It would be when I realized:
The set of things I value in is smaller than the set of things I do not value. Thus, it is worth my while to invest time in finding, supporting, or reifying the former rather than finding, despairing, or enabling the latter.
Presented as a public service.
Listed in order of increasing coolness/decreasing lameness.
1. "I am dressed as myself."
2. Nametag/label, wig/hat, prop with no costume, camo.
3. "Crazy" clothes found in the attic, army/navy surplus.
4. "Sexy/poor ____", "One of the Village People".
5. Celebrity, "Spooky/dead ____".
6. Reference to current events, obscure literary figure (+3 if no verbal explanation needed).
7. Movie/TV character (+2 if robot or monster, +1 if genre character -- see below).
8. Clown, pirate, ninja, princess, fairy.
9. "Punny" costume (-3 if verbal explanation needed, -1 if someone else is using same pun).
10. Animal.
11 Genre character, original creation (superhero, science fiction, fantasy, horror).
12. Traditional Halloween (ghost, vampire, witch, mad scientist, zombie)
13. Robot or monster
Additional bonuses:
- Home-made = +1 for any levels 4 and up.
- Props = +1 for levels 4 and up.
- Cosplay-grade = +2 levels 4 and up.
- Able to interact socially in costume = +1 for levels 8 and up.
- Group costumes = +2 for levels 6 and up.
- Normal clothes worn over/under costume = -1 for levels 3 and up.
- Unintentionally deteriorating costume = -2 for all levels.
Note: This scale is not to be confused with the Hiearchy of General Costume Party Costume Lameness/Coolness or the Hiearchy of Themed Costume Party Lamness/Coolness, which use different rankings and bonuses.
