Turning a disrespectful comment into a teachable moment for everyone
ByMark Wesley PritchardPublished 35 minutes ago•4 min read
The tale of two Spidey Clauses
I’ve been retired from the cosplay scene for over two years, meaning that I haven’t been in cosplay or attended a convention since. I don’t usually respond to hate comments online, but one really got to me. Recently while scrolling on YouTube, I ran into one of my videos that was a throwback cosplay duet I’ve done on TikTok and someone in the comments section said that it and I were cringe. I didn’t respond to that rude remark, but I thought I’d use this story to teach everyone about treating others with respect and also respecting cosplayers of what they do. What aspect of me or in that video makes it cringey? It’s one thing if they didn’t like my video, but making a comment about something I’ve spent 10 years doing in a disrespectful way is what led me to write this story. Cosplayers are one of the most amazing people I’ve known. Whether I’ve met them online or at a con, they’re very creative individuals. The ones who mock cosplayers who are adults just because they love what they do are people who have never done cosplay or stepped foot inside a convention. Also, who says that cosplay has an age limit? You never see this kind of mockery online towards cosplayers under the age of 18. I’ll share a couple of pictures of my cosplays: my first one and last one as a cosplayer.
I was 26 years old when I first started doing cosplay and attended my first con back in August 2014. At the time, I hardly had any friends and had lived in the area for over a year and a half. Plus, on the aforementioned day, it was very hot. My first con almost didn’t happen, because one of my then colleagues was one of the people in charge of the convention and requested to the rest of the staff to reserve a badge for me once I arrived. On the day I arrived at the con and went to the table to pick up my badge, a staff member didn’t find my name on the list. I broke down in tears because I was embarrassed. Thankfully, a few moments later, my colleague came over and told them that it was okay for me to have a badge. I received an apology for the misunderstanding. So, I obtained my badge and looked around the convention. By the end of the third day, which was Sunday, I made a few friends in person and online. Why did I choose the 11th Doctor? Two weeks before the event, I was searching for any costume that was around my price range. So, I ran into this costume. The jacket being a bit itchy was the minor complaint I had about it.
The final image I’m sharing is my final cosplay. I went as Baseball Hall of Famer and five-time World Series champion Reggie Jackson for my final con appearance back in late October 2024, just days before Halloween. The 1977 World Series trophy was made from a 3-D printer by my longtime cosplay craftsman of seven years. On the morning of the con, I waited outside of the hotel for him to hand it to me and it turned out well. He now lives in Missouri and married with a child, but I’ll miss his creativity and he’s been a godsend to me. I entered the Four Points Hotel, where the convention was held, with both happiness and sadness, being it would be the final time I stepped foot inside of a venue as a cosplayer. During my time there, I was interviewed by a local news station about what being a cosplayer meant to me and attending my last convention. To end that eventful day, I participated in my final cosplay contest. While I didn’t win any awards, I won the hearts of the attendees and everyone else at the event. After that, I left the event and headed home, closing the chapter to a 10-year cosplay journey that has been filled with wonderful memories I’ll remember forever. I wrote a heartfelt letter on Instagram, expressing gratitude of 10 years doing cosplay. On Halloween, I went as Reggie again at work and was named one of the winners in the company-wide contest.
Fast forward to now, I’m enjoying my post-cosplay life. I’ve started traveling at earlier this year, mainly back home to Texas three separate times. I’ll always be thankful and grateful of my cosplays and the journey I was on for a decade. Meeting people, making new friends, and immersing myself into the cosplay scene. I enjoyed every minute of it and had no regrets. I plan of doing more traveling to different places and events in 2027 and discovering new things in the process.
The moral of this story is this: actually try to get to know someone before you decide whether or not you like them. To the person who left that disrespectful comment in my video: I hope you learn how to be kind to others and not judge them based on their interests. I’ve been a victim of racist and homophobic attacks online as a cosplayer, but I encourage everyone to admire, not mock other people’s interests. At the end of the day, cosplayers are human beings with feelings underneath those costumes. Thinking before speaking is the wisest choice. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.”Thank you for attending my TedTalk.
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About the Creator
Mark Wesley Pritchard
You can call me Wesley. Former cosplayer, retro gaming fanatic, die-hard Texas Rangers fan, and nostalgic freak. Lover of all people. Need I say more?
Instagram: @misterwesleysworld
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