)...

[SilverMiko]

I'm 25 going on 26, been going to Otakon since I was 20, staffing since I was 22, but my first con was when I was 17 going on 18 (RIP Shoujocon).

[egyptianruin]

I am 29 but I will be 30 at Otakon, my husband is 37 and will be 38 at Otakon. I plan to cosplay this year too, that is if I lose all the baby weight from having my son in September, lol. I had him almost exactly a month after my AA showing.

[Duelistbluerose]

I'm 24

I am so glad someone started this thread. The old n' crusty adult in me is telling me that I am too old for all of this. But the fun loving kid in me says Im never too old. then I have my mother telling me that anime is a waste of time and money and Im too old. ugh....
I am conflicting inside - I am really not sure what to think. But i think it's cool that there are older people at cons. Im always happy to meet them. It makes me feel less weird, lol

[Muramasa]

<--- 27, going on 50. This is probably why I'm hidden away in relations for most of the con. ^_^

You sure party like you're in your 20s!

(BTW, I have more funny stories about the aftermath of the "kicking guests out at 6am" thing last year....)

I would like to hear them sometime. Beyond that, I plead the 5th. :-)

[The INfamous MC]

~Topic please

[Nash]

i'm pretty old at least i look young though O_o

[Flying Scotsman]

There are a group of us that have been threatening to make up T-shirts with "OOF: Otaku Over Forty".

Some of these folks are the reason Otakon exists today. Among them are the Radio Operations department head, the former Restaurant Liaison, the guy who started the whole AMV specter, former chair-persons, and the like.

On the other hand, I note with much chagrin that Otakon weekend usually means most of the bars in the region are ghost towns. It's been my estimate that as many as half of Otakon's attendance at any given year is under 21 years of age.

WE can remember a day when you didn't HAVE DVD players, or the Internet, or even videotapes! Yes, hard as it seems to believe, the ONLY anime we ever saw was "Speed Racer" or "Aquaman" or "Tobor the 8th Man" or "Marine Boy"! And you had to watch it WHEN it was on, AS it was being shown! And there was only one TV in the house, and if your dad or mom wanted to watch something while your show was on, you were just sh** outta luck!!!!!!

And for the first 12 years of my life, I had only black-and-white TV. True story. I even had a B&W TV in college.

[Duelistbluerose]

There are a group of us that have been threatening to make up T-shirts with "OOF: Otaku Over Forty".

Some of these folks are the reason Otakon exists today. Among them are the Radio Operations department head, the former Restaurant Liaison, the guy who started the whole AMV specter, former chair-persons, and the like.

On the other hand, I note with much chagrin that Otakon weekend usually means most of the bars in the region are ghost towns. It's been my estimate that as many as half of Otakon's attendance at any given year is under 21 years of age.

WE can remember a day when you didn't HAVE DVD players, or the Internet, or even videotapes! Yes, hard as it seems to believe, the ONLY anime we ever saw was "Speed Racer" or "Aquaman" or "Tobor the 8th Man" or "Marine Boy"! And you had to watch it WHEN it was on, AS it was being shown! And there was only one TV in the house, and if your dad or mom wanted to watch something while your show was on, you were just sh** outta luck!!!!!!

And for the first 12 years of my life, I had only black-and-white TV. True story. I even had a B&W TV in college.

wow, you're pretty gosh-darn old...

I'm old enough to remember having to watch all my anime on VHS tapes - that were fuzzy - and ranma 1/2 manga books that were $15 each

[RPGoddess]

wow, you're pretty gosh-darn old...

I'm old enough to remember having to watch all my anime on VHS tapes - that were fuzzy - and ranma 1/2 manga books that were $15 each

I remember a time when all of my anime came on bootleg VHS tapes, for the most part, and occaisionally I'd buy a series in subs and get like one or two tapes in dub, even though the cover said it was subbed. Nowadays, dubs have indeed gotten better, but back then...

[The INfamous MC]

~Topic please

[vegeta70]

There are a group of us that have been threatening to make up T-shirts with "OOF: Otaku Over Forty".

Some of these folks are the reason Otakon exists today. Among them are the Radio Operations department head, the former Restaurant Liaison, the guy who started the whole AMV specter, former chair-persons, and the like.

On the other hand, I note with much chagrin that Otakon weekend usually means most of the bars in the region are ghost towns. It's been my estimate that as many as half of Otakon's attendance at any given year is under 21 years of age.

WE can remember a day when you didn't HAVE DVD players, or the Internet, or even videotapes! Yes, hard as it seems to believe, the ONLY anime we ever saw was "Speed Racer" or "Aquaman" or "Tobor the 8th Man" or "Marine Boy"! And you had to watch it WHEN it was on, AS it was being shown! And there was only one TV in the house, and if your dad or mom wanted to watch something while your show was on, you were just sh** outta luck!!!!!!

And for the first 12 years of my life, I had only black-and-white TV. True story. I even had a B&W TV in college.

You forgot "Kimba the White Lion"

I don't know about the percentages of attendee ages, but even my own Gofer Corps has a pretty good mix, from High School up to middle age and beyond. But to anyone who has someone telling them they're too old, just brush it off. Oddly enough, I share alabaster's birthdate, so I will also be 39 before Otakon 2009, and I'm never giving it up! Been attending since 2002, this will be my fourth year as Staff, and my second in charge of Gofer Ops. I consider myself very fortunate to have made contact with all the like-minded people I have both inside and outside the con. Because let's face it, some people just don't get it. But thank God I know where I can always find 20-some-thousand people of all ages who feel like I do!

[Flying Scotsman]

You forgot "Kimba the White Lion"

You're right. I'm sure that would be like you wet, worthless young whippersnappers forgetting about............ Neon Genesis Evangelion? Naruto? Bleach? Ramna 1/2? Nausicca?

Let's see how old I am. I still have cassette audio tapes. I still have LPs. I even own a couple collectible 78-rpm records.

[toujourspret]

I'm 23 right now, but I'll be 24 by the time this year's con rolls around. It'll be my seventh (seven?! I remember being a broke teen hoping I could scrape up enough cash for hotel rooms and begging for plane tickets for my birthday, always wondering if I would be able to make it to another one--I actually had to miss two because I couldn't get enough cash together) year at Otakon, nine since I first attended. While we're talking about the good old days, tell me I'm not the one who remembers waiting for the fansubs VHS list to get updated, then ordering at-cost (for the price of the tape itself and shipping) a grainy seventh-or-older-generation VHS where the tracking was thoroughly borked and the color some three copies back was distorted, and one whole tape had no audio (but it was okay because there were subtitles and it wasn't like you were going to find it somewhere else)? Sometimes I feel nostalgic for those days, but then I remember lugging the thirty pound box back from the post office!

[Darthy Storms]

I'll be 54 by Otakon in July. I've been attending Otakon every year since 2001 . My first exposure to anime was watching "Astro Boy" daily back in 1964.

[Phantasmal]

I'm eighteen years old. If I decide to keep the beard/goatee I have to grow for the school musical, I'll probably look like I'm in my young 20's, haha.
Most of the 'youngins traveling with me will be either College Freshmen, or High School Juniors and Seniors. My dad's coming along as well, because he is kick ass. He's a ripe fifty-five years of age. :]

[martha]

I saw a lot more teenagers last year, but maybe I'm just noticing them more because there was so much scene hair. XD
I'm 27 this year, so I'm always the oldest person in my group. ::sigh::

[onsenmark]

I'm 36, and Katsucon recently was my first con. Otakon falls just a few days after my birthday in July. XD

[webyugioh]

Ew.. that reminds me, I'll be 20...

Same here, my birthday is right before (July 14) and I'll
be turning 20 also.
Can't believe after the con I'll be starting my 3rd year of college.
Now even I feel old.

[vegeta70]

I'll be 54 by Otakon in July. I've been attending Otakon every year since 2001 . My first exposure to anime was watching "Astro Boy" daily back in 1964.

You are a very kewl lady.

[onsenmark]

Ew.. that reminds me, I'll be 20...

Same here, my birthday is right before (July 14) and I'll
be turning 20 also.
Can't believe after the con I'll be starting my 3rd year of college.
Now even I feel old.

Heh, another July kid(July *13* here, lol).

[toujourspret]

I saw a lot more teenagers last year, but maybe I'm just noticing them more because there was so much scene hair. XD
I'm 27 this year, so I'm always the oldest person in my group. ::sigh::

I had no idea! You're always so lovely and elegant and poised, but for some reason, I'd always assumed you were much younger than I am.

[alabaster]

Ew.. that reminds me, I'll be 20...

Same here, my birthday is right before (July 14) and I'll
be turning 20 also.
Can't believe after the con I'll be starting my 3rd year of college.
Now even I feel old.

Heh, another July kid(July *13* here, lol).

July 10 for me.