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Re: What is your age?
I am bored at work, and your post got me thinking, What is more important:
Keeping the hobby and the lessons learned during this period alive and interesting to others, to help preserve and expand the public's interest, and to help generate funds to preserve and expand the parks and battlegrounds and museums? Even if it must be done by people a bit old and out of shape when compared to the real soldiers?
-or-
Restrict the hobby to only those who have the correct physical and age impressions, or alienate those that do not fit the correct physical/age impression?
I understand the desire to represent the soldiers as acurately as possible. I also understand the realities that we do not live today like they did back then, therefore few of us would meet their standards for physical or mental endurance. Seems to me the membership and attendance at events would dwindle a lot if held to that kind of standard. There is a synergy that happens in a crowd, and I would think it best to get as many as possible to attend, both participants and the public.
I do not say we should take in anyone, or that the hobby is desperate for new members, or to lower standards in authenticity to just raise attendance numbers. That is not what I am saying.
But you are aware that the public knows we are not true civil war soldiers, and I cannot believe they would hold us to those standards. While it does fall on us to be as accurate as possible, its just not possible now to field a regiment of 17-21 year olds, as they are busy chasing girls, going to school, chasing girls, having fun with friends, chasing girls, and generally do not have the same appreciation of history as we do. I think the public, and the heros we try to portray are aware of this, and make allowances. Maybe I am wrong.
It seems to me similar to what Charles Schweitzer, a retired Army Col. told me when signing me up for the Son's of the American Revolution (SAR) about 15 years ago. I was measuring his kitchen, and he told me he had to leave for an SAR meeting, and to give his wife whatever she wanted in the kitchen. I commented that my grandma was a Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR) just making small talk. At that, without a word, he nodded to his wife who went off for the list of DARs in the area. Grandma's name was on the list. His meeting forgotten/postponed, he proceeded to list for me the info needed from me: My birth certificate, mom and dad's marriage certificate, mom's birth certificate, linking me to grandma. This was not a suggestion that I gather this info either, heh. Charles was used to being obeyed I believe, heh.
I told him I did not have a lot of time to give to the SAR's at this moment in time, so do not expect me to attend many meetings or such. He told me that the most active members were mainly old guys who still cared, and that one day, maybe I would be one of them, and could help out then.
It was more important to him to get me in the ranks. We'd determine together my role over the years. Since then, I have donned a suit, and helped replace old grave stones with new monuments, and properly acknowledge the resting places of local soldiers.
Seems to me to be a good thing to just get them involved if they have the interest, and then steer them along the path of authenticity. Show them why its important to achieve the most authentic impression possible.
But first get them in. Then make them feel welcome and help educate them.
In my humble opinion, thats what will help the hobby to grow and prosper over the next years.
Sorry my thought just grew into a novel, and probably covers ground already covered many times. I am still a new guy, and assembling my first kit yet, so what do I know anyway, heh.
Originally posted by flattop32355
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Keeping the hobby and the lessons learned during this period alive and interesting to others, to help preserve and expand the public's interest, and to help generate funds to preserve and expand the parks and battlegrounds and museums? Even if it must be done by people a bit old and out of shape when compared to the real soldiers?
-or-
Restrict the hobby to only those who have the correct physical and age impressions, or alienate those that do not fit the correct physical/age impression?
I understand the desire to represent the soldiers as acurately as possible. I also understand the realities that we do not live today like they did back then, therefore few of us would meet their standards for physical or mental endurance. Seems to me the membership and attendance at events would dwindle a lot if held to that kind of standard. There is a synergy that happens in a crowd, and I would think it best to get as many as possible to attend, both participants and the public.
I do not say we should take in anyone, or that the hobby is desperate for new members, or to lower standards in authenticity to just raise attendance numbers. That is not what I am saying.
But you are aware that the public knows we are not true civil war soldiers, and I cannot believe they would hold us to those standards. While it does fall on us to be as accurate as possible, its just not possible now to field a regiment of 17-21 year olds, as they are busy chasing girls, going to school, chasing girls, having fun with friends, chasing girls, and generally do not have the same appreciation of history as we do. I think the public, and the heros we try to portray are aware of this, and make allowances. Maybe I am wrong.
It seems to me similar to what Charles Schweitzer, a retired Army Col. told me when signing me up for the Son's of the American Revolution (SAR) about 15 years ago. I was measuring his kitchen, and he told me he had to leave for an SAR meeting, and to give his wife whatever she wanted in the kitchen. I commented that my grandma was a Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR) just making small talk. At that, without a word, he nodded to his wife who went off for the list of DARs in the area. Grandma's name was on the list. His meeting forgotten/postponed, he proceeded to list for me the info needed from me: My birth certificate, mom and dad's marriage certificate, mom's birth certificate, linking me to grandma. This was not a suggestion that I gather this info either, heh. Charles was used to being obeyed I believe, heh.
I told him I did not have a lot of time to give to the SAR's at this moment in time, so do not expect me to attend many meetings or such. He told me that the most active members were mainly old guys who still cared, and that one day, maybe I would be one of them, and could help out then.
It was more important to him to get me in the ranks. We'd determine together my role over the years. Since then, I have donned a suit, and helped replace old grave stones with new monuments, and properly acknowledge the resting places of local soldiers.
Seems to me to be a good thing to just get them involved if they have the interest, and then steer them along the path of authenticity. Show them why its important to achieve the most authentic impression possible.
But first get them in. Then make them feel welcome and help educate them.
In my humble opinion, thats what will help the hobby to grow and prosper over the next years.
Sorry my thought just grew into a novel, and probably covers ground already covered many times. I am still a new guy, and assembling my first kit yet, so what do I know anyway, heh.
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