Between World of Warcraft sessions, trashing Michael Bay films in discussion forums and arguing the finer points of whether Picard or Kirk was a better captain, geeks have other pursuits too…like drinking.
Occasionally they engage in a large-scale migration to a refuge, a place of safety where they can express themselves freely – these are called conventions.
One such convention is Con Nooga, which took place this weekend at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
At it, I had the pleasure there of watching a person of indeterminate age and gender walk around the bar, dressed as a large, white dog – a ‘furry,’ as they are called.
As other attendees gathered around to ‘pet’ the ‘dog,’ he began to tap his foot in time with the Johnny Cash impersonator who was belting out a stirring rendition of “Walk the Line.”
That’s when I realized I was in a special place, at a special time, with very special people. I suddenly had the urge to observe them, like the late, great Steve Erwin.
After spending the evening taking notes, some on paper and some mental, it struck me that alcohol is the great equalizer.
Whether a person is dressed as a Viking, a stormtrooper or a goat, everyone can agree that being drunk is fun.
By the fourth drink, the walls have come down. Attendees began to look past the costumes and see each other. In fact, a strange social phenomena occured where it was the people without costumes who began to appear out of place.
It was the guy wearing street clothes, sipping his drink in the corner at whom I couldn’t help but stare, rather than the passed-out Princess Leia on the couch.
Makeshift bars with dollar-stuffed donation buckets populated some of the luxury hotel suites, and comic book characters roamed from room to room, hugging old friends and meeting new ones.
The atmosphere was like that of a wedding reception without the parents present.
The crowd all knew what they were doing there, and they all had the same goal: fun.
Drinking contests: check.
Witty repartee: check.
Normal people: check.
Weird people: check.
Sexy ladies: check
Late night shenanigans: check.
It was like a college party, except more so – that is, if you could ignore the furries.
But there weren’t that many furries and they’re not too harmful, if you don’t think too hard about what they do behind closed doors.
Overall, I rate the Con Nooga drinking experience an 89.3.
I felt like the experience mainly catered to single people, and some of the activities required a bit too much pretending to enjoy properly.
But in the end, I enjoyed every moment, and it was clear that every attendee was having the time of their life, except the ones who were sweating through their thick woolly costumes.
Give it a try next year, if you’re in the mood for something just a tiny bit different.
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