"Glomp Circle" - getting out of control?

[smaaaaash]

Well, out of control... maybe. I know I had a bad experience with the glomp circle this year. I was one of those people with the big props and to be honest, that glomp circle delivered hell for me. My group wanted to go outside so I had to come along with, but there was this large obstruction known as the glomp circle in my way.

There were several instances where my props were damaged due to this. My props, being two large bladed wings that stick off the sides of my backs, require lots of room for me to manuever in, and the glomp circle was at one of its bigger states. I tried to follow my group to their destination when first, a girl was glomped so hard that she crashed into me. My wings were bent out of shape... then, when I recovered from that, I continued to try to get through, continuously saying, "excuse me," and "sorry, can I get through real fast?" One girl didn't want to move and she told me, "Sorry, I can't move. If I do, I might lose my spot." I tried to squeeze past her instead, and once I got through, a cosplayer literally pushed my whole wing aside and ran through. They were damaged the worst at that time.

The reason she pushed it aside was because the circle was so large that there was hardly any room for people to move past it. When I tried to get through, people refused to move out of the way, fell into me, or were forced to push me aside because of their impatience. Yes, my props are now damaged. (But I'll be reparing them for next year!)

[Mochigo]

My friend and I came across it while trying to find a place outside to take a break to get fresh air...well, that wasn't really possible since there were lots of smokers anyways (I don't have a problem as long as you are 25 feet away from the entrance), but the circle did take up a large amount of space so we couldn't find a good spot to sit down without straying father away from the con. At first we were sort of amused by the whole concept, but when we came back later in the day and it was still going on we were both a little surprised. It was my first time attending Sakura-con and I'd seen videos of a variety of random activities taking place outside, so I was disappointed that this year there was only a glomp circle.

So probably my biggest complaint about it is that it did restrict or get in the way of other activities from happening (I don't have any issue with the actual glomping/hugging).

[TinaK]

I'm sure most people who attended the con can attest to the fact that for most of the daylight hours there were a large group of people blocking off the main courtyard playing the "glomp circle" game. Note that I say "blocking". That courtyard is a high traffic area most of the con and with the large amount of people there who were in a circle it was near impossible to get from one side of the courtyard to the other without either cutting through the middle of it or going all the way around Freeway Park. I had a hard time getting back inside the convention center because I had to go all the way around the outside of their circle and no one had the courtesy to move when asked. I also noticed at that same time that there were a few photoshoots that people were trying to hold and they really couldn't because they didn't have the space.

Now I'm not saying to ban the whole thing altogether. It's probably a very fun game for most people. But what I am saying is that there should be staff out there who can monitor it to make sure it doesn't get too big and end up blocking off the entire area - like it did this year. Like I said, that entire courtyard is a high-traffic area. Even if it isn't inside the covention center, it should be treated like it. People aren't allowed to stop in front of other high-traffic areas, like doors, in hallways, on stairs, in front of the escalators, etc. So why should this be treated any different?

The problem with glomp circles being outside, is that as Sakura Con staff and SAS and whatnot, we have no jurisdiction outside. It's a pain in the butt, yes, but there's really not anything we can do about it.
The best I can say we can do is maybe talk to the Green Coats about it and figure something out there. Just a suggestion for next year. -shrugs-

[TheVikingWarrior]

I cried profusely when one of the kids ran into me.

[TofuTessa]

I can totally agree with this. >_< I had two photo shoots out there. Right after the first one the circle started up so it didn't bother me because I was off changing. Then when I came back I couldn't even get to the other side to meet with people for the shoot. Is there some other place they can have it perhaps. That could also benefit with a staff member monitoring it.

And I have nothing against glomp circles except for the fact they can get out of hand. I've played in a few glomp circles, they are a lot of fun but that was at k-con in a large area not in the way of everything else.

[omarfw]

I say move the rave outside and put the glomp circle in the rave room

MEGA GLOMP CIRCLE-O-DOOM

[TheVikingWarrior]

I say move the rave outside and put the glomp circle in the rave room

MEGA GLOMP CIRCLE-O-DOOM

For once, I actually agree with somebody on here.

[SoulReaperRukia]

SAS has no authority becuase its public space. I pointed this out last year..and you see what happened.

It was annoying, but its all or nothing ya know?

Just yell loud enough and theyll move.

SAS has the exact same authority as any other member of the public. Any request they would make by attendees outside in this area wouldn't have any teeth, however some authority would be "presented" if SAS made a request for people to clear the area or make wide paths for pedestrians.

I never said anything even remotely like that. Obviously, they have the same authority as anyone else in the public domain.

What they don't have authority to do is tell people that they cannot play games in public space ( or demand that shonen ai photo shoots cease because they're offended) the glomp circle was simple the end result.

[SailorGundam06]

I have to say, I prefer going through the park because, often times, I have physical difficulty getting up that hill next door. The park cuts the hill in half for me. However, getting through the glomp circle this past year was near impossible. A few of my costumes are made from 'catchy' fabrics like satin or organza... or I have a shorter skirt on and a pair of nylon stockings. Squeezing past on the building side of the circle presents a challenge to not get caught and have the fabrics rip on the cement wall around the garden planter. Not to mention the fact that having someone standing right there and getting glomped might shove them backwards into that planter and cause injury to the glomper, glompee, and others nearby.

I don't mind it being there as long as people are careful about the danger of it being in a cement plaza surrounded by cement walls and as long as they're curteous to the fact that it is indeed a travel through area that's basically a hazard to be blocked off in such a manner. If someone needs to get through, please be considerate and move so they can do so. Many people, especially staffers and guests who might be traveling through the area, have tight schedules and need to get to their destinations quickly. You'll be helping everyone have a better time if you allow for a travel space of at least four feet wide around all sides of the circle. This will allow for two-way traffic and wide props if they can be turned to the narrow edge.

I don't think that's too much to ask in the way of a compromise.