Looking Ahead to Improvement

[Charles Heath]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

Why not post, and more important, advertise the rules, guidelines, and expectations of the various events out there?

Bill,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but most organizers in the campaigner, progressive, and hardcore end of the hobby do go to great lengths to do precisely this via websites, email listservers, email groups, bulk email, fora, newsletters, direct mail, bulletins, pre-event info packets, conference calls, individual, phone calls, photographs, sketches, pre-event prep sessions, and other means. Not all events have all of this (thank God), some events suffer from information overkill, and some are bare bones, but do manage to get the basic information across.

As long as the rules and guidelines are enforced, what difference does it make what people chose to call an event?

It's called effective communication.

Other than using labels as a club, which seems to happen rather often in our various Hobbies, what real purpose do they serve?

Folks with that mindset are really going to hate the next few additions to the event templates. Crank up the fear and loathing!

Many years ago, a popular bumper sticker read, "Tell me now, before I spend $10 on drinks." That may be precisely what Hank is driving at, and why event (and reenactor) classifications have worked so well for over 10 years. Frankly, I'm glad Milorganite and chocolate pudding have different labels.

[JimConley]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

What frustrates me is to see the the word "immersion" becoming a synonym for something like the old catch-all term "authentic," so that the one thing which used to set it apart is no longer part of the meaning.

The problem with the actual term "immersion," by definition, is that it is not specific enough to fit as a word of reference in such a context. The definitions leave room for interpretation based upon perspective. Obviously the idea of labeling events is to give the quickest and simplest form of explanation; to sum it up in one word. Thus, based upon that label, one thinks they have a good idea of what they're walking into before glancing at the details. Hank and I obviously do not agree on our use of the word "immersion." My interpretation has gray areas whereas his is black and white, and that's fine. And as quickly and as earnestly as he disagreed with me, I would probably act in a similar manner toward someone like he described in his last post. And, that, ladies, fellows, and Mr. Heath, is the issue with labels. So, what to do? We can't get rid of them, can we? Is there a term in Webster's that actually can replace "immersion" as a better form of reference? And, who is to decide which use or interpretation of these labels we use? Yes, we are all working towards the same goal, to better our experiences in our hobby, which is also subject to perspective. Hank, I'm sorry, but I do not believe that my limited vocabulary will allow me to nominate another word right now.

...Perhaps an acronym would make a better remedy. There are a few of those floating around already that seem to be working just fine.

Hmmm...:thinking:

[Old Reb]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

We're going to be on a postage size parcel of land. That's self evident of what limitations the event will work within. Straw and firewood provided and a laides tea. That pretty well sums up that sort of event. We will be away from things for four or five days and drink swamp water. That is a pretty good suggestion of what the event is all about. I don't know much about labels but have shopped around long enough to tell an elephant from a mouse.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

Jim,

You bring up some good points, and it's worth noting the term "immersion" came from activities outside of our hobby, and those primarily being cultural immersion events. This seems to be popular amongst Francophiles, but others enjoy these activities as well. The funny thing is we see "full immersion, immersion, and semi-immersion" in this CW thing of our. I can't help but think one day some wag will come up with "a sprinkle of immersion," but let's not go there. (No offense to you Methodists out there.)

[flattop32355]

Re: Portable First Persson- Rethinking the model

Were some companies busier than others? Or was it, as he suggests, more dependant on what they were used to doing and therefore what they expected to do?

There's no way I can answer that accurately, simply because I had almost no contact with men from other companies except in passing, and therefore have no personal experience whether there was that great a difference in percent time spent in first person. I also did a hell of a lot of sleeping whenever possible, so it may have gone on more than I'm aware. I just recall not hearing much out-of-place conversation.

Sometimes, when a man from another company did come by our camp, the greetings were generally so generic in nature that they fit into either our own or period setting.

How Mr. Sorchy determined his estimates of time in firper is unknown to me; the only time I remember him in our camp was when he chewed out the Captain about some missing pickets. I was roused out of a sound sleep by his "stern-ness", and remember thinking, "I'm not on guard. He's not complaining about me." and rolling over and going back to sleep.

I will say that those of us not well immersed in the practice tend to limit our conversation to that which is needed and required, or with people we came to the event with.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

As long as the rules and guidelines are enforced, what difference does it make what people chose to call an event? Other than using labels as a club, which seems to happen rather often in our various Hobbies, what real purpose do they serve?

Totally agree with you that it's all about promising and delivering, and the labels are secondary.

A purpose they do serve, though, is shorthand. For example, I can think of a few dozen people I could email and ask, "Do you know of any immersion events coming up next year?" or they could email me and say, "If we put on an immersion event at such-and-such, would you be interested in coming?" and we'd know what we mean, because we've attended numerous events which that same label has been applied to, all similar, and we know what the expectations are, where the compromises will probably need to be made and where they won't.

Having a mutually-understood label is a lot more efficient than describing all the guidelines when you're just discussing things in broad terms.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

Bumping this thread for throwback Thursday. Enjoy!

[ETYank]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

I think if re-enactors want the hobby to survive, it's up to us to make it happen. Not to slam anyone, but it seems to be a hobby within the hobby these days to predict the death of re-enacting, which to me seems counterproductive at best.

[Mcguire]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

Bumping this thread for throwback Thursday. Enjoy!

Thanks Eric! That was a blast from the past. I sure do miss Charles Heath and Kevin O'Beirne. They both contributed quite a bit to the forums.

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but perhaps all the authentic groups could create some sort of larger organization :i.e. First Federal Division. In this organization we all work towards a common goal of working together for two or three larger "EBUFU" each year. This might promote better communication and prevent having several events right on top of one another.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

I think Tyler's idea could be done. After all, it has been shown to work in some major battalions being formed - Shiloh, Gettysburg 9both CS and US) and now Bentonville and Sailor's Creek. I think all it takes is some buy-in from the various groups and some communication between the leaders of those groups. Smaller messes and groups could also have a seat at the table and a communication clearinghouse could be created to make a one-stop shop for authentics to go to. We used to have something of that and the AC was the communication hub for it. It could become that again.

[ETYank]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

If people could come together around that idea, it would also help avoid the conflicting efforts that have become an issue during the 150th cycle.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

I truly think that if any folks can come together around an idea like this, its' the progressive ACW community. While there are some egos certainly, I think most folks are glad to work for the better good of this aspect of the hobby than worry about being the big cheese. Perhaps I'm wrong but I haven't seen as much self-centered desire for 'power' on this side of the hobby.

[Steven Dacus]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

I for one would be happy to do what it takes to create something like the "1st Fed Div" or the newly created Federal Cavalry Assoc. "FCA". If the mainstream community can do it relatively well, why not the progressive community? Is there a big enough will within this community? If so, what's the next step?

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: Looking Ahead to Improvement

If the mainstream community can do it relatively well, why not the progressive community?

Exactly!

Is there a big enough will within this community?

Yes there is, but its not necessarily about numbers as it is unity and cooperation.

If so, what's the next step?

Get all of the key players/organizers together in the same place and conduct a proper business meeting to weigh the pro's and cons and figure a way for all to work together a few times each year for a common goal. We have proved that we can all work together on a large scale. This is evident with the 150th Shiloh and now Bentonville and Saylors Creek.
With everyone working together I anticipate that we will be able to create even greater experiences for all.