“I went to a SciFi convention where they brought in vendors from all over the US. Star Trek, Star Wars, and D&D stuff. I love Star Wars and Star Trek, but the people at this convention were creepy, even to a nerd like me.”
Just looking for intel on Dragon.con - never been. I want to go just to people watch.
Dragon con is about 6 conventions that all happen in the same place at the same time. It’s HUGE, no bigger than that. Which ever sub group you’re in, gaming, SF, fantasy, horror, movies or books, there’s plenty for you to do. Of course the real freak community subsection of fen (like say the furies) also tend to be very well “represented”. Before the recent rise of San Diego ComicCon Dragon was the big fish in the ocean, it’s lost a bit of luster but it’s still freaking huge. I’d probably train the kids up with some smaller local action, nobody that hasn’t spent time in the fen community is emotionally prepared for 40,000 freaks spread over 5 hotels, not the 13 year old and probably not even you.
I’m sure the Atlanta convention is fine. I’m just relating what I saw in Texas 30 years ago, and the comments from Canadian police on pedophile trekkies. That matched up with what I saw from a limited perspective.
I would be less worried about teenage girls being involved than teenage boys who never date and live in a fantasy world.