Ok, so those of you not on facebook or who haven't seen, I've kinda vented a lot of frustration that has been building up. The causes of which have been adequately explained by Troon to me. So I consider that particular chapter closed.

However, its been brought to my attention, that many of you who attended D*Con 2011 were under the distinct impression I was distancing myself from you.
This could not be further from the truth.

UKCM tradition it to have fun during the day, then more fun at night in the bar. I personally do not have a problem with that.
I don't drink, so I am usually the only one sober in the bar. The antics can be funny, they, from my point of view can also be irritating. That would be fine on its own, but booze loosens tongues and I've had the odd insult thrown at me with cheers from others thinking its a joke. This, as I am fully compus mentus, dents my confidence.

I am also keenly aware that some consider me to be a tight git, someone you're lucky to get a drink froum. This too has been said to me in a bar.
I'll accept that. I am tight. But not through choice. I just don't have the cash to buy everyone a drink.
The comments do not help though, I try to be generous when I can. But find myself trying to stay clear of situations where money will be an issue.

To further compound my dented confience, I was grilled on this forum when I was trying to figure out my budget for D*Con 2011. I was told to stop penny pinching or just not go. I was then told that I shouldn't have bought plane tickets if I couldnt afford to spend money.
This hurt me a lot. I will admit it here now to get it off my chest. I cried it hurt me that much.
I was close to pulling out but I received an apology and that made me reconsider and decide to stay the course.

(FYI to those involved, please. I consider that matter as water long gone under the bridge and it is not the point of this post, you need not say anything.)

However, that chiding, intentional or not, had almost erradicated my confidence. I was yet again made aware that people considered me a penny pincher.

So, come D*Con, I decided to do what I had done in previous drops: Don't stick around in the bar.

I cannot in good conscience sit in a group and accept rounds without the ability to return the favour, especially not when I know some will consider it penny pinching.
At the same time, I don't want to sit there and refuse offers, again because people might get the wrong end of the stick.
The last thing I wanted is for something to happen, live, in a bar, with people watching.
Also, at D*Con I was also keenly aware of some irritation toward me from some members. What for I do not know, but I wanted to avoid shit going south.

So, I decided not to hang around the bar for too long. I was there at times, people saw and spoke to me. I just wasn't there all night.
I actually went to bed around 23:00 or midnight most nights, so as not to miss anything during the next day. PVB will back me up on that.

At UK events, I try to make up for my absence at the bar by generally being on hand to help out wherever I can, talk and chat to people. I thought this was acceptable. (Seems not.)

At D*Con I did spend lots of time with the UACM and USCM and with members of the UKCM (Bugstomper, PVB, Dom and Data will tell you that).
D*Con was my first chance to meet the USCM/UACM and I wanted to spend time with them. I can see you lot anytime at UK events. I hope UKCM members ruffled by my behaviour can understand that. Besides, there was so much to see and do, I'd find myself wandering the Con seeing the sights, meeting people and loosing all track of time. That wasn't intentional, it just happened.

Also, I saw PVB was flagging in strength and energy. I decided to stick with him for a while to:

A) Get to know him
B) Give him someone to talk to and walk the con with
C) Just to keep an eye on him

This didn't take up a great deal of my time, but added to my wandering around seeing things I wanted to see, I can see why some thought I was avoiding them.

You all know, I love Star Trek. And at D*Con there is a helluvalot of Trek based things going on.
I'd never been to a place so accepting of my Trek Pyjamas. I spent a lot of time at the Sheraton.
Again, this must have seemed like I was avoiding you.

As for the penny pinching, I want to lay that subject to rest once and for all:

Those who know me personally know how generous I am. I will give my last penny to anyone, provided I don't need it. Even then, if I can make do without, I'll hand it over.
If I cannot afford to be somewhere, I don't go.

So if you see I am not at the bar, that is the reason. I cannot afford to be.
If you really, really want me at the bar, then bloody drag me. But always be aware, unless otherwise stated, I probably will not be able to buy in a round. It's not because I'm mean, but because I can't.

And now, the apology:

If anyone felt insulted, ruffled or annoyed by my behaviour at D*Con, I most sincerely apologise. I had no intention of avoiding you or snooting away.
Anything I said at the time was covering for my embarrassment and lack of confidence. I realise now, the things I said in that cover up where not the best. I sincerely apologies for that too.
That simply wasn't the normal me.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

And it was very much appreciated.
I didn't want to put a downer on the event by hanging around groups of us whilst feeling/looking ill, so was very thankful of the company.

I've missed all that transpired over this, but am puzzled about the whole 'buy a round at the bar' complaints aimed at you (either directly or indirectly), as I've been to D*Con three times and (as far as I can remember) have never paid for a round of drinks.

I'm not a big drinker, but will pay for immediate pals in any group I'm in. However, drinking myself into unconciousness isn't why I go to Atlanta, so I tend to just sit around a short while and then move on.

Sometimes I hardly saw certain UKCM members the whole trip, as they were in the bars all night and then in their rooms hungover/recovering during the day. I didn't think they were avoiding me and would hope they didn't think I was avoiding them.

At last year's event I was rather ill/weak the whole time, so tended to go to bed equally early, thereby missing out on lots of the drinking. Even if I wasn't ill, I imagine I still wouldn't have been around the bars much, as per usual.

I did notice some 'attitude' changes from certain members towards me over the Lance Henriksen meal, so perhaps there were other factors making those people tetchy?

It's all water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned and I look forward to D*Con 2013.

_________________
Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

This is very ture. I was with Sandy alot duing the Con with USCM and UACM on the bug sweep, the breakfast, raffle on level ten and many other times. I also am a real Star Trek fan and saw Sandy alot over the Sheraton.

There was many time when I did my own thing as Dragon*Con is a big place and many people taste's are differernt.

Cheer's Steve

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Sgt Steven 'DATA' Pasek
A04/TQ8.0.24476E3
1st Batt. 69th Regiment, Homers Heros..

It's a Con, do whatever you wish. You did what you wanted to do. Thats fine. You paid to enjoy yourself. For expences you were enquiring. Yes, it became annoying but it was your first time and you like me. Like to be financially prepared. Thats a true honest streak mate. Makes you a good person. We are all family and were are all there for each other. And sometimes family don't see eye to eye.

And as PVB said you helped him loads. Which he admired. Greatly. But dude, others went off and enjoyed thrmselves. So why not you. If there were fueds then thats yours and someone elses words and actions. But hey there we go. Plus you kept me company at Heathrow so were good!

All under the bridge mate. Hope all is settled.

-Callum

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Sgt C. Kee-McParlin
A05/TQ1.0.02160E1

13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'

Just off the phone to you, Sandy ( As you know, you were there! ) and I'd like to clarify for this record some of the stuff we discussed!


Nobody was annoyed at Sandy for not buying drinks. He seemed to expect that he'd be frowned upon for not buying rounds.
It's not a requirement! Plenty of times I've either just bought my own drinks, or stuck with a small subgroup of 3 or 4 who buy rounds between themselves, while still being a part of the overall larger group.

I seem to have sparked this off by telling Sandy at D*Con that his absence was noted - And the fact is, it was. A couple of folk commented that he seemed to be avoiding us... And when I said so to him, and suggested he show face a bit more in the bar, the response seemed to be very dismissive and somewhat insulting.
Again, after discussing this at length with Sandy, he is now well aware that it's far better to show up and rip the piss out of us for being drunken idiots than it is to just avoid contact when folk are a bit rowdy. He wasn't aware how he was coming across. He doesn't have to join in the "Drunken shenanigans" - But we do require him to stop by and see what's going on should we need reminding the next morning exactly what we did to get those bruises, or should we require at a later date a sober witness to testify in a court of law.


The main thing to remember, though, is that we're all UKCM - And we're all there for the same reason... Drunk fun, sober fun, sexy fun, tight pants and dildo fun... The common factor is FUN!

I won't go into the conversation in great detail, as it was well over an hour long and I'm now bloody starving - Suffice to say, it's all good, we're cool, some misconceptions have been cleared up, apologies made on both sides, and we can now count on Sandy to point, laugh and mock when appropriate. In fact, he's under standing orders to do so.

Someone has to

_________________
MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop

Damn right!

Fuckin' A!

I just take pictures.

_________________
Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

I will be at the Birmingham drop in March,bit scared after reading the above lol
I'm not much of a drinker myself and I was hoping to meet with you guys then go off do my own thing then meet up again in the evening?
I'm a novice here,I love the films but not into it much more than that although my bf is,I still like meeting new people and I'm learning more here every day!
I'm very much a newbie here in more ways than one,I've been made to feel welcome by a few,I have learnt the regulars and the friends here.
I'm nervous at meeting everyone when you all seem to know each other so well.
What sort of things does the op find irrating about you guys?

Helen

Be prepared for a perverse, hyperactive, loveable and friendly group. Just be yourself.


-Callum

_________________
Sgt C. Kee-McParlin
A05/TQ1.0.02160E1

13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'

You don't need to worry, Helen.

Dragon*Con is a special case: it's an act of joint logistics to get everyone over to the states and to get shared accommodation in the host hotels (which sell out in a rush) at reasonable cost. Also, although everyone gets something different from it, D*Con is very much a 24 hour party with a serious convention (covering any interest imaginable) running alongside. Therefore, there are conflicts between group cohesion and people (rightly) wanting to do different things.

At UK shows, everyone travels individually, and basically there isn't much choice of what to do at a UK show: we all either costume or shop during the day. In the evenings, the show closes so we have dinner and then all hang out in a hotel bar, or go to bed. People who live nearby often just go home.

Phew that's a relief,so if I turn up naked I will be ok?
Just kidding guys,you all seem fairly normal,I think lol

Helen

I dunno about normal. I'd say most of us might see the label of "normal" as a negative thing ...

That's ok,you can show me your more positive sides lol

Helen

That sounds like me lol so I'm sure I will fit in ok

Helen

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Sgt C. Kee-McParlin
A05/TQ1.0.02160E1

13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'

No need to worry Helen.

As Gareth said, the events in my OP were restricted to Dragon*Con. Tis a wonderful but strange beast.

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Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

Dragon'Con has a reality distortion field, which increases in strength post-midnight. That said, the UKCM when in a large group generates a similar field...

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A11/TQ1.0.32150E1 Murphy, J - Covert recording headcam. There is no flashing red light when you are on Kona-Cam
Weyland-Yutani: Their projects are intentionally full of bugs. Avoid!

Everyone put my mind at ease now you go and scare me again lol.

Helen

As far as I'm concerned, "Normal" is just a setting on the washing machine.

Russ

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"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

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