Why so serious?

**Semiomniscient** · 29th January 10, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

I got over worrying about "historically acurate" garb at renfaire years ago, and never even thought about worrying about how the patrons might dress at a Highland games. Like Bob, I never carry any big iron as part of my renfaire kit anymore, that stuff is just heavy, and gets in the way all the time. But I will say it's great to live in a free land where you can drag it around if you want to!

But honstly, I figure its a good thing if folks want to do something creative to get into the spirit of faire or games, so I wouldn't want to discourage it. It's better than showing up in the baggy cargo shorts and crocs they might wear otherwise!

I seem to be in a lot of groups that have this sort of issue! I recall we had some folks from the Texas Renassiance Fest performance cast come to our local Sci-fi convention here in Houston to promote the faire. I thought it was nice, as I see a lot of cross-over of Sci-Fi with the 'fantasy' of faire, and many folks I know really get into both, but there were actually people there at the con who thought it was "inappropriate" to mix ren-faire with Sci-Fi! Nothing like a 40 year old man in a Harry Potter school uniform saying some faries, princesses and elves are inappropriate at a Sci-Fi con! It all led to infinitely boring discussions that evening where I found myself hearing and using words like parachronism or prochronism or chronological anomaly, which nobody should have to say unless their gonna be graded on it !

Well sheesh!
My thing is that Highland Games aren't Ren Faires and my ancestors and my personal family history isn't a fantasy game to escape the daily struggles of life. I'm all for Ren Faires being Ren Faires... but cultural gatherings should be just that.

**Zardoz** · 29th January 10, 03:32 PM

I'll try to be more serious at the next Highland games !

**Semiomniscient** · 29th January 10, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

I'll try to be more serious at the next Highland games !

;-) Just be who you are and not your "character".

**Zardoz** · 29th January 10, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Semiomniscient

Well sheesh!
My thing is that Highland Games aren't Ren Faires and my ancestors and my personal family history isn't a fantasy game to escape the daily struggles of life. I'm all for Ren Faires being Ren Faires... but cultural gatherings should be just that.

I see a couple of similarities between Highland games and renfaire, but not as cultural events, it's about the attitude of some of the partrons.

I really think/ hope that everybody at a Highland games, Burn's Supper, Tartan Day , or most any other Celtic themed event is there to have fun and escape the daily struggles of life. But I know that there are some folks there that are failing to have fun because the are taking the whole thing too seriously. At faire it's the 'garb nazis' running around pointing out what they see as 'non-period'. And it seems we have some of the same attitude in the Highland games world too, 'kilt police' notwithstanding!

Really, the thing folks do at Celtic events I find most annoying is bicker about the clan feuds their ancestors might have had 400 years ago! Listening to somebody who's last name happens to be MacDonald fume about everybody that walks by wearing a Campbell tartan is just sad to me, so indeed, why so serious!

**Semiomniscient** · 29th January 10, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

I see a couple of similarities between Highland games and renfaire, but not as cultural events, it's about the attitude of some of the partrons.

I really think/ hope that everybody at a Highland games, Burn's Supper, Tartan Day , or most any other Celtic themed event is there to have fun and escape the daily struggles of life. But I know that there are some folks there that are failing to have fun because the are taking the whole thing too seriously. At faire it's the 'garb nazis' running around pointing out what they see as 'non-period'.

And it seems we have some of the same attitude in the Highland games world too, 'kilt police' notwithstanding! Really, the thing folks do at Celtic events I find most annoying is bicker about the clan feuds their ancestors might have had 400 years ago! Listening to somebody who's last name happens to be MacDonald fume about everybody that walks be wearing a Campbell tartan is just sad to me, so indeed, why so serious!

Oh, no. I see what you mean. I guess I just don't think life ends at the weekend and that's "play time". It's all part of who I am and not some fiction I want to play out. Now, I love acting, and I guess it all has its place... but I prefer myself and enjoying things not pretending to be what I'm not. I think some of this might bleed over into the idea that some aren't comfortable in a kilt and play a character so that they cover their anxiety.

**Dixiecat** · 29th January 10, 04:30 PM

I seem to be in a lot of groups that have this sort of issue! I recall we had some folks from the Texas Renassiance Fest performance cast come to our local Sci-fi convention here in Houston to promote the faire. I thought it was nice, as I see a lot of cross-over of Sci-Fi with the 'fantasy' of faire, and many folks I know really get into both, but there were actually people there at the con who thought it was "inappropriate" to mix ren-faire with Sci-Fi! Nothing like a 40 year old man in a Harry Potter school uniform saying some faries, princesses and elves are inappropriate at a Sci-Fi con!

Kinda off topic, but this episode of The Big Bang Theory deals with historical inaccuracies. You must watch the beginning and the very end to see the best parts. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5ZDY7xA1Zk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhlOI...eature=related

**Zardoz** · 29th January 10, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Semiomniscient

Oh, no. I see what you mean. I guess I just don't think life ends at the weekend and that's "play time". It's all part of who I am and not some fiction I want to play out. Now, I love acting, and I guess it all has its place... but I prefer myself and enjoying things not pretending to be what I'm not. I think some of this might bleed over into the idea that some aren't comfortable in a kilt and play a character so that they cover their anxiety.

James, I think you and I are more like minded about this subject than our posts here indicate, but I'll say for the record, I wear the kilt almost full time, and while I'll garb up at renfaire, I don't play a "character" anywhere. At the games , faire or whatever I'm the same fat guy in a kilt! And while I understand your thoughts about life not 'ending at the weekend', and I hate to sound like my dad; but you're young, you'll get over it, don't wait till you're old to have fun like me!

**B. Somm** · 30th January 10, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Listening to somebody who's last name happens to be MacDonald fume about everybody that walks by wearing a Campbell tartan is just sad to me, so indeed, why so serious!

I hear ya Zardoz...

Below is me & Riverkilt at the Games where I learned that I am a "Campbell" through the Burns side of my family. Mr. Macdonald had been 'bemoaning' the Campbells all day, so I didn't waste any time in letting him know that he's been consorting with "A Campbell" all these years!!

As for the original topic, the Phoenix area Highland Games are held during the same time that the Ren Faire is in town, so there are usually a plethora of 're-enactors' & assorted characters runnin' aboot!

Even though I do middle ages re-enactment, I leave my garb & swords at home...same goes w/ the Ren Faire, which I equate to a circus atmosphere and only go if someone wants me to tag along.

B.