Dmoffat
Private
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2014
- Location
- California
Ok, so I would like to talk about some sore areas that I have been seeing lately on the fields and at events. The subjects may be a little testy, but I would like an open and honest discussion about this. We all love this hobby, and it is a just a "hobby". But, we all do our best to make sure we get our impressions right not just for ourselves, but in my opinion for other fellow re-enactors to enjoy. We all want to immerse ourselves as fully as possible into the time period of 1861-1865 and we not only want to enjoy it ourselves and make it as real as possible to us, but to the public as well. So we spend money, we do our research and it takes time to get it all right or at least close. It can be quite expensive and time consuming so thus we have "loner" gear and the advice of experienced re-enactors to help us get up to speed. Now this usually takes time and in my experience units give about a year to get all of your stuff and finalize your impression. So now to the parts that I am having a hard time with and Im not trying to be an A-hole about this, but I think it does matter.
(Before I go into this, I stand fast to the idea that no one is to be discriminated against or barred from enjoying re-enacting due to race, appearance, ideas or really anything for that matter. This is all MY OPINION and that's it)
#1 Weight: I'm sorry, but I don't think a man that has been marching for thousands of miles on nothing but a diet of Hard tack and salt pork is going to weigh 300 lbs or more (maybe he's allergic to bread I dunno). On the flip side he might also look extremely emaciated and I would never advocate being that unhealthy either. But, if you are going to take your time in saving money to get the best equipment you can, and taking the time to do all that research, wouldn't you try and work on your physical impression as well? Now I say this as a former fatty myself ( I weighed 335 at one point in my life) but it was important to me that ALL aspects of my impression were right (not to mention my health and wanting to be there for my family being first and main reason) and I made the effort to lose the weight. Losing the weight also helped my pocket book in not having to pay such exorbitant prices for custom made clothing! Also as an EMT I've had to respond to a lot of heat stroke and heart issues at events and its heart breaking to see a re-enactor's event ruined because their body failed them(not to say skinny people don't fall prey to these issues, but more often than not it happens to be an obese person). One last thing, I do understand that there are genetic issues and other reasons that may cause a person to have weight issues. So I refer back to my clause about discrimination.
#2 Female Soldiers: Now on this one I know I am walking a fine line here. But from what I learned about females fighting in the civil war(books like "All the daring of a soldier" and "Alice Williamsons Civil War Diary"), they made every effort to make themselves look like men. One was so good at it, the regiment had no clue "he" was a "she" until she gave birth! Now most women and girls I see in uniform at events got it down pretty good, but there are some issues with others. I don't think women soldiers let their hair down, and if they did they sure as heck didn't let their ultra bleached/fire engine red/barney purple locks fly like a Pantene pro-v commercial. Lately I've been seeing that without anything being said. I've also been seeing a lot of earrings and facial piercings as well. Now I can't speak for the rest of the country, but I'm in California and it might be more common here, I dunno. Anyways, I'll move on and again refer to my discrimination clause.
#3 Confederate impressions: There's one thing here I wanted to see what people thought of. First, there's the regular period correct Confederates who look great in so many different uniforms. Some I've seen go barefoot and that takes more guts than I've got! And then there's the what I like to call the "Skynard Rebs". You people know who I'm talking about (so many different variations just use your imagination), and there's always at least a few at every event. All I gotta say is, get a haircut. Or at least make the hair look period, not long, full and luscious like you're about to go onstage and impress the ladies. Oh, and remove the magical bullet proof vest that keeps you from ever dying or taking a hit. Am I wrong in thinking this? Once again, please refer to the discrimination clause.
#4 Sun glasses: Stop it, just stop it. Unless you have an eye condition that requires you to wear some, or are a vampire. I never read depictions of General Forrest or Longstreet charging in wearing their finest Ray-Bans.
These are just a few things I have been seeing and wondering about. I would love to hear what others think, or read about their gripes as well. Once again this is all just MY OPINION and not the lords truth. We all do this for fun and to educate the public. Just wanted to see what others think.
Cheers,
David
(Before I go into this, I stand fast to the idea that no one is to be discriminated against or barred from enjoying re-enacting due to race, appearance, ideas or really anything for that matter. This is all MY OPINION and that's it)
#1 Weight: I'm sorry, but I don't think a man that has been marching for thousands of miles on nothing but a diet of Hard tack and salt pork is going to weigh 300 lbs or more (maybe he's allergic to bread I dunno). On the flip side he might also look extremely emaciated and I would never advocate being that unhealthy either. But, if you are going to take your time in saving money to get the best equipment you can, and taking the time to do all that research, wouldn't you try and work on your physical impression as well? Now I say this as a former fatty myself ( I weighed 335 at one point in my life) but it was important to me that ALL aspects of my impression were right (not to mention my health and wanting to be there for my family being first and main reason) and I made the effort to lose the weight. Losing the weight also helped my pocket book in not having to pay such exorbitant prices for custom made clothing! Also as an EMT I've had to respond to a lot of heat stroke and heart issues at events and its heart breaking to see a re-enactor's event ruined because their body failed them(not to say skinny people don't fall prey to these issues, but more often than not it happens to be an obese person). One last thing, I do understand that there are genetic issues and other reasons that may cause a person to have weight issues. So I refer back to my clause about discrimination.
#2 Female Soldiers: Now on this one I know I am walking a fine line here. But from what I learned about females fighting in the civil war(books like "All the daring of a soldier" and "Alice Williamsons Civil War Diary"), they made every effort to make themselves look like men. One was so good at it, the regiment had no clue "he" was a "she" until she gave birth! Now most women and girls I see in uniform at events got it down pretty good, but there are some issues with others. I don't think women soldiers let their hair down, and if they did they sure as heck didn't let their ultra bleached/fire engine red/barney purple locks fly like a Pantene pro-v commercial. Lately I've been seeing that without anything being said. I've also been seeing a lot of earrings and facial piercings as well. Now I can't speak for the rest of the country, but I'm in California and it might be more common here, I dunno. Anyways, I'll move on and again refer to my discrimination clause.
#3 Confederate impressions: There's one thing here I wanted to see what people thought of. First, there's the regular period correct Confederates who look great in so many different uniforms. Some I've seen go barefoot and that takes more guts than I've got! And then there's the what I like to call the "Skynard Rebs". You people know who I'm talking about (so many different variations just use your imagination), and there's always at least a few at every event. All I gotta say is, get a haircut. Or at least make the hair look period, not long, full and luscious like you're about to go onstage and impress the ladies. Oh, and remove the magical bullet proof vest that keeps you from ever dying or taking a hit. Am I wrong in thinking this? Once again, please refer to the discrimination clause.
#4 Sun glasses: Stop it, just stop it. Unless you have an eye condition that requires you to wear some, or are a vampire. I never read depictions of General Forrest or Longstreet charging in wearing their finest Ray-Bans.
These are just a few things I have been seeing and wondering about. I would love to hear what others think, or read about their gripes as well. Once again this is all just MY OPINION and not the lords truth. We all do this for fun and to educate the public. Just wanted to see what others think.
Cheers,
David
Bringing the