THIS.

And it's not limited to the "I need money for rent" whingers on FA. Basically, if you had money to go to a con, you had money to pay your rent and utilities.

Thanks for clarifying that. Such people are often persona non grata at cons anyway, because they are the ones most likely to:

a) beg someone to go out of their way to pick them up on the way to the con, and drop them off after, and expect not to have to pay a dime for this service because, "well, you were going there, anyway, right?",

b) can be seen buying food and soda in the gas station and promising to pay for gas the next time they get filled up, which never happens,

c) attempt to sleep in the hotel lobby,

d) beg people for flop space, then get caught sleeping on the bed at 1AM when the ones who actually paid for the room decide to turn in,

c) being unable to find flop space, agree to pay for a spot in the room, then disappearing before the end of the con leaving less than their share of the room if anything at all,

d) live in the con suite, ask when dinner is being served, and whine that it's being served at the same time as some event they have to attend, then asking if they can get theirs early, or if the con suite can save them some,

e) Are never ready to go when their ride needs to leave Sunday evening or Monday morning, if they can be found at all.

Yeah, you get the idea. All around selfish moochers.

And you can tell from the lettering that I kept adding points and not re-lettering.

That's disconcerting. I've only known one person in my state like what you've described in your entry and list.
Some of us, myself included, are just cheap skates and want the bottom dollar on anything. Putting myself in the shoes of one who is desperate for a once in a lifetime mecca to Anthrocon , I wouldn't be past:
a) sleeping in a van for at least a night
b) sleeping on top of a buddies hotel bed that is supposed to be vacant until at least 1AM
c) being frustrated that I have to choose between the Subway waiting line or the panel by fursuit makers MixedCandy
d) ***nope. can't vouch for the lack of several months rent. I always have contingency plans**
e) buy art from Kamicheetah, Gunmouth, Xianjaguar, Dingbat, Arphalia, and other heroes that I'd never meet again
f) never want to leave and possibly wake up late because of lack of sleep in the van/on floor
g) **can't vouch for lack of fuel money**
h) beg a gracious fur for a ride back home 100mi out of the route


THIS is what I would do if I were twice as crazy about an Anthrocon mecca... lucky me, I'm not that crazy and though my cable bill had to be delayed, I paid for fuel, part of the room, food, car parking, and commission costs upfront. I've been to Anthrocon though and can tell you that Pittsburgh checks their parking garages for loiterers, so the van is a no go. I was late waking after attending 11th hour parties, we still got out just before the room was due.

I can understand the craze though. I put myself in a bad situation coming home because it really was (or is 90%) more likely that I would never be able to do that again in my reasonable, responsible life! I did buy all those commissions though, they are my heroes, and it was worth the hardship, though completely irresponsible.

So I hope my story sheds some light on the fact that if you see four of the aforementioned actions from a person, it doesn't mean that they are all around selfish, it just means that they're moochers and desperate for a chance to put a pin in a time in their life.

....however,ifyouhappentonoticemorethanfourofthoseandyouhappentobethedrivertoandfromtheconvention...well...just remember that statistically speaking, "a person is more probable to change their residency at least once in their life." Hehehe

It isn't so much the begging someone to go out of their way to pick you up or drop you off that is the problem. The thinking that you can get them to do that for nothing, because it's no extra expense for them, is. Remember that 100 miles is about 4 gallons of gas, or $15. Plus another two hours of time the driver could have been doing something else.

I have no problem with someone using a bed until 1AM *IF* they ask if they can first, and tell them to wake them when they are ready to sleep, *AND* taking a shower *BEFORE* lying on the bed. It gets rather disgusting to come in, ready to sleep to find someone who only asked for free flop space sleeping on the bed, then when you rouse them, ask for five more minutes, then when you finally get them to move and get in bed yourself, find that the bed now smells of body odor and urine.

There's nothing wrong with being frustrated that your favorite panel is scheduled for what you hoped would be your dinner or lunch time, but to insist that the con suite make special arrangements for you, when you give them nothing in return is a problem.

As long as you are paying for everything, you won't here a peep out of me. You start complaining about how you don't have money for necessities, but somehow always have money for artwork... That's a problem.