Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

Hallo!

That might make a subject for its own thread and discussion...

As Dr. Phil would say (Life Law #3)... People do what works.

I am still puzzled why there is discussion about "fun" or the absence of "fun?"

If "it" is not "fun," why do "we" continue to invest physical and mental energy, time, and money into "it?"

When whatever "it," is for us no longer is fun, why are we here?? ;) :)

IMHO, when "it" is no longer fun, "we:"

1. Quit.
2. Move on to something new and seemingly "fun" again like WWI or WWII or Golfing or Fishing or NASCAR or Motorcycles or Stamp or Coin Collecting
3. Linger on as ghosts on boards and fora

;) :) :D

Curt

[billwatson]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

The idea that it's fun is implicit for me.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

Hallo!

Implicit, explicit, and hopefully never, illicit! :)

While avoiding.. too much of a deficit. ;)

Hurrah Boys, Hurrah!

Curt
Implicit Mess
Explicit Rifles
Army of the Complicit

[Charles Heath]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

3. Linger on as ghosts on boards and fora

Curt,

At least one of those "ghosts" posts some excellent weapons information to make even the most picky armorer smile, and another busts a number of sack coat myths, and another analyzes photos, etc....

It's not the ghosts who have been there, done that, and are still willing to share information, but the folks who haven't climbed the mountain and seem unable to even find the mountain in many cases. In fact, some folks seem to be confused as to which mountain to climb. Looky, a molehill! :p

With an appreciative nod to a good ghost who has "gone west."

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

Hallo!

Hey! Some of my best friends, and alter ego, are ghosts.

I have been caught wandering between 1865 and 1886 lately. "Gone West" is better than, in some ways, "Gone Under." ;) :)

Regards,

Curt
Some where a mountain is moving. Afraid it's moving without me. Mess
Left Banke Rifles

[Old Reb]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

I suspect Charles adheres to the Zen aspects of reenacting. That is also a good thing.

[Sccavtrooper]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

Well it is and will always be an on going this with making impressions better in the hobby. I have been a reenactor since 1985. I can tell you that at this point we are light years ahead in the terms of research and resources available to the reenactor than we had in 1985. BUT the big thing for this dicussion is how new and old reenactors access and use that information. If the individual does not care what he has as long as he can burn powder or kill a yankee today for his grand daddy then thats all he will do. If the individaul is serious about learning the life and times of the civil war soldier then his level of authintisity will be alot higher. can the hobby police itself? i do not know that it can. its kinda like free speech. I have seen the most farby groups allowed on the field by people that on the one hand screem authintisity and need the number to have a big event. we have write rules governing what was acceptable and what was not just to be ignored. So what is the answer. to me its to be the best i can be and help the ones that want to be the best they can be and not worry about the rest. so in the end it boils down to me and my happiness in the hobby.

I scratch my bald head and wonder if it is an issue with the moon and tides, or if this is just the week for folks to ignore the requirement for posting their signature along with their comments on threads. Are these the final days? Is Barry Benson going to jump up from the compost pile of heroes, and start waving a flag screaming, "looky heah, I'll violate any rule I want to violate -- jest cuz!" Yes, this is a hint.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

I suspect Charles adheres to the Zen aspects of reenacting. That is also a good thing.

Uncle Tom,

This hobby sure has a lot of non-participants.

In a few days, this year will be half over. Like other years in recent memory a few, a happy few, will have gotten off their third point of contact and managed to support this end of the hobby by actually attending events far and wide. Others will remain at home, asleep in their beds, sharing not in the joys of victory nor the agonies of defeat, but content to rub virtual shoulders with the parade of electron personalities before them. Why they avoid the arena is beyond me. Is it the Zen master's obsession with the cessation of thinking to become one with the universe, or more like Kaw-liga's knotty pine cranium?

(There, old man, you have the Bard, Uncle Sugar, Jim McKay, Hank Sr., dhyana, and TR in one wrap. Enjoy.)

Translation: Your title on the OTB Forum pretty much says it all.

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

After being out of the hobby for a few years, I will return triumphantly to a local event next weekend. I will report back on generalizations about how things have changed in the last 6 years.

Cheers

[lawson]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

This is a subject that I take strong interest in. But, I have no time to write everything I wish I could down. So, I leave you with this observation, (which may and probably has already been stated before now).......

FOLKS ARE TOO CLEAN.!!!!!!!!!!!.. think about it gents. Your living in these clothes 7 days a week, there is no break. I realize that their are items that do not get as much use as our favorites, but we can at least make a solid effort to break our gear in. I see so many people who look like they just bought their kit for this or that event, and didn't wear it until they got to the site. But, realize that a decent amount of dirt and wear is a plus and at times crucial to an impression.

There is also a huge factor of guys not even wearing the clothes right, which butchers an impression like nothing else. But, I'm not going their either.


Off my soap-box...

[GA_Tarheel]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

I see so many people who look like they just bought their kit for this or that event, and didn't wear it until they got to the site. But, realize that a decent amount of dirt and wear is a plus and at times crucial to an impression.

Absolutely true. The amazing thing is that I have also seen the polar opposite. I have been to events where at least one fellow in the ranks was utterly filthy. Let's bear in mind that while the boys of '61-'65 did indeed typically own only those articles of clothes that they wore on a daily basis, they were also soldiers. This is a generalization of course, and it might be argued that attitudes were somewhat different depending on the army commander, but the men did have to endure inspections regularly. No officer would allow his men to show up to parade looking like mud-encrusted pigs. IMHO, we should strive to achieve the "lived-in" look, not slather our jackets and trousers with red clay.

[DougCooper]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

This is a subject that I take strong interest in. But, I have no time to write everything I wish I could down. So, I leave you with this observation, (which may and probably has already been stated before now).......

FOLKS ARE TOO CLEAN.!!!!!!!!!!!.. think about it gents. Your living in these clothes 7 days a week, there is no break. I realize that their are items that do not get as much use as our favorites, but we can at least make a solid effort to break our gear in. I see so many people who look like they just bought their kit for this or that event, and didn't wear it until they got to the site. But, realize that a decent amount of dirt and wear is a plus and at times crucial to an impression.

There is also a huge factor of guys not even wearing the clothes right, which butchers an impression like nothing else. But, I'm not going their either.


Off my soap-box...

Uh oh, Terre saw us when we really were filthy ragamuffins (day 4 of BGR) and now we can't go back!

Mike Montgomery, a good friend and great historian, would simply leave his hats and uniforms outside. One time a hurricane did a great speed-up on the whole break in process. Another time a dog got hold of a jacket and ran off with it. When he got it back it was pretty near perfect :D

[Drygoods]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

Uncle Tom,

This hobby sure has a lot of non-participants.

. Others will remain at home, asleep in their beds, sharing not in the joys of victory nor the agonies of defeat, but content to rub virtual shoulders with the parade of electron personalities before them. Why they avoid the arena is beyond me..

Mr. Heath,
Being a long time participant yourself, I'd like to hear your opinion. Does this mean that you think that the vitural forums hurt the hobby? Quite right, vitural players do very little, in fact, do mostly groussing. At the very least pixels do get the information out there, but it is the talent and effort of the individual who has to do the rest, and as I believe you'd agree with me, it's the dedication level that truly defines.

Speaking of clean, hmmm, last night while packing a trunk I noticed that a tear in my dress had gone unrepaired. I looked at it, thought it over and just put the dress in the box thinking, I'll get to that another time. No lady would walk about with torn clothes, but not everyone had time to be a lady in the midst of a war. But it was washed.:o

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

After being out for about 6 years I attended my first event, a mainstream one. To me it seems like the ranks have thinned some, units that used to be huge were nothing but a handful now, and loads of new faces were around with a few of the same old ones. It seems there were more Mainstream/Progressives 6 years ago... There were more campaigners in general 6 years ago. It seems now there is a bigger divide, more mainstream types being even more ridiculous and very authentic folks only doing authentic events. All those who were in what I saw as the middle, seem to have picked a side.

[laurelgirl]

Re: Authenticity Levels: Progress or Decline?

I would say that authenticity-awareness is rising. However, I think that the overall numbers of reenactors is shrinking. I attended the Gettysburg reenactment this past weekend, and there were not that many people there. I remember visiting the reenactment in the past and getting completely lost becuase there were so many people.
Anyway, I have seen that typical "mainstreemers" are at least partly wearing of accurate outfits. There seems to more of a pressure to do so.

To quote a fine fellow, "I hear the dead were up from their graves and walking the streets because it was so authentic." The annual Gettysburg reenactment represents the end of the spectrum most participants in this wing of the hobby like to consider "the worst the hobby has to offer," and if you want to discuss that cesspool, then please drop by Szabo's and chatter to your heart's content. Several proposals debating the best method of polishing that turd have appeared in recent days,and that conversation needs to stay over there where it belongs. Please, but please, not here. - Charles Heath, one of them thar pesky mods.