A Little Respect

I am MDA. I am a cosplayer. An artist, graphic designer. I am a photographer & videographer. I am an event organizer & entrepreneur. But most of all, I am a human being.

I'm a person with feelings, thoughts, opinions. I have anxiety issues both social and personal. I have my comfort levels.

Key words in those two paragraphs: Comfort levels, opinions, anxiety, human being.

Since the announcement last September of me cosplaying Kneesocks for Otakuthon next month, I have received more then 80 messages/comments about what is expected of me. What is requested of me. Well, I am going to flat out say it now so that maybe people will STFU.

YOUR REQUESTS/EXPECTATIONS/SUGGESTIONS/DEMANDS ARE NOT WITHIN MY COMFORT ZONES!!!!

Please, the things that have been asked of me are not within my comfort. And people seem to only get mad that I won't do them because of that. I'm sorry, but you are not being respectful of me by pushing for me to do what I'm not ok to do.

In addition to these, I'm not ok with sexual comments either. Please, you are not going to change my view of them. I do not like them. I find them disgusting and unnerving. I have received messages that have plain unnerved me.

Yes, I get that sexy cosplay is very popular. Yes, I have expected it. But this does not mean that I have to put up with people being rude and/or disrespectful.

I am tired of being treated like a sexual object. Or being seen as someone who exists for your entertainment. If you want to ogle at sexual images, go to Rule 34 or some porn site. Because you are not going to get it from me.

Yes I said that I will do fanservice, but TASTEFUL! GET IT?

If you're only on my page for skimpy cosplays that show off my butt, legs, stomach or chest, then you are going to miss out on a lot. Most of my cosplays are very covering. It is the ones that cover me that get the most dedication.

By saying that you want me to do sexual things in cosplay, you are not being respectful to my decisions to do what I'm ok with. By being upset that I'm not ok with sexual comments, you are not being respectful of the fact that I am put off by them.

The more people push for me to do such things, the more it sets me off them, and withdraw back to my comfort of the cosplays that cover everything. You know what my favourite cosplays are?

Izayoi (Inuyasha) - only skin shown is hands and face
Roxas (Kingdom Hearts) - only neck and face shown
Anti-Riku (Kingdom Hearts) - no skin shown whatsoever, not even face
Neuro (Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro) - only face is seen

I do the sexy ones if I like the character enough. I do them to help break out of my shell a little bit. But with everyone's disrespect of my choices, and views, and opinions, it makes me want to quit them all together.

So please, be respectful of my choices not to do what I'm not ok with. Be respectful of my choice to not have sexual comments directed at me. Please. A little respect goes a long way.