The speaker shares their experiences and thoughts on attending various conventions, emphasizing the positive impact of these gatherings for engaging with fellow enthusiasts. They discuss encounters, panel experiences, merchandise sales, fan interactions, and their transition from being a fan to a convention guest. The speaker also highlights a cautionary tale about personal space and shares news about their merchandise and upcoming projects.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Conventions are places for human interaction among people with similar interests.
2. There are conventions for various interests, including coin collecting and fandoms like Comic Con and VidCon.
3. The author's first convention experience was at Phoenix Comic Con when they were 16, which changed their life.
4. The author felt pressured not to embrace geek culture before attending Comic Con.
5. Conventions often feature unlicensed merchandise for sale.
6. Phoenix Comic Con had to change its name to Phoenix Fan Fusion due to copyright issues.
7. The author was invited as a guest at Phoenix Fan Fusion and had an encounter with Jeff Goldblum.
8. The author also attended VidCon and met YouTubers but became desensitized to such encounters.
9. The author has received fan mail from a prison.
10. The author once attended a furry convention, Midwest FurFest, and had an uncomfortable encounter.
11. The author emphasizes the importance of respecting personal space at conventions.
12. The author recommends attending conventions and expresses longing for them.
13. The author promotes their merchandise and offers a special deal on t-shirts.
14. The author mentions plans to create another card game and offers a free collector's card.
15. The author concludes with a reminder to wear seat belts.
Please note that these facts are presented in the order they appeared in the text.