http://twitter.com/#!/vqnerdballs/status/520287690873667584

Cosplay is a growing subculture in which people dress as characters from science fiction, fantasy, or comics. Often the costumes can be very elaborate and expensive. The trend originated in Japan and Jim Pethokoukis’ piece at The Week draws some parallels between Japan’s stagnant economy and our own. Using the rise of cosplay as an indicator didn’t go over too well with the fandom.

Does the rise of Japanese-style cosplay in the U.S. portend a Japanese-style economy? http://t.co/zzFUYfdk2e pic.twitter.com/Gz86C8U1QM

— The Week (@TheWeek) October 9, 2014

My twins, 17, in a tizzy bec they think they're bane of anime community due to this article written by their dad. http://t.co/v4BzsFcdGW

— Colette Moran (@ColetteMoran) October 9, 2014

Shorter: Nerds are playing dress up. Ergo, the economy is doomed. http://t.co/CsEj4j5Eju

— Jon Terbush (@JonTerbush) October 9, 2014

This is all true because most can't make them outfits unless they got someone else financing the habit RT @ANN_Bamboo http://t.co/sqzANo6cZB

— Daryl Surat (@DarylSurat) October 9, 2014

Cosplay allows us to simultaneously attack the president on the economy & gripe about kids these days http://t.co/VZuvgm8E3E

— Lauren Orsini (@laureninspace) October 9, 2014

wait back up back up RT @TheWeek: Does the rise of Japanese-style cosplay in the US portend a Japanese-style economy? http://t.co/DUx8W2AnIe

— CURSED DJINN (@kmundahl) October 9, 2014

I have found it: the dumbest thing http://t.co/iKXU8OQoqe

— Squarewolfly Boo!ted (@squarelyrooted) October 9, 2014

@ExecutiveOtaku @laureninspace I think he's making a bit of a stretch there

— justaddScott (@justaddScott) October 9, 2014

My friend @LillyInverse's business is predicated on cosplay. Does this guy hate small business in America? http://t.co/IEIDgzEJWC

— David J. Majors (@JustCallMeDjm) October 9, 2014

This is straight up Vox level vapidity it's not insulting but a display of utter ignorance of the subject – http://t.co/KfUAIXYLgh

— alexandriabrown (@alexthechick) October 9, 2014

The 'cosplay is a harbinger of the end of our economy!!' article is the most ridiculous thing.

— Corpse Candles (@GreyWays) October 9, 2014

Um, what? So people spending all that money on the resources to create cosplay costumes is *bad* for the economy? http://t.co/saHFAf53YU

— Mathulhu Fhtwagn (@thisbrokenwheel) October 9, 2014

Not football, nor movies, nor prime time TV, nor Facebook. Not even Tumblr. Nay, it's cosplay that shows the rot in our economy.

— Preston Austin (@gl33p) October 9, 2014

Website doesn't understand what cosplay is, but thinks it's probably a bad sign for "the economy"? http://t.co/ppsqz4s5V7

— BAT youngDARK (@MattYoungmark) October 9, 2014

@JimPethokoukis Please stop throwing blame on a subculture that you don't know and point fingers in the wrong direction.

— Sereboo (@serephita) October 9, 2014

@RoninErik @JimPethokoukis And implying that we're all early 20-somethings just out of college looking to escape our pitiful lives is

— Sereboo (@serephita) October 9, 2014

@RoninErik @JimPethokoukis a huge misrepresentation, and insulting to many cosplayers.

— Sereboo (@serephita) October 9, 2014

Their argument being, of course, that cosplay is popular in Japan and THEIR economy is stagnant, so obviously nerd costumes are the devil.

— Victoria McSpoopy (@vqnerdballs) October 9, 2014

"any rise in people fleeing reality for fantasy suggests problems with our reality” uh oh some1 should probably go tell every novelist ever

— Victoria McSpoopy (@vqnerdballs) October 9, 2014

@vqnerdballs Other things bad for the economy: sushi, bubble tea, cats who are not actually cats.

— Katie Schenkel (@JustPlainTweets) October 9, 2014

@JustPlainTweets @vqnerdballs giant radioactive monsters… That one might actually be no good

— Spooky Philip Lopez (@firehawk32) October 9, 2014

the year is 2026, cosplay has finally destroyed the global economy what little settlements remain are brutalized by roving groups of nerds

— SpookyBOOnit (@RevolverUnit) October 9, 2014

Heh.

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2014/10/09/pethokoukis-cites-cosplay-as-a-bad-economic-sign-angers-nerdom/