| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - September 17 2004 : 4:32:45 PM
Occasionally, on the re-enacting email lists I belong to, someone will send through a funny comment they have received from the public. This one came through today and it just struck me so funny:
My favorite actually happened on our way home from an event. We drove home in kit, and had to stop for gas along the highway. My DH got out and was pumping the gas in his Butler's [Rangers] kit, leather leggins, etc., oblivious to the fact the we might look odd to others, when a young fellow pumping gas next to us said - with some trepidition in his voice, "What is it you do that they make you dress like that?"
 Sometimes people just don't understand... |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| blackfootblood |
Posted - October 09 2008 : 1:02:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Wilderness Woman
Well, I just have to post this one, because it made me laugh right out loud. You guys who are on the F&IWar Yahoo list probably read this.
One gentleman re-enactor who portrays a Highlander was apparently having a bad day with the tourists. He was asked by a someone what "that furry bag hanging in front was." His reply, delivered in his broadest Scots burr was, "Mah scrrrrr-otum."
LOL, Oh goodness!!! That made me spit my drink out!! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - October 09 2008 : 09:38:30 AM
Well, I just have to post this one, because it made me laugh right out loud. You guys who are on the F&IWar Yahoo list probably read this.
One gentleman re-enactor who portrays a Highlander was apparently having a bad day with the tourists. He was asked by a someone what "that furry bag hanging in front was." His reply, delivered in his broadest Scots burr was, "Mah scrrrrr-otum."
|
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - October 06 2008 : 4:42:56 PM
Last weekend after the raid at Fort Dobbs I started cleaning my fusil. Then spectators started stopping by. No stupid questions or anything, but 1 1/2 hours later I still hadn't finished the cleaning, usually a 10 minute job. So I just put it up and got away from that area. Hadn't eaten diner either. I hear people talking about educating the public, but if that was my reason for going I would just take up golf or something. |
| Obediah |
Posted - October 06 2008 : 4:08:55 PM
At re-enactments I've actually heard some of the unwashed masses ask if the Yankees wore blue or gray! 
Although I have heard many of my fellow re-enactors state that they were doing this hobby to teach folks about American history, I always doubted that ... I was in it to be with my friends & have fun; if a "civilian" learned something, so much the better. Let's face it, the civilian spectators are like the news media discussing firearms: they don't even know what they don't know! |
| blackfootblood |
Posted - October 06 2008 : 1:56:35 PM
Too funny, WW! You know it's crazy how ignorant some folks really are. Did they not pay attention in history class? Do they not know or remember any sort of American history? And what is this fascination with the Amish? I'm sorry, I guess since I grew up with the Amish being my neighbors, it's not that interesting to me. But hopefully you might have sparked an interest with this stranger! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - October 06 2008 : 12:54:36 PM
Well, I had a funny experience this weekend.
Seamus, 2 other guys from our regiment, and I were driving home from a nice little event out in western PA, near Pittsburgh, and were traveling in our 18th C. clothing. We were all in Seamus' truck and pulled into a large Flying J complex to get gas and visit the Necessary.
As I was coming out of said room, 3 women were coming in. They all stared openly at me as they passed me and looked me up and down. I'm getting used to that, now, so it didn't bother me. I just smile and move on.
But the last woman, who was Puerto Rican by appearance and accent, called after me, "Where is your town?" I stopped and looked at back at her in puzzlement, as I didn't know what she meant. I said, "Pardon me?"
She repeated, "Where is your town?" Because I was still staring at her with a quizzical look on my face, she continued, "You're Amish, aren't you?"
I stifled a laugh, but smiled and said, "No. I'm not. I'm a re-enactor."
Now it was her turn to look blank. She said, "A.... what???"
By now, I figured this was pretty much a lost cause, so I briefly explained that I am a Living Historian who re-enacts the French & Indian War era. With that, I smiled at her, turned and walked on, leaving her still staring blankly. Then, I heard her call after me in her heavily accented English, "Can you tell me where an Amish town is?"
The ridiculous part of this all is that when I am dressed in my 18th C. clothing, I look absolutely nothing like an Amish woman! But, as Kay said above, people can't seem to get past the white cap.
Ah well... the education continues..... 
|
| Obediah |
Posted - November 10 2006 : 2:03:11 PM
My granddaughter is the 1st but not the only one...and she will tell you that she's the cutest granddaughter in the world! She's 11-going-on-16. Lucky us, we get her every weekend. Normally, when I pick her up on Friday evening, I get a big hug; last Friday all I got was "Grandpa, look, I got a cell phone!"  |
| felicitysgramma |
Posted - November 09 2006 : 10:26:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Obediah
Kay, I just want you to know 2 things:
(1) "I feel your pain!"
(2) I have the cutest granddaughter in the world!
1) Thanks, I appreciate it!
2) No you don't - I have the top two!  (This your first?) |
| Obediah |
Posted - November 09 2006 : 12:15:42 AM
Kay, I just want you to know 2 things:
(1) "I feel your pain!"
(2) I have the cutest granddaughter in the world! |
| felicitysgramma |
Posted - November 08 2006 : 11:58:08 PM
I work selling cell phones in a kiosk in a mall in part of Pennsylvania's farm country. The Saturday before Halloween all the kids from the surrounding area come to the mall in costume early in the morning to show off their stuff and take a guided walk around the mall so they can gather candy from all the merchants. My boss said we could dress up for it, so I tossed on my 18c clothing and played in it for the day, stays, cap and all.
A week later a customer came to the kiosk (bearing in mind I'm back in the usual business suit with long curly loose hair) and told me the "other lady" had told him such-and-such could be done to fix his wife's phone, so he'd brought it in with him. His statement was a bit off the mark for our policies, so I asked him "which lady?" thinking maybe he'd talked to our other female coworker at another time. He said, "That lady with the white hat I talked to last Saturday...the Amish lady."
I thought about explaining it, but he was so completely clueless that I just let it ride and stifled a laugh. And ya know, it never did dawn on him that it had been me.  |
| Obediah |
Posted - November 02 2006 : 10:49:48 PM
Back when I was re-enacting (c. 1983), our unit (Confederate) was headed to Fort Point (the brick fort guarding the Golden Gate (now right under the S end of the Golden Gate Bridge)), and we stopped at a Denny's in SF for breakfast. Since we were in full uniform, the (so-called) management put us at tables in a back room of the restaurant, obviously so the other customers couldn't see us! All was not lost, however; when we left the joint, one of the customers there asked us what rock band we belonged to!  |
| caitlin |
Posted - November 02 2006 : 12:13:38 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Obediah
The best answer I've ever heard about was a (real) Scotsman's reply to a female touron, when she asked, "Is anything worn under your kilts?" and he said, "No ma'am, it's as good as it ever was!"
Now, that IS funny! Thanks for the chuckle! |
| Obediah |
Posted - November 02 2006 : 12:59:49 AM
The best answer I've ever heard about was a (real) Scotsman's reply to a female touron, when she asked, "Is anything worn under your kilts?" and he said, "No ma'am, it's as good as it ever was!" |
| pasmokepole |
Posted - May 17 2006 : 12:17:54 PM
During hunting season I often dread going into a convenience store to have some Bozo look at my camoflage and ask if I'm "going hunting?" With all my dry sarcasm I look him/her square in the eye and tell them I'm returning from a white supremicist meeting. The reaction on their faces is priceless. I laugh and say "Here's yer sign". |
| Two Kettles |
Posted - January 16 2005 : 5:24:32 PM
Two of my favorites:
Several years ago there was a period gun show held at a venue just down the road from where a very famous rock band was playing. Saturday night, several of us were sitting in the hotel lobby, including two Black Watch grenadiers. Some folks asked why we were dressed the way we were, and I couldn't resist. I told them we were Aerosmith's roadies, and this is how we dressed for the show. They were impressed and said "Really?" So I said, "No," and told them the truth. They laughed about it, but I think they were disappointed.
Once, my wife was walking back to a period camp in a city park after a visit to the brick necessary. A little ways in front of her was a mom with her young daughter. Not realizing who was behind her, mom pointed to the camp and said to her daughter: "These people do this...for fun!?!"
Two Kettles |
| caitlin |
Posted - January 13 2005 : 10:15:03 PM
Well, I admit, I would even have to question that one! |
| wlogwihlas |
Posted - January 13 2005 : 10:49:38 AM
More Stories, couple years ago, some friends and i walked into walmart at 12:00 midnight wearing full native regalia and warpaint and asked for ducttape, plastic handcuffs, and rope......dont ask. Should have seen the looks we got. |
| Sjt. Malcolm MacWilliam |
Posted - October 01 2004 : 9:09:25 PM
Aye, here is a good one I forgot about. Our elderly Lieut. Campbell who is now retired - his wife is Welsh. So on St. David's day she flies the Welsh flag....red, green, white with the Griffin on it. One of our former members was an attendee of a local fundamentalist Christian church and a few days after St. David's day and the flying of the flag, during the church service.....several of his congregation got up (during the out-loud prayer and supplication time), to ask God to forgive the witch that lived at 256 Carlisle Rd, the one flying the devil's flag....that was the Lieut's address!! The poor folk didn't know the Welsh Flag and thought it a Satanic symbol.....Pax Aye! 1st Sjt. MacWm. |
| Fitz Williams |
Posted - October 01 2004 : 2:10:39 PM
In South Carolina we have found that the Canadians and British we meet at events are better informed than the locals. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - October 01 2004 : 12:43:05 PM
Well, at least they recognized that you were representing another era in history! That's far better than labeling you as a member of a particular religious sect, or someone in need of financial assistance!
|
| Hawkwind |
Posted - October 01 2004 : 11:35:50 AM
Ive only been to a few public events but, the last one i went to was a living history fair at Exeter, we were 23rd foot (light company) during the AWI, i cant remember many comments though.
As it was VERY hot, me and my freind went to the to get some drinks from a supermarket (as the site was a 2 minute walk to the center of town), i remember stepping into the Tesco supermarket and almost falling flat on my backside as shiny floor and studded shoes dont mix , anyway, when we had paid for the water/fizzy drinks, and these 2 women said something about "where did we park the timemachine" .
|
| alikws |
Posted - September 29 2004 : 09:58:37 AM
us 'sauvages' get the don't recognise pretty regular... most of us have pretty distinctive gear, and paint similar each time... so with no paint, and carharts and a camo shirt, people we know from reenacting can be real slow to recognise us...
on spectators who suprise you, a few years back, while tearing down at an acw event {the most interesting and knowlegable spectators seem to be most around at teardown, because they don't want to leave} we started talking to a spectator, who said he was a writer, and was interested in tactics... he joined our unit, and his book {the bloody crucible of courage,brent noseworthy} is one of the top tactics books out on the civil war...
as for things that interest spectators the most, cooking, gun cleaning, and body paint seem to get the most interest... and living historys generaly are good places to make a pair of moccasins or some other small project... its the spectators a couple 'z-scores' over the mean that are most remembered... |
| caitlin |
Posted - September 28 2004 : 8:13:49 PM
There are some people that have never seen my husband in his clothes!  Regular clothes I should say! It is always a hoot to see their reaction!
caitlin |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - September 28 2004 : 7:27:01 PM
quote:
Gadget Girl asks: Just to reverse things a bit...do you guys ever encounter folks that have only ever seen you in garb and then say something like one of my patients say when they recognize me outside work (sans labcoat)..."I almost didn't recognize you with clothes on!"
Oh yes, I do encounter that. Usually it is at a RevWar event, while doing my New Jersey Volunteers impression, when folks who know me say, "I didn't recognize you with pants on!" When the person is of the fair sex, and their significant other is present, it does generate some odd looks.
Your Most Humble Servant,
|
| Gadget Girl |
Posted - September 28 2004 : 7:21:58 PM
Just to reverse things a bit...do you guys ever encounter folks that have only ever seen you in garb and then say something like one of my patients say when they recognize me outside work (sans labcoat)..."I almost didn't recognize you with clothes on!"
I can see where that would be tough. I could pick Seamus and Many Flags out of a crowd of hundreds, but with clothes on... hmmmmm, I'm not sure Mikey and Mark would stand out to me
GG |
|
![The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]](images/wwwboard.gif "The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]")
