How Do You Feel

[MuddyWaterMess]

I removed the text and want to re word it. Ok have you ever been to an event where it honestly felt real i have and it kick butt. What about yall there we go.

BEN JENKINS

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Re: How Do You Feel

The way I most often feel with all my "kit" on at an event is one of the following two things:

1. Too hot.

2. Too cold.

[Old Reb]

Re: How Do You Feel

I am not into feelings.

[MuddyWaterMess]

Re: How Do You Feel

Ok where i was going with this is have you ever been in a position where it felt real. But i do love kevins "to hot, to cold"

ben

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: How Do You Feel

Oh, I don't know. Sometimes I feel just right. :)

Matter of fact, if you're doing something like carrying a musket, barrel hot from firing, through a field waist high in wildflowers or a brambled forest, good tough wool garments seem very natural.

And there have been times when, coming home from one of the 'better' events, everyone else I see as I unload my gear seems to be dressed, well, just really strange.

And there have been other times when, at a living history, a spectator asks me "Don't you feel hot?" and, looking back at the fellow -- usually clad in some unflattering combo of t-shirt and shorts -- that I really really want to reply "Don't you feel silly?"

Is that sort of what you mean?

[Old Reb]

Re: How Do You Feel

Reply deleted.

[GrumpyDave]

Re: How Do You Feel

My shoes usually feel squishy. Does that count?

[Charles Heath]

Re: How Do You Feel

Ben, Ben, Ben,

Let me ask you a question.

Keep in mind this IS The Sinks.

Still goen to the wrong events?

[Hank Trent]

Re: How Do You Feel

Apparently I missed the original incarnation of the first post, but in answer to what's left, I'll just say: Duh. Of course. It's like asking, have you ever heard a ghost story that was scary? Or seen a magic trick that fooled you? Or listened to a motivational speech that inspired you?

In my view, trying to make things feel real is almost the definition of a reenactment, and it's the main reason for choosing what to attend. Naturally I mean "seem real" in the same sense the dinosaurs "seem real" in Jurassic Park, even though they're obviously only flickers of light on a flat panel. It's all illusion, but it can be a well-done illusion if everyone works at it.

I will say, though, that I've never been in a battle that felt real, which is kinda frustrating compared to what others describe. For some reason, I just can't get beyond knowing that I'm firing and being fired at by blanks.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: How Do You Feel

Hmm...

Intensity and realism...?

Getting chased by a squad of Yankee cavalry in the pitch-black woods while on picket duty at 2 am was about as close to REAL Civil War at as I'm going to get...

... of course being in downtown Husaybah, Iraq after a suicide bomber just blew 30 people sky-high in a different civil war is a bit more intense than that.

;) -Johnny

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: How Do You Feel

Hallo!

"How Do You Feel?"

Fair to Middlin, thank 'e.

Hmmmm. I don't think I have ever "felt unreal."

IMHO, I think the question pertains to discussions of "Magic Moments" and "Suspending Disbelief" and "Creating a Believable Image." (At least, I hope it does...)

Bluntly put, "real" is 1861-1865.
What "we" do is simulate and emulate with smoke and mirrors, play and fantasy.
And, at best, create Three Dimensional moving photographs of the Illusions. Some better than others'.

The skill and craft, and the success versus failure, comes in the Suspending Disbelief and Embracing the Possibility of the Illusion.

Of course, folks have different and differing Mentel Pictures- and for some Recreational Pageantry, Modern Camping Under Canvas, and Powder Burning is "real" for them. And we all pick and chose what works for us...

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt

[paulcalloway]

Re: How Do You Feel

To quote those stalwart sages of reenacting prose, REO Speedwagon, its "More than a Feeling".

[coastaltrash]

Re: How Do You Feel

At Rich Mountain in 2006 I was a Captain for the first time and although I knew people were going to take 'hits' it was something very odd to watch with some pain "my" company start to get mowed down. I remember my 2nd Lt for the weekend turned around to me during the advance and said something turned back to the front and -snap- went down.

Fort Granger in 2006 I sat in the tent for the officers in Co A and listened to the rain drop while I laid in my bed (a REAL BED) and watched the company swim like ducks, I honestly felt bad. Then I fell asleep. Some pretty cool moments from last season.

[MuddyWaterMess]

Re: How Do You Feel

The point i was trying to pull from this thread was to others sights on diffrent events. Patrick i think was aiming more at what i was shooting for. Points in the event where you can almost ( in know it will never be full) put themselves there. Thanks

BEN

[Coatsy]

Re: How Do You Feel

At two events at the Harris Farm here in Jeooorgia, 1. Return to the Ranks and at 2. Prelude to Chickamauga I had some great "this is it!" feelings. No forced first person, the people around me were into the "moment" and it felt natural. One was a parole camp event the other was a skirmish between a force guarding a vital set of crossroads vs a force scouting and mapping the pair of vital crossroads. Rich Mountain had some great moments for me as well. Especially the Charge of Silas.

Who makes the best "feeling"