What single thing at faire hurls you off into the depths of rage?

[Nighthawk]

As to the various mentions of weapons and peace ties, its not so much a rage as a worry. I've been a regular attendant at a number of NorCal faires for years. Most require zip-tied weapons, though enforcement changes from year to year, and seemingly from p(l)aytron to p(l)aytron. What bothers me is the massive pile of broken/cut ties immediately outside the gates where people discard (on the ground) them as quickly as possible upon leaving. Even worse is at one faire you can tell where people think nobody will notice, becasue there are corners with the busted ties piled up on the ground INSIDE. I know that people who would be so determined to have ties off are not likely to respect the weapons as such, nad just from personal experience, are the ones who might cause trouble (except it does seem like most I've actually caught with ties removed are in that nice littel window that lets them buy blades, but not booze).

I have to say here that I get a chuckle out of the peace tie thing. My dirk and sgain dubh are impossible to tie, given the shape of them, but the gate keepers always try, anyway- and management know me well enough by now that they just let me in as long as it LOOKS like my weapons are tied. Gods bless the gate keepers- they give it their best honest effort.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

No one checked my baskethilt or my dirk at Scarby... i was actually through the gates when i realized that my tie had come undone.   Only a fool would draw live steel at faire... drunk or not, a fool is still a fool.

[Drudonn]

The last time I went to TRF, I actually forgot to tie my sword...they never even checked. I didn't realize it until I was through the gate and had been walking around for a while. I wouldn't draw it anyway--too many people around to be waving a sharp & pointy bit of metal....

[Seamus Ex Machina]

That would be @$$hats that go on roadtrips with us and don't behave.  Even if these people are not actually affilliated with us, any drunken escapade, any fire alarm, any small scale radioactive incident, and the blame is apparently squarely with my pirate crewe.....

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

Parents who think it's okay to use the Children's dell as a daycare drop off.

[will paisley]

Parents who think it's okay to use the Children's dell as a daycare drop off.

Hey, at Maryland there's a pub they use for that.  Makes it real interesting for baudy performers who are about to teach preschoolers a whole new vocabulary they can share with their weekday day care classmates.

[KiltedPrivateer]

So called "Rennies" that cut down the trees in other clan encampments to build fences out of - DIE DIE DIE

Sorry - was that out loud

I love everyone (o:

[woodfar]

I hardly ever get angry at Faire.  

But I'm in agreement with most of you re: weapons/safety, people who don't manage/care for their children properly, and otherwise inconsiderate people.

Also: litterbugs. Yep, I'm one of *those* people. Smokers: they're outdoors! The world is their ashtray! So why can't they field strip their cigar/cigarette and throw it in the trash? Danes who think they can just leave their debris (or their children's) about for the crew to pick up: where do they think they are? I once saw a person (sadly, a rennie even) unwrap a piece of candy and throw the wrapper on the ground. My friend and I sort of looked at each other and I didn't know what to do except go pick it up and throw it away.

So those are my peeves. I try to remember to be considerate and hope others try to do so, too. It doesn't always happen that way, though.

I run into the trash thing all the time on the street. I will pick up the trash and take it to the person who dropped it, hand it to them while asking " excuse me, did you drop something". Most people will take it with their mouth open not believing I really did that.

[Merlin the Elder]

I run into the trash thing all the time on the street. I will pick up the trash and take it to the person who dropped it, hand it to them while asking " excuse me, did you drop something". Most people will take it with their mouth open not believing I really did that.

I like your style!

A funny story: Many years ago, when there was still such a thing as full-service at a gas pump, a guy and his lady drove into a station, in a convertible, on the corner from where I lived. While they we filling his tank, he went to the john, and she slid the ashtray out and dumped it over the side of the car into the driveway (the trash can was 2 feet away...too far to walk!).

The lady who owned the station with her husband, witnessed this act, grabbed a broom and dustpan, and went out and cleaned up all the butts, and the lady in the car watched with disinterest. Mrs. B. then walked over to the convertible and dumped the contents of the dustpan in the back seat!

I liked her style too. Funny thing about Mrs. B: she'd do anything in the world for you, but you didn't want to cross her.

[Archer]

That's a great example story Merlin.  It takes too much negative energ to actually "rage" per the opening post.  Justice in the form of teaching lessons as you just described to those in need of the schooling/education, is another matter entirely.   

[Captain Teague]

Not sure if I would actually rage, but as close as it can get.

1. People who attend Faire in Walmart Halloween costume level garb in a very weak attempt to fit in, yet they then act complete fools to all around them and especially to the danes who don't know the difference, thereby giving all veteran Playtrons, those with earnest works of garb and personae in progress and the Faire as a whole a bad rep.

One example in particular is this guy who wore a t shirt that simulated a maille shirt, some kind of belt and a plastic toy sword. Therefore (in his mind, accelerated by alcohol ) it was ok to LOUDLY spout an unending stream of very badly accented olde english and make some very roguish remarks to any females that had the misfortune to get in his radius, flail about wildly in his posturing, the list goes on... I even overheard one lady say to another "does he work here?" I quietly informed them that while I myself did not work for them either, that they certainly would never employ badly dressed drunken buffoons such as that. I saw another group of 3 very badly dressed and acting like complete jerks and laughing when people were offended.

2. People who attend for the express purpose of mocking everything about the Faire. Usually this is from the younger teen crowd, but occasionally adults will do this as well. The occasional one who brings their children and does this in front of them, well.....floggings should be reinstated in my book.


I been attending Faire as a playtron for around 25 yrs. My weapons are always peace tied, never had any issue at the gate. I smoke, but always step away from  the crowds and walkways and would never smoke in a show, a pub or any other gathering place. Lady Gryphon and I being often mistaken AS cast, have a small repertoire of shticks to entertain onlookers briefly and keep the fantasy alive as we can assist with it.

No, I do not rage nor let anything ruin my day. And seeing unthinking or uncaring people attempting to ruin others day intentionally,they get reported.

[daggrim]

Ah, another OLD thread.  Why do I always find these a year after they end? 

Anyway, let me add one to the list.  I'm a merchant, and the thing that torques my jaws is being rushed by a gaggle of undisciplined kids, who touch and grab everything they can reach, while the parents ignore them, or even take pictures of the little brats.  For the first time, I finally snapped this weekend, and jumped up , yelling, "Take that helmet off your head", to a little girl who was abusing a $200 leather helmet I'd made.  She said "No" and I couldn't get it off her, as she'd fastened the chinstrap.  I submerged my impulse to strangle her with it, and turned to her mother, who was taking pictures!  She finally intervened, as I was yelling at her to get her kids out of my shop.  Whew.

Encouraged by the results, I tried the same tactic with a young couple who were busily snapping pictures of each other while ignoring the shop owner and helpers...many pictures...handling expensive merchandise like they owned it.  "Enough PICTURES", I groused.  They finished the last of the series, then said "Sorry", and left.

Now, I'm prepared to say something right away to the rude patrons.  It keeps my blood pressure safe, and informs them, as their parents never did, about how to treat expensive merchandise that does not belong to them.

I guess it makes me mad that the burden is upon my shoulders to be the "enforcer" and let people know when they've trodden too heavily in someone else's space.

I must say, though, that the vast majority of patrons and kids are polite and respectful.  I've just finally gotten the stones enough to say something to those who are not.

Doug   

[Merlin the Elder]

Not ended...merely dormant for a bit.

If you're having difficulty with people trying on your wares and snapping pictures, you should simply do what so many of the vendors at the faires I have attended have done, and post a sign saying "Absolutely No Photos." If you are the artisan/vendor of unique items, you have every right, in my opinion. You can also request "Please do not handle merchandise without assistance."  If you don't maintain control of your shop, the dim-witted twits will take it.

[Adriana Rose]

One cut I really like when kids are manhandling expesive things is " Oh that (insertprice here) garland will look great on your mum"

That normally ends the grabbit kids for the time. Signs with " No pictures please" works too but you still have to be on the watch for the snap happy people.

[eloquentXI]

Honestly, I can put up with a lot. I can put up with stupid weed puller danes, I can put up with the kids, with the hooker-pirates, with the drunks, and with the garb nazis.

The only thing at faire that has sent me into a fit of rage and still does, are the few people who have wronged some of my family out there.

The very few that have used the community for their kindness, and have taken and taken without giving back. That expect to be given things because they are worse off than other people. The worthless scum still manage to walk amongst the magic, still feeling like they are owed something. And then have the nerve to tell other people when I don't show them kindness.

That will always make me burn so angry that I could throw something.