To GLOMP or not to GLOMP?
In the cosplay and online realm of anime culture, “glomping” is more or less an unexpected, sometimes irritating,”Bear Hug”. It often comes unanticipated, from behind your back, and you can find yourself lifted from the ground with the intensity of the embrace. While some welcome this physical pouncing, others find it not only invasive but rude.
So, to glomp or not to glomp?
Having gone to numerous conventions since 2003, the term glomp has become part of my cosplay vocabulary. My few experiences with glomping have been…well…interesting.
Long story short, it was Anime Expo 2004 and I was walking through the lobby of the neighboring Hilton hotel in my Christmas Narusegawa costume. I was on my way out the sliding glass doors when I suddenly heard the rapid clip-clop of high heels speeding my way. Before I could turn around to survey the crowded area, a girl wearing a torn black tank top and dirty jeans lunged at my back and held on for dear life.
I started to cough at the sheer grip she had on my chest and soon after my meek “SQUEEK!” she loosened her kung-fu hold. Her odor was…interesting…her unwashed hair was…interesting…and her reason for glomping me was…interesting. She began lamenting her love to me and how badly I was wanted in her hotel room. Her friend soon caught up with her and excitedly joined in on the conversation. All I could do was laugh and follow along with what I thought was a joke.
As I thanked her for her compliments on my costume and did my best to head out the door, she began tugging my arm to lead me to her “quarters”. She began to pet my hair and relentlessly asked to hold my stuffed turtle “Tama Chan”. After a lengthy and silly exchange, I finally escaped with no bruises, internal bleeding, or hurt feelings.
It’s always my wish that the people I interact with at conventions walk away with a smile. I don’t want to hurt anyone or cause drama where it certainly doesn’t belong. That why I’m a fan of the “may-I-have-a-hug” convention goer, which seems to have become the popular trend at most conventions I attend. I appreciate that respect for space and often times I will return the hug with enthusiasm. It’s nice to know people want to hug you for your costume! What other artistically inclined culture shows gratitude like that?!
Not only can glomping create an uncomfortable situation among perfect strangers, it can
sometimes lead to broken props or costumes. There have been countless stories of glompers pouncing with such force that it crushes hand made armor, tears at a wig, cracks fragile staffs, or mashes mounted wings.
So in short, though glomping may start with positive intentions, I feel that it ultimately
generates negative results.
But who am I to say? What do you think?
January 10th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I have yet to be glomped. I think I may be because my characters tend to be a little on the scandalous side and attract men. Usually, they grab my ass while taking a photo…which they seem to think is funny…LOL
January 10th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I’ve been going to conventions since 2003 and have near heard of glomping. But then, mostly only been to gaming conventions like Origins and GenCon. I do cosplay for those, but it’s usually as The Punisher, which really doesn’t lend it’s self to being the type of character you would glomp.
After reading this though, I wondering if perhaps a social etiquette and hygiene seminar should be on the event list at conventions. It would never cross my mind, that running up behind someone and giving them a hug is socially acceptable.
Is there any other sorta odd behavior that is “acceptable” by some, at conventions, since I’m obviously out of the loop on this topic.
January 10th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Other odd behavior that is “acceptable” would include:
Wearing a sign around your neck reading “Will Glomp for Pocky”.
Wearing a sign around your neck reading “Penis”.
Speaking to cosplayers as though they were the real character and not a person wearing a costume.
Not eating for the entire convention.
January 10th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
LOL…the “Speaking to cosplayers as though they were the real character and not a person wearing a costume” bit reminds me of something. I am a HUGE Anita Blake fan (a great vampire novel series) and I got to meet the author a while back. One of the people waiting in line kept calling her Anita instead of by her real name. I think that happens alot…haha
January 10th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
“Speaking to cosplayers as though they were the real character and not a person wearing a costume.”
I do video production work in Pro Wrestling, and it’s actually consider bad etiquette to call someone by their real name instead of their wrestling name, unless they tell you otherwise. But then again it’s it’s own bizarre little world, that bares little resemblance to real life, thank god. LOL
As for not eating for an entire convention, I don’t do that. But, I do go into a hibernation made as I call it, where over the course of 4 days I eat less than normal, because for some reason, I never get that hungry at conventions.
And while I wouldn’t myself, I have some friends that I suspect would have zero problems wearing a sign that says “Penis”, and they aren’t even convention go’ers. Oye, wrestlers are weird.
January 10th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I didn’t know glomping happened in reality. The only place I had heard the term before this was on an msn icon where one smiley jumped on the other one from behind (wow that sounds inappropriate) with a huge bear hug.
Which makes sense to your description… I think that would be traumatizing!
January 10th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I’ve been glomped a few times and just grinned and beared it. Although the one time I was really uncomfortable was when I was dressed my Lum battle suit and a younger female fan glomped me. I didn’t know if I was supposed to be shocked or glad it wasn’t a greasy fanboy. ^-^;;;
But I concur… glomping is NOT an appropriate alternative to “Hello” in the con world!
January 11th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I didn’t even know there was such a thing as “glomping”. I’d be completely weirded out if someone pulled this stunt on me and it would be immediately followed by awkward silence.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
A hug should def be asked for! That way it gives you time to hold your breathe!
I also think the same should go for pictures. Why is it that when there is a camera pointed at people it makes it ok to put your arm around them?!?
I def think its rude and would much rather be asked then someone just to throw themselves on me!
January 13th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Okay, I have to admit that I am guilty of glomping … but interestingly enough, never during cosplay. My anime friends and I have just been into glomping. We could be walking though campus (back when we were in college) and if I would see my friend, I would run up and glomp her. But I would never glomp a stranger or someone in costume. I know from experience that glomping a cosplayer could be bad. It is why I stopped. Someone once glomped me and broke my Squall pendant. It was on accident, but it was not the first time that it happened, and for me it was the last straw. So while I still glomp my friends, it is only my friends, and not while in costume. Now at conventions, I take the “may I have a hug” approach. I hope that when I start to cosplay again (been having that want ever since my daughter was born just because I want to doll her up a bit) people would not just glomp me randomly and ask.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:48 am
I’ve been going to conventions for years and have noticed certain trends to certain types of people. Glomping is no exception.
Usually I go to these cons either purely because a friend asked me, going to see the interesting and good costumes people come up with that year, *under breath* sometimes, the 4chan room, but mostly to meet voice actors.
Watching a VA get glomped is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to see. ESPECIALLY, when they are the “I won’t take NO for an answer kind when we are in the middle of a VERY crowded Q&A” type.
To sum it all up - there is a time, and there is a place, and there is a way. Do it properly, don’t be the annoying kind.