You Fear What You Don’t Understand

(I’m working at a booth at a nerdy convention when a man wanders in:)

Guest: “Where am I?

Me: “Our booth number is AA11.”

Guest: “No, I mean… what’s all this?”

(He waves generally around the room.)

Me: “Oh, this is the vendor’s hall. Are you looking for something specific?”

Guest: “No… WHAT’S GOING ON? WHAT IS ALL THIS STUFF?!”

Me: “Um, it’s [Convention].”

Guest: “WHAT?!”

(I notice he isn’t wearing a pass.)

Me: “How did you get into the event?”

Guest: “What event? What’s happening?”

Me: “Um, I think you should talk to security; they usually don’t like people getting in without a pass.”

Guest: “WHAT EVENT?! WHY IS THAT PERSON DRESSED LIKE THAT?”

Me: “That’s a cosplayer.”

Guest: “NO!”

(And with that, he left, panicked and confused.)