Comic-Con 2015: Selfie Sticks And E-Cigarettes Not Welcome

Wherever there are tourists, you'll find selfie sticks -- the long poles for holding a smartphone far enough away from you to take a photograph with multiple people in the shot. But visitors traveling to Comic-Con in San Diego, which starts on July 9, can leave theirs at home. On Thursday, organizers announced a list of prohibited technology at the event, and selfie sticks are just one of several new technologies that are not welcome.

From the blog post:

We know you want that perfect photo of yourself and the gang at Comic-Con and your arms just aren’t long enough, but please be aware that selfie sticks, GoPro poles, or any device that extends your camera or phone away from your hand, are not allowed at Comic-Con. With so many people in attendance, protruding cameras or phones sticking up in the air are a definite hazard.

Selfie sticks aren't the only trendy technology banned from Comic-Con. Don't expect to see many Comic-Con live streams on social media. Organizers have banned any usage of livestreaming apps like Periscope and Meerkat from any official Comic-Con programs or events. The rule applies to Google Glass as well -- while footage or panels are happening, event security will ask Glass "explorers" to take theirs off. If a phone is on during a panel, security will assume it's being used for livestreaming. Drones are also a big no.

The prohibition applies to e-cigarettes and vaping as well. Visitors will need to go outside to get their nicotine fix. According to the blog post, cigarettes, pipes, cigars and "any vaping product or device" will be banned from the conference center. Violators of the policy might get kicked out -- a more serious punishment than for using a selfie stick. As for patrons who insist on using a selfie stick, security will ask them to put it away until the end of the conference.