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The worst thing I've seen somebody do at an anime convention was a blatant act of racism.

It was at a Fanime, in 2000 I believe. We were in the convention center area, near where the entrance to the masquerade usually was. It so happened that at the same time, there was a Muslim-oriented convention going on, so during certain parts of the day there would be many people from that convention sharing areas with Fanime - many of whom were in traditional clothing. There were a number of audible groans from the milling anime fans, and one girl said something like "This is an anime convention, not a towelhead convention!" loudly enough for everybody to hear. Not everybody laughed or reacted to what was going on, but that it was more than one person was enough for me. I was mortified.

I like to think that anime fans in general are fairly open-minded when it comes to a lot of things. They're usually the ones mentioning (though only partially true) Japan's somewhat more open policies toward homosexuality and toward what kind of material their children are exposed to, yet here in the thick of a group of fans, there were racist jokes being made.

I realize that those people didn't reflect upon the fandom as a whole, nor am I concerned that those being yelled at thought so, but it's still by far the most insensitive thing I've ever seen people do at an anime event.

I know my worst experience was when I was literally getting sexually harrased at a con when dressed as Mikuru from The Meloncholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I met a Haruhi cosplayer who felt this dire need to get to into character. At first I was going along with it, as it was playful groping (the Mikuru norm) and was acting my character, then it all went to hell when she actually tried to undress me. I was telling her to stop but she continued to stay in character. People started gathering around and cheering and laughing, but I was embarrased that she was lifting my skirt and shirt up for the world to see. It was when she bit my ear real hard that things got way out of hand. Thank goodness my friend, who was also a volunteer at the con, got her off me and warned her of her conduct. You would think though that after actually yelling that it wasn't an act that the crowd would help, but they just sat there chanting for me to take it all off. I was never more embarrased. What was worse was that during the con after that, there were people that from time to time would come up to me and ask such embarrasing questions like "where I bought my underwear" and guys would come buy asking if "I would be their Mikuru". Now I look back and think that even though I hated that at the time, It was very in character... I give the situation props for that.

The worst thing I've seen somebody do at an anime convention was a blatant act of racism.

It was at a Fanime, in 2000 I believe. We were in the convention center area, near where the entrance to the masquerade usually was. It so happened that at the same time, there was a Muslim-oriented convention going on, so during certain parts of the day there would be many people from that convention sharing areas with Fanime - many of whom were in traditional clothing. There were a number of audible groans from the milling anime fans, and one girl said something like "This is an anime convention, not a towelhead convention!" loudly enough for everybody to hear. Not everybody laughed or reacted to what was going on, but that it was more than one person was enough for me. I was mortified.

I like to think that anime fans in general are fairly open-minded when it comes to a lot of things. They're usually the ones mentioning (though only partially true) Japan's somewhat more open policies toward homosexuality and toward what kind of material their children are exposed to, yet here in the thick of a group of fans, there were racist jokes being made.

I realize that those people didn't reflect upon the fandom as a whole, nor am I concerned that those being yelled at thought so, but it's still by far the most insensitive thing I've ever seen people do at an anime event.