Outside worlds reaction to cosplay

[Charlie2Kairi]

I find it so amusing when I see people outside of the convention reacting to cosplay. In the hotel there is allot, but when it's places like the mall, it's funny. I was in Hannafords and the cashier and some other guy were talking about cosplayers and referring to us as ''they'' and ''them''. I know that is a really small thing, I'm sure there is much worse than that out in the outside world. Yeesh, my hubby calls us ''freaks''. There is always staring and such obviously.
So what kind of stuff do you see with outside world and cosplay? Does it bother you? Do you even notice anymore I am guessing I probably notice more than veteran cosplayers, but if there are stories I would love to hear them!!

[Rose Riku]

Mostly, I see positive reactions at outside places. The only bad one was really when we were in a McDonald's and a mother was telling her kids to stay away from us because she thought we were psychos. The kid was so excited because of us being in KH cosplay - it's practically DISNEY. Yeeeesh.

Oh, and a guy who made us leave his store because he thought we were scaring possible customers away.

But like, I mostly just get questions - or more often, pictures taken of me. If people have a problem with it then they're very closed minded.

[nik the foamsmith]

the best i have ever got is a lil kid in the mall "daddy what myth could he be busting here?"

[Charlie2Kairi]

That is so awesome!! I wish I got to see the Jamie cosplay, I so love him! It would have been fun to see them in Comic Con, last yr I think it was,I heard it was a really fun time!

[Meems]

I've gotten stares and giggles before- I really don't like straying outside the convention in costume if I can help it- buuut a girls gotta eat!

Yesterday was pretty positive! We had one guy ask us what it was all about, very neutral. And when we went to Pizza Hut two of the employees were trying to guess our costumes (the guy got us all right! <3 )

A very good experience overall, I'm sad not everyone can say the same.

[FinalLegendofHearts]

For the most part we just had people asking us what it was all about. The only people who seemed to have negative reactions were people closer to our age. It wasn't really all that upsetting. They were only making themselves look immature. I mean, I get that some people find cosplaying strange but that's no reason to pick on us. And we only got picked on when one separated from our group. What does that say? It's not like we were hurting anybody. I only had a little trouble after the con when I was posting pictures on DeviantArt. Someone commented on a picture,
"oh mi god you have NO lives only asians look good cosplaying crackahs!"
Really? We're the one's with no lives?   

[katiejo!]

I mostly get stared at, so I stare really intensely back or I make a silly face. Thus far, I've never had a positive or negative experience. Just stares.

[Moritani]

It's always been pretty positive, for me. People are usually more curious than anything. But I do remember a time when a guy in a truck flipped me and my six-year-old sibling off while we were waiting to cross the street. It wouldn't have bothered me much, but it really upset her.

[atemulover]

 I have never gotten anything bad or negatives remarks when cosplaying to the average public personally. I often find myself getting a lot more hugs or pictures. Although I do find it funny to see thier faces both good and bad because of the years of stereo types people make with geeks but I think anime/manga/video game fans are still new to the American public since most people don't recognize our culture yet. As entertainment mediums and internet related bisinesses continue to climb in wealth and demand over the next few years I think people will realize just how huge we actually are and it'll become more of a normal thing (being a geek that is). That's why I don't take people's reactions seriously.


 My foundest reaction to a cosplay was when I was 12 years old. I worked on a cosplay for Link from Ocarina of Time with the hylian shield and everything which I wore on Halloween while taking out my younger cousins and a group of older guys laughed a me calling me "Peter Pan". There was a group of younger children that had joined my group that I was shuffling around and an  8 year old boy from the back was insulted by these teenagers because I was dressed as his childhood idol and had the mind to snap back at them " They're not Peter Pan you stupids they're Link! From Zelda the Wind Waker game! And He's cool!"

 It clearly wasn't Wind Waker but meh close enough.

[Spawn]

There were some losers (stereotypical jerks: backwards hats, striped polos, and everything) who leaned out of their windows and made faces and gestures at those of us waiting to cross the road. It was actually more funny than anything else.

[midori.means.green]

A huge bunch of cosplayers were crossing the street and an old lady was crossing with us. She was incredibly good natured and was amused with us. It was really nice to see someone be completely accepting of people in costumes, because it's not normal (most of the time ^^;).

A lot of people approached my friends and I over the weekend. When they started talking to us, they seemed scared, or upset, or nervous, but by the end they were smiling and thanking us. Being patient and explaining what's happening makes people feel a lot better. Even if people are angry or make fun of you, I don't think it's smart to taunt them back. Cosplayers are really awesome people and we don't want our reputation to become negative.

[StarlitLullaby]

I went over to the mall in my Grell cosplay with my little Ciel and we got stared at. HARDCORE. It was like they didn't believe what they were seeing. We were the only cosplayers in the Food Court at the time and it was slightly awkward. XD

There were these two girls at Taco Bell talking about us (in not so hushed voices), asking each other if there was a circus in town.

Other reactions include smiling children (YAY! :D) and many questions asked by confused passersby.

[Vayaviya]

When I went out in my Kanaya costume, I got looked at as though I was some sort of alien...which was what I was aiming for, so it wasn't unexpected.

I got a lot of positive reactions to my Fionna costume, including being recognized by a little boy in the mall food court and being told my outfit was adorable by a random woman in Borders.  I did get a few people gaping at me, though, which I found odd.  The strangest part of my costume was the hat, which isn't terribly outlandish. 

[AnimeAspieFanatic]

The most I had from 2011 (My first time going around the mall in cosplay) was having an old dude tell us we belonged in a mental asylum and a group of 12 year olds with Justin Bieber attire telling us who's boss. We just went "..... OKAY!  "

[j99450]

I had an older gentleman ask me what about the costumes when I was eating at the food court one day, but he was pretty neutral about it and even likened it to people dressing up like Star Trek chars.  That guy gets my approval.