As Kyo said; you're kinda stealing our world meeting thing. You can't just steal that from us.
Also, I agree. 2011 was better than 2012 in a few ways. But 2012 was still fine. The one on Day 1 was horrible but it was horrible because nobody would actually listen and everyone was not following the rules (you have /no/ idea how disrespectful that was). I was actually really worried about it just being Kyo and I this year because I actually am a very shy and nervous person, but to be honest it went well for just us two this year. The one on Day 2 was actually pretty good. I was very happy with the results on that one, especially after the night before.
Now, to go on about the forums thing. EVERYONE THAT GOES TO THE WORLD MEETING IS ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE. The people who signed up on the forums sign up as 'nations' and are assured a spot in the panel and are recognized first as that 'nation'. So say an America signed up (and actually showed up), they would be the first one recognized as America. But that doesn't mean any other America cosplayer in the audience isn't any less America than the one that signed up. You understand how 'Ask a Nation' panels work yes? The people sign up to be the nation for the panel, and it's a similar process for the world meeting except they sit in the front row. Also, we don't care about duplicates because WE WANT EVERYONE INVOLVED. The people who sign up are just recognized as their nation first! But EVERYONE is suppose to participate and get involved! That does not though in any way mean they should speak without raising their hand. THAT'S A RULE THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO RAISE YOUR HAND TO SPEAK.
Once more, ANY HETALIA COSPLAYER IN COSPLAY AS A NATION CAN GET INTO THE PANEL AND BE INVOLVED. The only reason they wouldn't get in is if we ran out of seating space, which we did on Day 1 (which was a poor example of the world meetings) but on Day 2 we still had lots of space in the room.
You do /not/ have to sign up on the forums to attend the panel. You sign up on the forums to be the 'recognized nation' for whoever you're cosplaying. But that does not mean that if an America signs up and you come (not signed up as a nation) as America that you won't be recognized as America, because you /will/. Any America cosplayer that comes is America, the one that signed up is just recognized first.
If you're just sitting in the panel not saying anything or getting involved, that is your own fricken fault. I even at one point during the Day 2 world meeting asked why I kept seeing the same hands and called everyone else un-awesome in character. Because nobody was really participating, I kept seeing the same people talk each time. That's no fun, we wanted everyone to get involved and participate (while of course still following the rules).
Furthermore, you have /no/ idea how hard it is to actually run these things. Kyo and I have to put ourselves out there for the panels to try and make people have fun. It's not an easy job whatsoever. Also, if you noticed, we drank a /lot/ of water because it's so easy for us to loose our voice. My voice is still gone from the con and world meetings and I've been doing everything to get it back and it still hurts to talk. We also (Kyo mostly, bless her) spend MONTHS working on the paperwork for the World Meeting and topics and fun things to do to try and make things different each year. Also, DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO CONTROL FANS WHO DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO THE RULES AND DO THEIR OWN THING? I was /disgusted/ by the way some hetalia fans/cosplayers acted this year at the con alone. Most people were very respectful and wonderful people, but the few that made things horrid stuck out more. Do you understand how stressed we get about the world meeting(s) each year? It took us (Kyo in particular) so long to finally find the courage to feel comfortable to run the world meetings. SO PLEASE DON'T GO THINKING THIS IS SUCH AN EASY THING TO RUN AND HANDLE.
But also, don't think that we don't want to do these. We wouldn't go through all that we do if we didn't like doing these. We love running the World Meeting(s), and we love it when everyone has a good time, and gets involved, is respectful, and things go wonderfully. Also, these last few times I've had to go through the lines and find the nations that signed up myself and do you understand how unpleasant that feels? Especially when we get a small room and a huge line (such as the world meeting at Sakuracon this year where I felt horrible about how many people couldn't get in.)
So all in all, everyone is allowed to participate. We want everyone to be involved. You sign up to be recognized as the nation fist but all nations are recognized and you don't have to sign up to get into the world meeting but those who sign up as a nation are assured to get in the world meeting if they actually show up. The audience as well as everyone needs to listen to the rules and be respectful. World Meetings are hard to run but we enjoy them and are mostly the reason we still go to conventions. Lastly, please do not steal our thing after one small hiccup.
Please understand I'm not trying to be rude. I'm simply stating that you seem to misunderstand the world meetings and I just want to explain what we do.
We don't mind feedback on our panel or if people suggest things for improvement but you aren't understanding the panel it seems, and Kyo has been doing the panel with others and I have helped for two years now at three conventions and we continuously strive to improve the world meetings.
