How to avoid being ripped off by dodgy traders at the Expo

[Aion]

I am quite shocked by the calm, measured profundity of this statement. You're a hard man to pin down Aion I must say =P

There's a thin line between idiocy and genius. I fall on the side of idiocy.

I've always found it interesting watching how people act, on the internet. The internet is a text-based arena for the mind and all the flaws readily apparent in the real, non-text world are even clearer as a consequence. If you lurk around forums for long enough the roles each individual play in 'communities' becomes easy to see.

The 'insult the odd one out' thing is the opposite of the bystander effect. Where as in the case of the latter no-one is willing to do anything because they push the responsibility to act on others, in the case of the former people in the surrounding area start to see it as fine to go with the majority; putting aside normal views like right and wrong to blend in.

Another example of real world psychology playing out the same way on the net is Maes. Hoping I'll stop childishly insulting him in order to get a reaction, he's making it obvious he's ignoring me. But what he doesn't realize is that ignoring a bully never solves anything. Yet, because he doesn't know how to handle the problem, he runs away. The exact same pattern plays out at school and the like on a regular basis.

...Why don't ya'll let this thread die, btw? I feel sorry for our mutual friend.

 

[Reaper gI]

I missed this huge flamewar, why did I not notice earlier.

A Copyrighted product may not be copied in whole or in part without the owner of the rights express permission.

Still doesn't mean it's licensed, even if permission is granted.
Japanese copyright law gets a bit funny in this respect as the orignal creator has some powers the master rights holder (their publisher) does not. They're able to block their publisher from selling their work, for instance. Can also make doujin of their own work, without licence.
Also there's a large body of works which alow doujin works, on conditions like being sold at cons and specialist shops only. Touhou project, 07th expansion games, type-moon games and Key/Visual Arts games would be the main examples. Unlicensed goods for these have express permission granted, given restrictions like; only selling them as unlicensed, attributing the orignal work, no riping music (but covers/ aranges are okay), no ripping or tracing original game art (but original art using characters and settings is okay) etc.

@ TokyoToys comments, didn't realise they were infamous for it, but do sell some bootlegs. Figures tend to all be offical licensed so I never had problems tho'. Things like keyrings etc. seem to be the problem. Not hard to check, most of the products of issue don't have the required labels and copyright atributations they should. For figures and any chara goods it lists check http://myfigurecollection.net/ for packaging shots, if any bootlegs exist, or what the diferences between licensed and bootleg are.

 

[Tachi]

I am quite shocked by the calm, measured profundity of this statement. You're a hard man to pin down Aion I must say =P

There's a thin line between idiocy and genius. I fall on the side of idiocy.

I'm not so sure, you jump between the two from time to time, showing responsibility and maturity....then a moment later you'll essentially prod members for a responce.

I've always found it interesting watching how people act, on the internet. The internet is a text-based arena for the mind and all the flaws readily apparent in the real, non-text world are even clearer as a consequence. If you lurk around forums for long enough the roles each individual play in 'communities' becomes easy to see.

The 'insult the odd one out' thing is the opposite of the bystander effect. Where as in the case of the latter no-one is willing to do anything because they push the responsibility to act on others, in the case of the former people in the surrounding area start to see it as fine to go with the majority; putting aside normal views like right and wrong to blend in.

I'll agree to that.

Another example of real world psychology playing out the same way on the net is Maes. Hoping I'll stop childishly insulting him in order to get a reaction, he's making it obvious he's ignoring me. But what he doesn't realize is that ignoring a bully never solves anything. Yet, because he doesn't know how to handle the problem, he runs away. The exact same pattern plays out at school and the like on a regular basis.

Well, unless he runs away for good, or stands upto you, or recruits a bigger bully to his cause, or merely tells the "teacher" Example: Rui.

I missed this huge flamewar, why did I not notice earlier.

Missed your chance, get out

 

[Rui]

or recruits a bigger bully to his cause, or merely tells the "teacher" Example: Rui.

Hmm I prefer to come off more as a bigger bully than a teacher, I think

I'm impossible to recruit though. Too stubborn and fixated on doing what I think is right.

R

 

[Tachi]

no no, even a bigger bully than you. Your too quiet, similar to the farce that is god, you’re a weilder of power, but you never really enforce it