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Conventional wisdom on convention travel11301

Leftover Sundae Gnus CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user
In a manner of speaking the risks associated with a corona virus pandemic is an atypical topic for comic collectors, but it is certainly on the minds of many fans given the recent exponential spread to most of the world and recent market upheaval. What I’m seeking is a collecting community consensus about how this may impact the acquisition of comics.

Convention travel usually requires months of planning for lodging, obtaining badges, etc., especially for the bigger shows like SDCC or NYCC. Besides the expense & preparation involved, cons are crowded, enclosed environments, international in scope, impossible to contain from a health pathogen exposure standpoint. While normally a fan’s biggest concern is coming back home with a case of “con-grunge” that usually amounts to a bad cold, this looks far worse.

I’m not being “Chicken Little” here, suggesting that the sky is falling for these events. But as concerns over a likely pandemic are ramping up, the rhetorical question for collectors ...especially older collectors... is whether to consider taking a hiatus from big show events until the risks decline or a vaccine is developed to inoculate those at greatest risk?

I can’t see this impacting other kinds of comic sales through online vendors, auctions or LCS, but it might impact event signings where crowds gather for signature authentication. It will be interesting to see if these views are shared by others, if anyone. I’ve already reconsidered travel for the remainder of this year and will greatly miss SDCC and other shows, but it just means the money saved in travel will likely go to comics or other collectibles.

Thoughts?
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Collector BrianGreensnips private msg quote post Address this user
I don't know about you but I have become a hand sanitizer junkie. I must use it at least 12 times a day. I still plan on attending big shows and big events like concerts and sporting events but I will not leave home without my hand sanitizers. Yes plural. Since doing this for over a year, I have not gotten sick. I plan to keep it that way.
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Collector Yoosh5492 private msg quote post Address this user
I won't be getting on a plane, but I'll take my chance with local cons.

By the way, masks and hand sanitizers are all sold out in my neighborhood. And have you seen the price of masks?? $100 for a pack of 8 on Amazon.
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Leftover Sundae Gnus CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianGreensnips
I don't know about you but I have become a hand sanitizer junkie. I must use it at least 12 times a day. I still plan on attending big shows and big events like concerts and sporting events but I will not leave home without my hand sanitizers. Yes plural. Since doing this for over a year, I have not gotten sick. I plan to keep it that way.


My wife and I both use hand sanitizers religiously and that’s an excellent recommendation for everyone these days. The biggest problem with crowds at conventions is the increased risk of direct transfer of a pathogen with every person you come in close proximity to on a frequent basis over four or five days.

Also, anyone who is immune suppressed has to be doubly cautious. We have concert tickets for late spring and will gauge the risk of attending those shows at that time. We also have guest badges for SDCC, but that’s looking very doubtful this year for the reasons mentioned above.
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I hear their hourly rate is outrageous! sportshort private msg quote post Address this user
The big one is don't touch you mouth,eyes or ears with un-sanitized hands. My doctor says it's the best protection against catching anything, including the Coronavirus.
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Collector Cool_Fool private msg quote post Address this user
Attend a con in full hazmat suits with rebreathers? Ala, Breaking Bad?

Lysol - check your yellow can, on the back of newer ones it says it kills the corona virus. All door knobs, fridge handles, keyboard & phones etc. were done at my house this weekend.

The side effects of it, no more handshakes among business associates or even hugs among family. If it gets worse before a vaccine is developed only shut-ins and North Korea will survive.
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Collector GanaSoth private msg quote post Address this user
Great pointers/tips. Another insight is, watch what you buy. Especially online. Where did it come from etc. Spray that item down with Lysol. Don't place postal packages/mail on tables etc and discard them after. Be safe.
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The apple sauce and pudding were the best part... Bronte private msg quote post Address this user
My concerns are for the folks that require conventions as a means of livelihood. The added pressure of putting food on the table vs an voluntary excursion by collectors....
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I hear their hourly rate is outrageous! sportshort private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronte
My concerns are for the folks that require conventions as a means of livelihood. The added pressure of putting food on the table vs an voluntary excursion by collectors....


Yes, that's a big one. I plan on attending a couple of local cons, Wonder Con and Comic Con Revolution-Ontario (aka Ontario Comic con) but I do plan on being extra careful with the whole sanitize what you can thing. It's is actually very difficult for me to not come in contact with people as I work for a University and I am in constant contact with students.
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Collector GanaSoth private msg quote post Address this user
@sportshort yeah. I'm in constant contact with customers (and traveling) as well as HP parts shipped from or made in Singapore, Israel, Germany, and the US... Now I gotta be more cognizant while handling these packages.
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Collector cyrano0521 private msg quote post Address this user
Reading things, Corona is a cold virus and MOST people only have simple cold symptoms if any. It’s people with underdeveloped or compromised immune systems OR deep breathers that might get super-sick. If it becomes pneumonia, that’s what kills people.
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Collector etapi65 private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cool_Fool
Attend a con in full hazmat suits with rebreathers? Ala, Breaking Bad?


Just call it cosplay. First, soap and water work; COVid 19 has a lipid layer that gets destroyed by using soap. While sanitizer should work (since it works on other viruses) you have to be very careful. They're usually alcohol based for rapid drying, BUT; for them to work the area treated must be kept wetted for "minutes". Do not be in a hurry for the sanitizer to dry or it is actually ineffective. Most people use sanitizer "wrong" if they actually want something sanitized.

Masks are useless against this virus. The best way to combat it is to wash with soap and water regularly and do your best to not touch your face...and hope the people roaming around are covering their mouths when the sneeze/cough. I literally had a woman walking past me just f'n cough in my face last summer. I called her on it; she wasn't happy.

It's most transmittable when people are experiencing the worst symptoms. It's unlikely someone would be at the con moving about too much with this kind of respiratory distress, but you never know. Airplane travel is definitely an issue, but again, masks do nothing.

The death rate in Italy and China (being used as a baseline) is around 3%, with the vast majority having underlying conditions or immuno-compromised. However, in some countries it's as high as 17% (due to overall poor health). No anti-virals work on this virus to lessen symptoms. What kills you is essentially pneumonia like respiratory distress.
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Collector Darkseid_of_town private msg quote post Address this user
IBTCL
Post 13 IP   flag post
The apple sauce and pudding were the best part... Bronte private msg quote post Address this user
IBTCL?
in before the coronavirus lock?
Post 14 IP   flag post
Please continue to ignore anything I post. southerncross private msg quote post Address this user
What lock.
No lock down.

On a plane to Hawaii atm.

Enclosed space of over hundred people.

What could go wrong ?


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Collector dpiercy private msg quote post Address this user
I read an article last week that had a headline of, “You are Probably Going to Get the Corona Virus.” How up lifting.

At least they are saying it’s only likely to cause death in elderly and infants. Also cold and flu season is likely to be cold, flu and Corona virus season for the next few years.

IBTL!
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past performance is no guarantee of future actions. KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user
I don't know...I never get sick and almost always get the flu shot because when I had close relatives in care or hospital that I visited frequently I didn't want to be the one who took out all the old people!

I think as long as you wash your hands and don't have pre-existing issues you will be fine.

Something like 10,000 people have died from the flu in 2019/20 in the USA so far - this Corona Virus is just a blip!!



On a side note....if you are an anti-vaxer... please, please spend as much time as possible in highly populated areas with lots of international travelers....natural selection could always use a helping hand!
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The apple sauce and pudding were the best part... Bronte private msg quote post Address this user
@KatKomics
ROFLMAO
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If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. xkonk private msg quote post Address this user
As long as the artists themselves still travel, sounds like more comics and sigs for me!
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Collector Darkseid_of_town private msg quote post Address this user
I am guessing there are some artists that are from travel restricted countries....Mattina and Italy? perhaps...not sure, but I assume there are going to be ramifications even there
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Collector CatCovers private msg quote post Address this user
I wouldn't be surprised by a dip in attendance, but I expect the greatest impact would be with the guests. Older creators/actors/what-have-you, particularly those in questionable health, may bow out of con appearances. After all, they have more exposure to people than anyone else at these things.
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Collector Darkseid_of_town private msg quote post Address this user
Well on the bright side, as our well informed leaders have assured us, it is entirely under control, there has been an amazing job done with containment and the risk is low. We appear to be safe as we can be !
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Collector etapi65 private msg quote post Address this user
I went to amusement park this weekend hoping there would be a dip in attendance; no luck. Death rate in the US to flu, annually is 0.1% die that contract. That's why this is a worry, particularly since the fatality rate in Italy is hovering around 3% with modern medical infrastructure. I have yet to see numbers relating annual flu mortality in China to coronavirus in China. Flu deaths are down due to vaccines and anti-virals that target flu. No such counter-measure exist for coronavirus. But, this isn't as bad as the early 2000s SARS that was near 11% mortality.
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Collector Darkseid_of_town private msg quote post Address this user
and to this day there is no known vaccine against SARS either...."As of 2020, there is no cure or protective vaccine for SARS that has been shown to be both safe and effective in humans. According to research papers published in 2005 and 2006, the identification and development of novel vaccines and medicines to treat SARS is a priority for governments and public health agencies around the world.In early 2004, an early clinical trial on volunteers was planned.

There were also only 8422 cases of Sars..so a low body count. With this new one we already have over 80,000 cases on every continent except Antarctica so definitely not as high of percentage mortality rate, but a far more infectious one that has spread more quickly and has already established itself world wide.

Referring to the original posting and question I can state I will be avoiding any major public gatherings for awhile at least. I myself feel its both prudent and wise to avoid as much public contact as I can

Looks like comic cons aren't the only affected venues
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/geneva/see-inside-the-deserted-geneva-auto-show/ar-BB10DR1O?ocid=spartandhp
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Collector Jabberwookie private msg quote post Address this user
@Darkseid_of_town

I’m not overly worried, but like you, I’m taking some precautions.

I’ll be avoiding large crowds just because people are awful about venturing out when they are sick.

I don’t want flu or anything so I’m picky about where I go for many reasons.
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Collector Darkseid_of_town private msg quote post Address this user
I read today the president might make an emergency declaration and involve FEMA funding which is reassuring and offers some hope at least.

Even at my place of work I nightly see people walking around coughing all over others and the location itself. It is frightening how ignorant most are of the dangers they could be facing or creating.

Last place I need to go is a con where there are masses of people doing the same and also handing things back and forth or touching many of the same things over and over. I can wait …

Meantime finding some great online comic deals !
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I hear their hourly rate is outrageous! sportshort private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkseid_of_town
I read today the president might make an emergency declaration and involve FEMA funding which is reassuring and offers some hope at least.

Even at my place of work I nightly see people walking around coughing all over others and the location itself. It is frightening how ignorant most are of the dangers they could be facing or creating.

Last place I need to go is a con where there are masses of people doing the same and also handing things back and forth or touching many of the same things over and over. I can wait …

Meantime finding some great online comic deals !


while I agree with most of what you said, I rarely get sick, I would say once every 3 years or so, the hardest part to get over is the cough, I will cough for 6-8 weeks after I am over the my cold or flu. if I stayed indoors because of a cough I would have no indoors to stay in as I would not have a house to live in. Anyway, I know people that should stay in while sick don't so, I get it.
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Collector Darkseid_of_town private msg quote post Address this user
No , not quite my point. People cough ...I get it. However some are considerate enough to put their arm over their mouth or perhaps face away from others to do so.

What I see so often is someone walking around coughing and spewing right in others faces or paths with zero thought of the possibilities
I get that people cant stay home all the time and they sometimes have to cough, but there is a considerate method and a rude one I guess
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I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life. kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user
https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-travel-advisories-flight-cancellations-italy-south-korea-iran-1490027

As COVID-19 continues to affect countries around the world, airlines are suspending flights to high-risk areas, and the State Department has issued increased travel warnings for certain areas of the globe.

More than 87,000 people in 59 countries have become infected with the virus, and nearly 3,000 people have died, including two deaths in America. Health officials expect to see additional cases in the United States, and to try to curb the virus from spreading, President Donald Trump expanded travel restrictions.

Vice President Mike Pence announced on Saturday that a travel ban was put in place, with foreign nationals barred from entering the U.S. if they visited Iran, where a large outbreak is underway, within the past 14 days.

Iran has 593 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and 43 deaths, the highest toll outside of China. Among those who have contracted the virus are Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, members of the parliament and Iraj Harirchi, the deputy health minister.
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I hear their hourly rate is outrageous! sportshort private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkseid_of_town
No , not quite my point. People cough ...I get it. However some are considerate enough to put their arm over their mouth or perhaps face away from others to do so.

What I see so often is someone walking around coughing and spewing right in others faces or paths with zero thought of the possibilities
I get that people cant stay home all the time and they sometimes have to cough, but there is a considerate method and a rude one I guess


This I can get behind.
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