What is your age?

[Slouch]

Re: What is your age?

when we get too old, we will have to put together our GAR kits and walk around Gettysburg once a year. Maybe Charlie will bring out some GAR kits!

[Micah Trent]

Re: What is your age?

I can see it now several years down the road...our EBUFU event we will portraying Reserves protecting (insert location)...as us older folks just can't do as we once were capable of.:D "Seniors"...man, it gonna be great!

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: What is your age?

Average age so far on the AC forum for the first 180 voters is 34.8 - 39.8 yrs old! If you want I can do the numbers again when the poll closes!

Thanks, Drew!

That is some very interesting data.

Yes, when the poll closes, please be sure to perform final tally!

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: What is your age?

It would be a side discussion that 21st century "age" versus 19th century "age" is not quite the same. While it may be the same chronologically, the "effects" and appearance of physical age are different. Or differences in maturation such as Modern Life delaying young adults entry into the "adult world" often until age 21 or 22 when they "get out of college."

No argument there, Curt. There is certainly plenty of room for discussion with those truths lurking about.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: What is your age?

This hobby has nothing to do with age....it all depends on the individual. For example, PORT GIBSON 03...it was not the middle age men that were falling out, it was the young bucks...and they looked like beer cans on the side of the road.

As in OIF II, so was the Civil War, if you were fit you served.

[reddcorp]

Re: What is your age?

57, but whose counting...and those AARP discounts come in handy.

Just remember, "Old age and treachery beats youth and enthusiasm every time."

A.W.Redd

[bbodoh]

Re: What is your age?

This is an interesting poll. It is clear to me as someone approching 40 that I am getting near the point that I would have no longer be allowed to do much more than be an officer, if I had the education. I am in the middle age range of the hobby. It is something to think about.

Brad Bodoh
Mess #3
ONV

[DannyJoe]

Re: What is your age?

My ggg-grandfather enlisted in the 1st Minnesota Cav at the age of 41. It is a motivator for me to think about his service. I am a few years beyond his age at enlistment, and I prefer to stay in the ranks as a private soldier for the duration of my remaining time in the hobby, which will hopefully be another 10-15 years. Staying physically fit and healthy have been important for me to continue in the hobby. My age is not a "show stopper" at this point. I just hope that it continues that way.
"I ain't as good as I once was, but I am as good once as I ever was." T. Keith
Regards,

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: What is your age?

You should have an under 15 option.

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: What is your age?

You should have an under 15 option.

Ask a mod for adjustment (that is, if it isn't too late).

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: What is your age?

Hallo!

I think an under 18 option already stretches the historical aspect of the thread, short of reraising the discussion of underage soldiers again.
But on the other hand, this is kind of a modern "social' rather than "historical" thread as in many ways we are comparing apples and oranges between "modern ages" and "period ages" (other than chronologically).
;) :) :)

Curt

[MickCole]

Re: What is your age?

When I started in the hobby, I was "young" enough to portray one of my cousins--Robert Preston Spencer, what at age 50 was the oldest man to enlist in the 25th VA Cavalry. He later transferred to the 64th VA Cavalry and was paroled at Cumberland Gap on 4/28/1865.
Now I'm 63 and tend to be as authentic as I can at mostly mainstream events--due to things like spinal stenosis and sleep apnea, I can no longer keep up with the physical requirements for campaigner events.
Mick Cole
SUVCW, SCV, 9th Texas, 37th VA

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: What is your age?

Well a photographer taking photos of dead confederates in Petersburg in 1865 remarked that the boys appeared to be around 14. I wouldn't say being under 18 or even 15 is historically inaccurate.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: What is your age?

Hallo!

"I wouldn't say being under 18 or even 15 is historically inaccurate."

Neither am I. When it is researched and docomented, history is what it is, and if one's impression or persona is that, then it is correct or accurate for that impression's circumstance, time, and place.
Otherwise, the exception can become the rule. And we make the exceptions the rules.

Meaning, taken to its extreme a company of lads all physically appearing as "under 18" or even "under 15" would not be "historically accurate." (Unless one looks to exceptions such as the "VMI cadets" at New Market.)

And then, without historical context, the other extreme becomes possible... " I wouldn't say being over 70 or even 75 is historically inaccurate."

And that is a longer discussion, beginning with personal Mental Pictures and how one operationalizes, and puts into practice, where, "being under 18 or 15." As well as what that meant historically versus how we want to apply that to a Believeable Image and Suspending Disbelief, etc.,

And others' mileage will vary...

;) :) :)

Curt

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: What is your age?

Another thing is that generally young men around the age of 18 in the period tend to look like modern young men at th age of 14 or 15. So you can be younger and still look like a 16 or 17 year old of the period.