Ok..does anyone else run into this problem?
*Sets up scene*
"What do you do?"
"Oh I am a hostess, a student and I work Renaissance Faires. You?"
"Renaissance Faires??? You like hanging out with all those long haired hippies?"
(where it says long haired hippies please feel free to inseret, drunks, crazy people, witches, Satanists...and oh so many other things)
If anyone else comes across this ...problem...how do you deal with it...because I am begining to think that I should indugle them all, dress naked and do a moon dance dripping in rum with a long haired hippie....*sighs*
In short....ARGH!
"yes i love hanging with them long haired hippies"
When someone asks, "You like hanging out with all those long-haired hippies/ drunks/ crazy-people/ witches/ Satanists?"
I smile and look them straight in the eyes and reply, "I AM one of those long-haired hippies/ drunks/ crazy-people/ witches/ Satanists!" Once they look shocked/ disgusted/ disbelieving, I invite them to one of our dress-naked-and-do-a-moon-dance-dripping-in-rum-with-a-long-haired-hippie events.
Then they REALLY want to come!
I have had people say that to me and my reply is, "How would you know who goes or whats there unless you've already have been there, and if you have already been there then you know that it is nothing like you say it is. So then when do you want to go again because I'm going this weekend and I want to know if you want to ride share?" That usually shuts them up or sends them away wondering what's up at the renaissance faires, and I have had people come back and ask me if they could actually come along.
Quote from: Dracconia on May 16, 2008, 08:19:39 AM
...because I am begining to think that I should indugle them all, dress naked and do a moon dance dripping in rum with a long haired hippie....*sighs*
In short....ARGH!
*Holds hand up to re-live long-haired hippy days with Dacconia* ;D
Seriously, I've only had that happen once; probably because I'm in upper management, plus an active member of the local theater and quite well known in the community. But when it did, I merely went into 'Scots' mode (6'3" red-head, isn't much of a stretch, LOL) and sent them away wondering what the heck just happened
There are 'long-haired hippies/ drunks/ crazy-people/ witches/ Satanists' at the renfaire?
Wow, I've never noticed. How do you spot them so easily?
::)
Well aren't there actually quite a few drunk people, long haired people (men and women), and witches (wiccans) at renaissance faires?
I don't know about crazy people (maybe).
I haven't seen or know of satanists though.
I would say those people almost have the right idea actually.
On a side note aren't most renaissance characters based on stereotypes? I actually like stereotypes since they are quick and easy things for the actors to portray which get the audience involved and to help them understand what your character is.
Regards,
CB
Quote from: Hospitaller on May 16, 2008, 11:15:02 AM
Quote from: Dracconia on May 16, 2008, 08:19:39 AM
...because I am begining to think that I should indugle them all, dress naked and do a moon dance dripping in rum with a long haired hippie....*sighs*
In short....ARGH!
*Holds hand up to re-live long-haired hippy days with Dacconia* ;D
Hehehee....well then when is the next full moon? ;)
I usually just fix them with a withering "are you the window licker on the short bus?" stare, blink a few times and then sigh deeply. Then after a pause, I invite them to come to faire so they can see just how wrong the information they have obviously gotten from an uninfomed source is. Sometimes this takes explaining in detail what exactly faire really is (and focussing on the perks they would most likely appreciate...rum, wenches, shopping, music, etc. to peak their interest). So far, this has only failed to work on one person, but she is hopeless, won't try new things to save her life!
Just say you'd "love it you could hang out with those long-haired/drunk/hippie/satanists, but that they're all too scared of you."
I get all KINDS of reactions when people at work find out I work and play at faires (I'm known as the shy quiet one at work - don't know where that came from!) ... but after talking with me about it, I usually convince them that they should come out and see what it is before making a snap judgement. Of course, I also point out all the wrong - negative stereotypes about journalists. That helps too.
Actually its "long-haired, pot-smokin', daughter-stealin', rennie-hippie-freaks." ;D
hey this reminds me, once i was at this ladys house and she seen this little tattoo on my lower right leg and she said OH MY GOD you have a tattoo, what were you DRUNK! (whatever) do you have to be drunk to get a tattoo? :o
Quote from: groomporter on May 17, 2008, 08:32:56 AM
Actually its "long-haired, pot-smokin', daughter-stealin', rennie-hippie-freaks." ;D
Sounds like something from an Arlo Guthrie song..
It's kind of interesting- there aren't really any stereotypes about rennies up in Canada. Oh sure, we HAVE the "long-haired, pot-smokin', daughter-stealin', rennie-hippie-freaks," but people don't ASSUME they'll be there. More often than not, people don't even know what a faire is. When I mention I do faires, I get one of four reactions:
a) I have gone and enjoyed it
b) I wanted to go, but didn't that close? (There was really only one Faire in Canada for about 10 years- it closed and average joes never heard of all the smaller ones that have popped up since then)
c) So it's like Disneyland, but medieval?
d) So it's like a living history museum, but not educational?
My boss had gone to a wedding that was held at a faire about a month ago with his family. He was trying to get out of going but his wife wasn't having it so he went. That Monday I asked him about it and he rambled off a few people he saw and then I reply with the people's chatecter name and as much as I know about that person. I got a goofy look from him and he ask how I know this and I have to explain to him that I might not go to as many faires as I would like, I am a rennie though and take pride in that.
This same boss has walked up on my many times while working on cutting out sewing pattens for garb asked what I was doing all while I was sitting at my desk.
Quote from: LADY JOYCEANNE on May 17, 2008, 11:00:17 AM
hey this reminds me, once i was at this ladys house and she seen this little tattoo on my lower right leg and she said OH MY GOD you have a tattoo, what were you DRUNK! (whatever) do you have to be drunk to get a tattoo? :o
In my case, considering my totally wussiness when it comes to needles, probably yes! ;)
I've gotten very little stereotyping when it comes to my participation with ren faires, although I've gotten some odd looks while visiting the local Dunkin Donuts in garb.
Quote from: Whistler Fred on May 17, 2008, 08:24:15 PM
I've gotten very little stereotyping when it comes to my participation with ren faires, although I've gotten some odd looks while visiting the local Dunkin Donuts in garb.
Years and years ago, in my wild days of youth, I was the only one sober enough to drive on the second morning of a long SCA event, so I got to go to the store for more rum. It was me, another guy, and a young lady, I have no idea thier names (society or mundane) anymore. We got the looks that probably spawned many stereotypes when between the three of use all we bought was nearly $200 in rum, $100 in cigarettes, and $50 in condoms.. in garb, and all armed to the teeth (I was working as a merc on a pirate ship at the time)
Wait a minute. You mean you talk to people who aren't long haired, drunken hippies? At least underneath their facade?
Quote from: Terry Griffith on May 18, 2008, 01:03:54 AM
Wait a minute. You mean you talk to people who aren't long haired, drunken hippies? At least underneath their facade?
Nope...they talk to me....quite annoying actually! ::)
I find most people disregard the comment like I never said it at all...its like..so what are your hobbies? Oh..reading fantasy novels, archery and sword play....trying to calm myself after watching Robin Hood: Prince of Theives because kevin costner ISN'T ENGLISH....going to renaissance festivals...playing dungeons and dragons...the usual
Response..
::silence::
So...uh..anything else?
....but in the event someone does put down my going to ren faires and hanging out with those evil hippies...id probably just make devil horns with my fingers and waggle my tongue at them elaine style from seinfeld
I am begining to think that I should indugle them all, dress naked and do a moon dance dripping in rum with a long haired hippie....*sighs*
In short....ARGH!
now THIS sounds like FUN!! :)
at my age, I could give a rat's a...s what people think. I get weird reactions also. I just smile and say.."yup, that's right!" LF
So when is the naked moon dance dripping in rum with a long haired hippie this year? ;)
Think of it this way. With all the new Ren Faires springing up and getting more and more popular, before too long, we will outnumber them. Of course, I'll have to find something else to do.
My thogut on the matter.. If they knew what we knew they would linning up to fellow us into the fair.people are asways going to quick to judge what they don`t know. Here`s an example... If all you did watch someone eat an orange would you really know how good is if you really never taste it. ;D
My answer:
It's the straight-laced, plain vanilla people who live their lives stuck in their tiny, unadventurous little boxes that scare me! There are so many things in life I'll never get the chance to do, but how tragic it would be to die having never tried anything at all.
Of course there are those people who think rennies are just carnies who have found a different gig and that we're just out to take their money in anyway we can.
People think I'm weird already so they're not surprised I spend weekends camping at faire, surrounded by those "crazy" faire folk! I consider it a badge of honor to be considered one of them.
I would just say something like "Don't knock it until you try it!" ;) ;D
People aren't too terribly surprised, especially if they have known me very long. I've always been weird so it doesn't bother me too much.
But I usually ask "Have you actually been out there?"
If they are too scared by the idea that is in their head, it's their own loss!
Most people who bring this up with me get confused when they find out I work in R&D for a medical device mfg. and I'm a Rennie...
I really don't get much of the stereotype stuff anymore, its always fun when the topic turns into a argument....
I am in the same category as Trill, my family and friends have always viewed me as eccentric for my interest in such "weird" things as faire, AD&D, SCI-FI conventions and the diverse books and music that I enjoy.Those varied interests are not something that I could change if I wished, but I like to think that I am blessed for it rather than cursed for not being more "normal" then I am.
my conservative family is horrified that im gonna travel the rennie circuit.
Quote from: Alphonse on May 19, 2008, 12:10:34 PM
I am in the same category as Trill, my family and friends have always viewed me as eccentric for my interest in such "weird" things as faire, AD&D, SCI-FI conventions and the diverse books and music that I enjoy.Those varied interests are not something that I could change if I wished, but I like to think that I am blessed for it rather than cursed for not being more "normal" then I am.
The more I see of the people who consider themselves "normal" the less "normal" I think they are. If they are "Normal" then I never want to be infected with whatever they have.
I like being an individual.
;D your completely right in that those who cling the tightest to their belief that they are "normal" are generally people with the most issues. One of the reasons that I enjoy this forum, faires and conventions is that they are places where I am able to interact with people of similar mindsets. You can't choose the people who are your family but you can do so with your friends.I am much closer with and enjoy the company of my ren-friends then I am with most of my own brothers and sisters.
There's a reason we call them "Mundane".
Quote from: Dracconia on May 16, 2008, 08:19:39 AM
Ok..does anyone else run into this problem?
*Sets up scene*
I am begining to think that I should indugle them all, dress naked and do a moon dance dripping in rum with a long haired hippie....*sighs*
In short....ARGH!
Sorry I'm late, it was a full moon last night!!! :D
Quote from: Dracconia on May 16, 2008, 08:19:39 AM
"Renaissance Faires??? You like hanging out with all those long haired hippies?"
(where it says long haired hippies please feel free to inseret, drunks, crazy people, witches, Satanists...and oh so many other things)
Sounds like the U of A campus or the Pima County Fair. AZRF is cleaner than either.
I have to say, I've had a few people look at me a little funny when I mentin my love for going to faire, but no one has really said anything. Mostly, people who have never been express at least curiosity for what it is all about and I've had a few people decide they want to go try it out.
I have been look apon strangely for going to faires. . . . by my own family! And the sad fact is that almost all of them has gone with me to a faire at one time or another, mostly to humor me so I wouldn't go by myself. Friends of mine give me looks too untill I compare a ren-faire with the local state fair. It's the same thing only in different time periods. That and when I explain that not EVERYONE dresses up to go some get excited and want to go with me!
OK, maybe it's just me, but when confronted with such ignorance, I prefer to use a heavy dose of sardonic retort... something like:
"yeah, because they're a lot more fun and intelligent than the lackwit, smallminded, intolerant prisswads that make fun of them behind their backs"
I care not what people think! I have always marched to a different drummer- or bagpiper! Join the parade! LOL!
Stereotyping is done out of ignorance I think.
When asked, "What do you do for a living?" I proudly reply, "I play King Henry VIII at Scarborough Faire."
Most people laugh and say, "No, really, what do you do?"
My rehearsed answer is, "I have worked at Scarborough for twenty-one years, but during that time in the 'real world' I have suffered from two 'down-sizings' that have left me jobless :(, I have had four companies die right out from under me :o, a buy-out :-[, a 'shift-of-product-focus' (whatever the hell that means) ???, and one out-right firing BECAUSE of Scarborough! >:( To which job do YOU think I owe my allegiance?!?"
I may not make much money at Faire, but they sure have been steady work for me.
Had the 'real world' shewen so much faith in me, thou and I wouldst never have met!
I generally don't get the specific statement "oh you are one of those drunk, pot-smokin', long-haired, whatver else, rennie hippies?" I get something along the lines of "are you one of those weird ones that dresses up in costume and goes out there?" to which I respond "No, but I am one of the weird ones who dresses in her GARB, and goes out there, and I'm damned proud of my weirdness, thankyouverymuch"
I also have a co-worker who will periodically forget how proud I am to be a wench, and in a pathetic attempt to insult me will say either very loudly, or under his breath "WENCH!" to which I almost always respond "it's bone deep and proud of it"!
my ultra conservative brother in law fears seeing me in person anytime near a faire, because he's afraid I'll show up in garb and embarrass him.
A quote I heard somewhere, I think in high school from one of my friends:
It's okay to to be a bit off your rocker. It's the ones that don't know they are that you should worry about.
I totally admit to being a bit off. While I am a very happy, fun-loving person, I have a dark streak a mile wide. I pride myself in being a walking oxymoron. It's more interesting.
Being "normal" is boring. So is being shy, but I'm working on that. It's much more fun to be weird and silly. You can't take yourself or life too seriously. You die in the end anyway, might as well have some fun.
Quote from: Arsinoe Selene on July 29, 2008, 11:54:26 PM
Being "normal" is boring. So is being shy, but I'm working on that. It's much more fun to be weird and silly. You can't take yourself or life too seriously. You die in the end anyway, might as well have some fun.
This is one thing I have never understood. Being shy at faire to me is an odd idea. To me, being shy means that you don't want people to get to know "The Real You", so you tend to keep to yourself.. Well, at faire aren't you technically in costume (even though we call it garb), and aren't you "playing a part"? Which means it is not the REAL you so there should be no shyness about it right??
You know, when I was in TN, I realized that I too was one of "those" rennies. You know....."THOSE". The tent lovin, rum and loki drinkin, free love givin, bodice wearin, axe havin, leather wearin RENNIE!
....it's so nice to finally know who I am....
*falls on the floor laughing hysterically*
On the shyness thing:
For me at least being shy has nothing to do with me not wanting others to know the real me. I'm quite happy for people to get to know me. Instead, the snyness is more of a fear of being awkward or doing the wrong thing. You could think of it as having stage fright all the time. So the fear of making some sort of mistake can easily translate to faire while being in character because the potential for making mistakes is still there.
I used to be painfully shy and would even hide from my babysitter who I loved dearly when I was little. It has improved over the years, and I can do quite a good fake of being outgoing now in real life or at faire.
CatAshtrophy, I so understand. I've noticed that introverted people, including me, tend to choose one of two approaches- to retreat inside the shell, or to mask the shyness by going totally "outward". I've decided that it's boring and lonely inside that shell, so I push myself out instead. It's something I must work on every single day. I guess I'm getting better at it; though I tend to be somewhat reserved at first, once I've sorta sized things up, nobody believes that deep down I'm really a bit bashful and awkward. That's why I call myself a "closet introvert". (A bit of mead or wine being somewhat helpful in overcoming the awkward shyness more quickly... ahem ;)). A lot of people in the entertainment industry are, IRL, quiet, introspective, and even very shy people- "closet introverts" too, I think. So, Faire is not only a heckuvalot of fun, it's good therapy!
Which, to return to topic, just goes to show that not all renfolk are drunken, longhaired, free-lovin', dancin'-nekkid-in-the-rain kinda weirdos...but we're getting better!!!
I am a bit of the same way as well.. a "closet introvert" No one ever believes me that knows me from faire though..
Well my parent's found my Ad&d books, and My grandmother told them about a cloak she made for me. And they called me over for dinner one night. They set me down and had a intervention. Thinking I was on drugs and doing witchcraft. I thought it was a joke at first. My mother bless her heart was about to cry, because they thought I was going off the deep in. Now since my sister had a kid she went crazy and has me making fairy house's in her gardenall over the place. I don't get to go very often as I hardy know anyone who wants to go with me. And all the faires in texas are 3 plus hours for me. But I have got a few people to change there mind about it. Now I just need to get them to get some garb. When get to go they wont let me wear my garb cause they think its weird. And I was one of the football jocks growing up and took a full spin later on. So I was one the finger pointers.
Shy can also be a manifestation of insecurity. People who know me well think I'm outgoing, confident and maybe a little egotistical. However people who really know me know that I'm insecure. People who only barely know me or don't know me at all think I'm shy or sometimes aloof. It boils down to insecurity and as CatAshtrophy said, or the feeling awkward or the fear of doing something wrong.
Hmm, didn't plan on lying on the Dr's couch and sharing so much but we are family here.
For me, being shy has nothing to do with not wanting people to know the "real me". I want to go out and meet people, I want to talk to people at faire, or even just go trolling for boys at the mall or something.
I am a very quiet person. If I may steal a quote from a description of Julia Morgan, "shy almost to the point of invisibility." I never got picked on in school. I didn't do anything worth being picked on about. I'm also rather socially awkward, most likely stemming from a lack of practice. 19 years of lack of practice, infact.
I wish there were more faires closer to me. I have tried looking some up, but most things I come up with on google are severly outdated ("New 2006 dates!"). In "polite society" you are excpected to behave a certain way. At faire, you don't. I saw a guy (I think he was working) in, essentially, a pelt banana hammock and that was pretty much it.
[/threadjack]
My family thinks I'm weird. But they would never say it like that.
I've never really heard many stereotypes of rennies. Maybe it's just because I grew up somewhat sheltered but fairly liberal, I'm not sure.
An introvert can sometimes be outgoing. The way you tell whether you're one or the other is that an introvert tends to get tired out by too much being around people and needs to recharge his or her batteries with some alone time. An extrovert, on the other hand, after a hard day, re-energizes by socializing. It has a lot to do with where you draw your energy from. And there are degrees of introversion or extroversion. Sorry if I'm boring anybody, but the topic of personality differences fascinates me. If anyone's interested in finding out more about your own personality type (and those of your friends/family/coworkers), you can Google "Keirsey Temperament Sorter" and take a test online.
Lady Morna
Mistress of Castle Conundrum'
Lady-in-Waiting to two royal housecats
(and an INFP if you must know!) :D
Quote from: Riot on July 31, 2008, 01:04:17 PM
I am a bit of the same way as well.. a "closet introvert" No one ever believes me that knows me from faire though..
What Lady Morna is describing sounds alot like the Myers-Briggs personality test as well. It wouldn't surprise me if they are the same thing with different names. The tests can be found free online and are fun to take. Sometimes the results are more right on than others though.
I must be lucky, most of the people where I work never even heard of a Rennie before they met me. I get the puzzled look all the time.
-Most- of the time, for me, the people who stereotype don't get to know me very well. xD They also don't say much. It's one way of getting one of my managers to leave my office, really. I just have to mention Faire, and she's off to do something.
I am with Faire as I am with other things. Very, very open. I fully embrace my dorkdom, and I let my nerd-flag fly high.
So, my answer to "You like hanging out with those weird-drunken-pot smokin'-long haired-hippie-Rennie-freaks?" That would be a resounding "AYE!"
I've had a mix of both reactions, I suppose. My own grandmother, who though took me to a faire a year ago, is worried for my sake that I'm joining a "cult". I only had to laugh and ask her to re-evaluate what I had told her and her experience there.
On the other end, it wasn't until a month or two before I graduated that I really got comfortable telling my friends and peers about going regularly. In fact, some of them found it so interesting that when I brought in my garb to present for a Renaissance costume presentation in English, and had only planned to show them, not where them- that they wouldn't let me do it until I pulled everything on myself.
I have ran into a few people that look at me and look a bit down their noses, assuming I'm a drug-using, drinkin', good-fer-nothin'. With that I merely smirk and shrug. At least I have a passion in life and am comfortable with it, and know I have a huge ren-family and friends to share it with who are just as freaky as I!
I've taken the Myers Briggs several times, and it comes up different. The last time I took it, I think they finally got me pegged. The most introverted extrovert on the face of the planet, and otherwise a chameleon, able to change form to match those around her. DuH! ;)
I love faire because I can be Not who I am in mundane life. I put on the bodice and I become that other person, so well in fact that I was accused of having multiple personality disorder because I refused to break character while on stage. Ummm, it's called Acting, some of them really should have tried it sometime :D
Dayna
Quote from: jinx on August 01, 2008, 07:11:24 PM
I am with Faire as I am with other things. Very, very open. I fully embrace my dorkdom, and I let my nerd-flag fly high.
So, my answer to "You like hanging out with those weird-drunken-pot smokin'-long haired-hippie-Rennie-freaks?" That would be a resounding "AYE!"
HUZZAH!!!I couldn't agree more ;D :D ;D