When the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center was dreamed up, the hope was that one day the facility would serve as a way to attract signature events of the held national importance — like the once Boston-based Macworld.

Now more than 10 years old, the BCEC does have a singular signature tech conference (it might have another in the ever growing HubSpot INBOUND event as well). That event is the PAX East video game convention.

PAX East kicks off again this year, and, unfortunately, all the talk up to this point has focused on Gamergate, the fringe misogyny-twinged “movement” that has benefited from the amplification power of the Internet. (If you ask someone involved what Gamergate is all about you’ll likely hear that it is actually about the politicization of video games, the unethical behavior of game reviewers, and the censorship of violence and sex in games, which is mostly self-delusion on the part of Gamergate folks.)

And while PAX East has been described as a “frat-house environment,” the reality is quite the opposite; the event is a communal gathering of people who love video games and want to mingle with like-minded gamers. Yes, there are scantily-clad cosplayers dressed as their favorite video game heroes, and some uncomfortable ogling that on occasion crosses the line; but that, like the Gamergate foolishness, is such a infinitesimal part of PAX East, it is a shame that all the great things about the event are overshadowed.

PAX East is the best conference held at the BCEC. No other event can match the passion of its attendees, no other event offers the opportunity for groups of people who often feel marginalized by society — cosplayers, professional eSports athletes, board game enthusiasts, indie game fans — to come together and celebrate a shared love of something the rest of society either doesn’t care about or thinks is unusual.

There are going to be some discussions on the future of gaming. Game developers will get the chance to interact with adoring fans. Independent game studios will try to attract new users. But most importantly, among the lights, music, and seeming mayhem of PAX East, the overwhelming majority of folks that will fill the BCEC to the brim this weekend will be gleeful, untroubled, and excited to be together.

It’s just what the convention center was built for.