I'm old enough to remember when an autograph was a souvenir of meeting someone you admire rather than a financial investment.The first celebrity I ever encountered was Nick Courtney who played the Brigadier in Doctor Who. I was very young and we bumped into him on a shopping trip. He was very kind enough to sign his autograph for me and it was a completely lovely experience - hopefully for him too, because although my younger self wanted a souvenir of meeting a hero, I hope that he was flattered that I admired him and his work enough to ask.

When I first started going to Science Fiction conventions in the 1970s, the stars never charged for autographs as it was part and parcel of raising money for charity. Then, in the late 1980s, the American style 'for profit' conventions came across the pond and changed all that.

Nowadays getting an autograph is a retail experience. Money, money, money. Someone you admire is sat at a table with a little tin of change and there is the awkwardness when you hand over your cash. I did it once, never again, I might as well have been purchasing a tin of beans (that particular autograph sits unloved in a drawer somewhere). Nowadays when friends tell me they 'met' such and such an actor I take it more that they had a financial transaction with such and such an actor. Sylvester McCoy (the 7th Doctor) is appearing at an event nearby soon and on the flyers are the details of how much he charges for an autograph plus extra for a 'selfie'. Where is the joy in that? No thanks.

Sometime back in the 90s I decided I didn't really need anyone's autograph. What is the point, anyway? I do have some key issues written on by JB, but I don't need everything signed. At cons, I find panel discussions and talking to creators more interesting anyway.

Something to remember, some of these guys aren't swimming in cash and charging for autographs produces a bit of a revenue stream that might help them make attending the show worthwhile.