Cosplay Rumors Are Terrible Things

There is nothing worse than a rumor, with no facts or links to prove the validity of the rumor. To say something about someone else, to cause someone to lose friends and a good reputation over falsities, is the lowest of the low. No one should have to go through that. It pains me to say that I have been through it and know many others who have had this misfortune placed on them. Thankfully, the source of those rumors was rarely believed and showing facts in support of the truth, being the opposite of the rumors, ended most of the issues.

So often I hear of drama in the cosplay community, especially in Boston, that I question why. Why start things with others that have done nothing to you? Why cause someone else misery over a past slight? Why waste your time and energy on baseless things, when you will just end up having to wipe the egg off your face once the lie is discovered? I will never claim to understand the logic of people that only have hate in their hearts, the people who give cosplay a bad name with all their horrid actions.

I have seen and heard rumors about cosplayers in Boston being told not to attend events based on what was later found out to be misunderstandings. I have heard of cosplayers being brought to tears with callous and underhanded remarks. I have been eyewitness to people being shunned from what should be a loving and supportive community just because someone showed one-sided screen shots out of context. Someone was excluded and harassed because so many chose to believe only the lying person's side of an argument without asking to see the full conversation, and none of that is okay.

With that said, I find it hard to believe that someone would intentionally claim to be a journalist, then post false information with out-of-context images and use their first amendment right to slander the good name of so many others, for no reason other than to cause unnecessary chaos and watch the pain and anguish of others they have stirred trouble for.

I have been at the forefront of their slander campaign, and had to aid friends in their fight against these villainous people, so I know the pain of their most recent victims. I feel empathy and pity for those who have been thrown under the bus by people who have proven to be terrible human beings. I feel nothing but distaste at the people who have made a name for themselves in just the past couple of years in our community, specifically so they could do these terrible things, and so many are allowing this appalling behavior.

It seems to always be two, specifically, who find it their mission to either start or perpetuate already existing drama by spreading rumors and using false "evidence" to their claims. They often create some big scandal, use manipulated photos and screen shots, and biased statements from the people they call friends. They even have a friend who has admitted in open court to past abuse of others, and admitted themselves in court to their own wrongdoings, yet so many follow them because so many of us seem to enjoy making others miserable, but try to avoid doing it ourselves.

These people are charismatic, tending to appear like good, caring people... Until it is your turn to face their hate. They will go after anyone, even their closest of friends, should that person do or say anything against them. They have proven on more than one occasion that they can't handle being told "no" and will make life hell for whoever dared to tell them such. They detest being spoken poorly of, as anyone does, but respond by speaking hatefully of the one that speaks poorly of them instead of proving the supposed lies to be false with proof. That is how you know a true victim from a manipulative jerk.

This community has no place for things like this—no place for hate. That is why I call on my fellow cosplayers, geeks, nerds, and gamers, to call out the hate for what it is, and stop it before it can make its way into too many hearts. Let us end the reign of liars and rumor spreaders.

It is now that we should be rising up against the rumors and hate. The time for us to be standing together against slander and libel has come. We should not let those who would do harm to others get away with their crimes. Stand up, my comrades-in-costume, and say NO to bullying and rumors!