I need some big help.

Dracomaster01

Ok, so i live in Mt.Vernon,WA. I want to go to the PAX so bad. But, i'm only 16 so i can't drive there (i don't have my license yet) and my mom has to work. she did say that i might be able to go for one day, but if i can only go one day is there really a point of going at all since it most likely be Friday. So what can i say to get her to let me go.
I was planning on going with the people from NooBTooB, but my mom won't let me stay for the whole time and only for one day. So if any NooBTooB people who read this that live near me, could they give me a ride or something.
So i just need to know, if going one day for part of the PAX, like only 3 or 5 hours, is really worth going at all.
Thanks for any help.

Liger

Any time at PAX is worth it. It'll also encourage you to get your license before next year.

MaoChan

Yea I mean considering me and two friends are flying all the way from Texas and people are coming as far as the UK, anytime there is worth it. I say get a ride, come for what you can. Meanwhile try and be good at home and keep talking to your mom and maybe she will let you stay longer.

Oz K. Fodrotski

Any time you can come will probably rock. If you have any friends in the Seattle area, or just acquaintances from here, they might be able to put you up; this isn't 1999, the era of the INTERNET SCARYSTALKER is basically over.

So, keep up the lobby!

Moe Fwacky

wtf is NoobToob?

The_Reflection

run away from home for the full run of PAX, leave her a note saying your soul need to be free or some other angsty teenage bullshit,, then afterwards come back and say you were wrong to run away and that you love her, and cry alot.

Remember Its alot easier to ask for forgivness than it is for permission

that, and all moms are push overs for tears

MaoChan

Oz K. Fodrotski wrote: »

this isn't 1999, the era of the INTERNET SCARYSTALKER is basically over.

"And thanks to some internet advice, Dracomaster01 was never seen again. I am John Walsh and this was America's Most Wanted. "

::Cue Theme Music::

Oz K. Fodrotski

MaoChan wrote: »

Oz K. Fodrotski wrote: »

this isn't 1999, the era of the INTERNET SCARYSTALKER is basically over.

"And thanks to some internet advice, Dracomaster01 was never seen again. I am John Walsh and this was America's Most Wanted. "

::Cue Theme Music::

The_Reflection wrote: »

run away from home for the full run of PAX, leave her a note saying your soul need to be free or some other angsty teenage bullshit,, then afterwards come back and say you were wrong to run away and that you love her, and cry alot.

Remember Its alot easier to ask for forgivness than it is for permission

that, and all moms are push overs for tears

Oh come on.

I BETTER NOT HEAR ANY OF YOU PLOTTING TO RAPE THIS KID!

MaoChan

Time to call Chris Hansen and get his "To Catch a Predator" group ready

ASimPerson

I haven't seen a single shred of good advice in this thread yet.

Get a part-time job with the goal of saving up for PAX. This will probably not enable you to go this year, but it will still be there next year. Make some friends and split the involved costs (namely, accommodation), as well. You could even be there for all 3 days, then.

Considering the costs of airfare and such, I can't see how being there for 3-5 hours one day would be worth it.

Moe Fwacky

I don't think he plans on flying 60 miles

MaoChan

ASimPerson wrote: »

I haven't seen a single shred of good advice in this thread yet.

Yea you might want to do a little research before you say that. Draco lives 61 miles (google maps) away from Seattle so no plane needs to be involved. He can easily catch a ride down and back for the day.

You just need to find a driver, chill out for the day and then go home. Don't buy a ticket in advance incase the Parental Unit says no. Otherwise if you can swing multiple days then good otherwise just do the 1 day for this year and plan for next year now.

MR.T

I'd say wait a few weeks until the full schedule is up and come for the best few hours you can get!

nearlysober

If your parents aren't cool with you hitchin a ride with strangers there's the SoundTransit bus from Everett... if your mom could drop you off & pick you up there before & after work

Sound Transit bus 510 runs about every 30 minutes on the weekend (few extra runs on weekdays) and takes about an hour to get betwen Everett (Hewitt & Virginia) and Seattle (5th & Pike).

http://www.soundtransit.org/x7853.xml

ASimPerson

Yeah yeah, I thought I read "VA" and so assumed the due was in Virginia. Whoops. (I also thought this was in H/A for some reason.)

Just ignore the stuff about flying and get your license, then. :P

TwiztidK

I convinced my mom to go with me when I told her I'd pay for the trip.

Transparent

Moe Fwacky wrote: »

wtf is NoobToob?

It's a gaming blog. They're cool guys, I played Kickle's Cubicle with them for hours last year in the classic console room.

Dreamwriter

Yeah, look into bus schedules, I'm sure you could find a way, and it'd be fairly cheap.

collinc

As someone who has an over bearing mother, last year I traveled to PAX and "neglected" to mention it to my mother. Granted I was 19 at the time, but not the point. I traveled from south Florida, and it was a hell of a trip. If there is any way for you to do it, even if it doesn't seem reasonable DO IT!

LewieP's Mummy

Well, I'm not an overbearing mum (I think), but here's what I'd need to know before I felt OK about my 16 year old (when he was 16) going to PAX:

1. How far away is it?
2. What happens there?
3. What sort of people will be there?
4. Why is it important to you?
5. How will you get there/come back?
6. How much will it cost?
7. How will I know you're going to be safe there?
8. Will you able able to get food/ drinks there?

Yes, I know you're probably very responsible and sensible, but we need to know our sprogs are safe. Tell her there's at least 2 mummies going to be there (me and 1 other that I know about).

Don't just come to PAX, that's not good advice. Talk to your mum about it all, calmly and rationally. Show her you've really thought it through, and have answers to at least all the questions I've listed, and probably more. Listen to her objections, and if you can't think of an answer straight away, ask her can you check up on it, and talk again, later on. She will probably appreciate you've given it some thought, and will be much more likely to listen if you're calm and listen to her. Its scary letting your kids go places, and hard to know when to let go. Rational discussions work so much better than whining or tears.
Hope to see you there!

delphinus

LewieP's mum, You're like the best mom evar!


(Mom, I still love you though.)

Lyanth

To add to LPM's awesome and detailed list of questions...

9. If I (your mom) need to get in contact with you, how do I do so?
10. What will you have to take with you?
11. What will you be bringing back?

The obvious answer for 9 is a cell phone, but PAX can be loud and busy, so maybe suggest that you'll call her x number of times thoughout the day. offer to call her when you arrive at PAX and when you leave, at the very least. that way if you end up participating in a tounament or some such, you won't get interrupted and she won't get quite so mad about you ignoring her call.

As for the last two i suggested, i added them simply because PAX is also about stuff. you could offer to take your own food (moms love the word "snacks"), and tell her that you plan in advance if you might be purchasing some shirts or some such. Also, as a way to apease her for later conventions, take a camera and snap pictures of the going-ons around you. that way, even though she didn't go, she was able to see where you were and the people you were around. And a good picture of you smiling and enjoying yourself will deffinently warm her heart to the idea. Who knows, she may find something interesting in one of the photos, and demand to come along next year.

best of luck and hope this helps ^^b

P.S. most of this is tried and true. i also went to my frist con when i was 16, and years later my mom still asks for pictures of the most recent con i've been to.

LewieP's Mummy

Oh wow, call myself a mummy! Top suggestions, Lyanth, how did I miss off phone home! I'm planning on buying 2 cheap phones when I arrive, just so I can keep track of Lewie, cos I'm bound to lose him several times a day!

Talison

I am part of a Bothell, WA family going to PAX, and we may be driving down to Bellingham to pick up some family friends. I don't see how it would be a logistical problem to pick you up, as we drive through Mt. Vernon on our way (and we could even offer you a couch overnight), but you will still have to convince your mother that she should trust you to a family of strangers. I don't know that my mother would have allowed that when I was 16!

KaitouAyashi

Talison wrote: »

I am part of a Bothell, WA family going to PAX, and we may be driving down to Bellingham to pick up some family friends. I don't see how it would be a logistical problem to pick you up, as we drive through Mt. Vernon on our way (and we could even offer you a couch overnight), but you will still have to convince your mother that she should trust you to a family of strangers. I don't know that my mother would have allowed that when I was 16!

Isn't Bothell south of Bellingham? I admit I'm not great with WA geography, despite living here around 10 years now.

Great advice about showing your mom you can be trusted to come to PAX alone. Anything you can do (raise money, research, present ideas calmly) to convince her will be welcome. Do you have the PAX07 dvds? That might help show her how awesome it is.

Talison

Yes, I am south of you both, KaitouAyashi. I misspoke, sorry. in my defense I had just started my first cup of coffee for the day :P

Lyanth

LewiePs Mummy wrote: »

Oh wow, call myself a mummy! Top suggestions, Lyanth, how did I miss off phone home! I'm planning on buying 2 cheap phones when I arrive, just so I can keep track of Lewie, cos I'm bound to lose him several times a day!

psh, LPM, you are a great mummy. thanks though ^^b

also, may i reccomend walkie talkies? no air-time fees, and should work back in the homeland, too ~.^

this set and these ones too seem good for your communicating enjoyment.

LewieP's Mummy

Lyanth wrote: »

also, may i reccomend walkie talkies? no air-time fees, and should work back in the homeland, too ~.^
this set and these ones too seem good for your communicating enjoyment.

I love the pink ones, but can't see Lewie carrying them! We come over to the States every few years, which is why I thought about phones, I'll talk to Lewie more, thanks, Lyanth!