Have one handy guide to interacting with me at conventions, totally 110% free of charge. 

Overall I am pretty friendly but I do not like strangers touching me, especially my hair. If you try to pet my hair or touch my locs without express permission or invitation it will not end well for you. So just don’t, especially if you like having fingers. This is especially true at events as it may be the first time you see me in person.

As for what to call me, all depends on how well I know you. If we only know each other via internet, Cypher is fine. If we know each other well, then Tanya is ok. What’s not ok is yelling a character name that I play out at me or acting as if I’m that character and not a whole person.

If we are Twitter/Discord/LJ/TTRPG friends but have not met IRL, feel free to say hello and if you ask first, I may give you a hug. I’m actually quiet and introverted in real life so if you see me fleeing for a quiet space, it’s not you I am just feeling overwhelmed and need some quiet time. I have a terrible memory so if we have met just once or twice at previous events I might not remember you immediately, please don’t be offended.

I like to take photos of others, but I will always ask permission before taking them and again before posting them online. I usually don’t mind being in photos, but ask me first before taking and posting them online.

Update for pandemic type things: Wear your mask when we interact. If you want to take an unmasked pic, ask and depending on where we are, I may say yes or not. Be mindful of personal space and how well we actually know each other. I am not a hugger, or touchy person by nature, so don’t come in for a hug especially in a crowded area or if I don’t actually know you.

Published by cypheroftyr

Tanya DePass is the founder and Director of I Need Diverse Games, a non-profit organization based in Chicago, which is dedicated to better diversification of all aspects of gaming. I Need Diverse Games serves the community by supporting marginalized developers attend the Game Developer Conference by participating in the GDC Scholarship program, helps assist attendance at other industry events, and is seeking partnership with organizations and initiatives. Tanya is a lifelong Chicagoan who loves everything about gaming, #INeedDiverseGames spawn point, and wants to make it better and more inclusive for everyone. She founded and was the EIC of Fresh Out of Tokens podcast where games culture was discussed and viewed through a lense of feminism, intersectionality and diversity. Now she’s a co-host on Spawn on Me Podcast. Along with all of that, she’s the Programming Coordinator for OrcaCon, she often speaks on issues of diversity, feminism, race, intersectionality & other topics at multiple conventions throughout the year. Her writing about games and games critique appears in Uncanny Magazine, Polygon, Wiscon Chronicles, Vice Gaming, Paste Games, Mic, and other publications.