Thread by @ProZD

i don't know if i've really talked about on here what it's like to be recognized in public, but i was shown this reddit post of someone who took a photo with me at disneyland and called me "kinda emotionless," and it bummed me out a bit so let's talk reddit.com/r/Disneyland/c…

i get recognized in public often, that's to be expected with what i do. some people might think, "nice humblebrag" but it really is more like a monkey's paw. you appreciate that people like what you do and are excited about you, but there is a loss of privacy when you're out

99% of the time, i will stop and take a photo if people ask. i'm usually happy to do so, and even when i'm busy, i still will usually oblige. best case scenario, i make someone happy with a photo, that's great, and worst, i say no, they tell everyone "that guy's kind of a dick"

anyone who knows me in person knows that while i do love to joke around, in my default state, i'm a very chill, low-key person. i understand people have expectations of what i'd be like in person, but i hate the idea of being "on." i try to be my genuine self when meeting anyone

i don't think this reddit guy meant any harm (or thought i would see it) but being called emotionless kinda sucks, man. but then again, i don't remember the encounter, so maybe i DID come across as emotionless. i definitely don't put on a show or turn "on" when people approach me

sometimes i worry i come across as brusque because usually i'll just be like "yeah, sure" if people ask for a photo. if i'm out in public, chances are i'm on my way to something and/or the people i'm with are waiting for me, so i have to make it quick.

i've been asked to take a photo while clearly busy in the middle of pushing my friend's wheelchair up a hill, i've been asked right after receiving really bad news, i've been asked in rude ways, i get asked when i'm in a hurry (to my wife's chagrin), but i almost always say yes

but now i'm wondering if i should just say no sometimes, because maybe people will be disappointed even when i DO take the photo because i don't live up to what they want me to be. but like i said, if i do that too many times, and people will go "oh that guy's a dick"

cause it's either that or i put on Big YouTube Energy and go "OH HEY MAN YEAH SURE PHOTO TIME WOOHOOHOO!!!!" nothing wrong with that, but that's not who i am, and the idea of being a fake me is so depressing and so tiresome that i'll take "emotionless" over that any day.

that's why my favorite interactions are at autograph session at conventions. i DO love connecting with people face to face and getting to know them better, and it's at those where i am happy to give people the time and energy that they deserve, cause that's why i'm there

anyways, DON'T harass the reddit poster, i am positive he didn't mean anything by it. and i also don't want people to think they can't approach me in public, like i said, most of the time i'm totally chill with it. just wanted to share some thoughts i had

some of you dumbos DID harass the reddit poster, but joke's on you, he apologized, and we are all good, nice try dumbos