I have to ask..

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

Anna: God, I hate that! There's this one lovely lass (patron) who has an AMAZING leather outfit, that covers everything, but shows a lot of leg, and every year some stupid puritan complains because they think they see more then they do, even though she wears shorts underneath it all. And of course, if a patron complains, management has to pretend to care...

[Betty Munro]

As long as there was the toss in about Jack Sparrow not being period ...
Did kilts back then have sewn in pleats?

Nope, tailored kilts didn't happen till about after 1790 or so.

http://www.albanach.org/generations.html

Well, that's it for me ... my 2 favorite things about faire ... GAoP and pleated kilts, neither of which belong ... so I guess if I have to turn a blind eye to the storm troopers and ninjas in order to have Pirates out of period and kilts out of period, then ok, I concede.

But, just a thought ... wouldn't it be AMAZING if faire opened for a single day (either a weekend early or late) JUST to "properly" dressed playtrons?  Sort of like an invitational?  The year before invites could be passed out with a dress code posted online so there were no misunderstandings ... if someone heard about it and wanted to participate they could contact and have their garb approved ... just a thought.  Probably too much work to really happen, but it would be cool wouldn't it?

[Noble Dreg]

As long as there was the toss in about Jack Sparrow not being period ...
Did kilts back then have sewn in pleats?

Nope, tailored kilts didn't happen till about after 1790 or so.

http://www.albanach.org/generations.html

...But, just a thought ... wouldn't it be AMAZING if faire opened for a single day (either a weekend early or late) JUST to "properly" dressed playtrons?  Sort of like an invitational?  The year before invites could be passed out with a dress code posted online so there were no misunderstandings ... if someone heard about it and wanted to participate they could contact and have their garb approved ... just a thought.  Probably too much work to really happen, but it would be cool wouldn't it?

They do this all the time...It's called an SCA event.  I do not want to see "Fair" turn into the SCA with Garb Police at the gate.  But at the same time I do not want my fair to turn into a Comic-Con, and I will take some action in voicing my opinion to management if and when the "Storm-Troopers" return.  Sure, there is a "fuzzy" line between "period" and "not", but Spock ain't "period", period!  Keep the chain-mail, toss the Yoda.

[angusmacinnes]

Are we tossing Yoda for height or distance?   Sorry couldnt help meself.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

He's the guest of honour at the trebuchet demonstration.  I'll bring the lighter fluid and a Zippo to ensure his warm welcome.

[Zardoz]

This topic comes up a lot, and I'll admit that ten or so years ago I was among the folks who bridled at any garb or even elements of garb, that I found to non HA or otherwise an anachronism in the faire setting. I would walk around in my dull peasant garb, and annoy my friends with a stream of "this or that's not period" etc...
Personally I've gotten over that! People are gonna do it, nobody is gonna change it, I do it, and I've come to think its a good thing that folks want to do something to get into the spirit of faire, 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 TRF 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 !

So, is the Steampunk, Wonderland, Star Trek and Star Wars kids' garb more fantasy than Renaissance? Sure, but so are barbarians, fairies, chicks in chainmail, elves, rangers, pirates of the Caribbean, belly dances, gypsys, most kilts, turkey legs, bathing,  etc.......But...


Faire would be a less interesting place without them!

[Rapier Half-Wit]

My point wasn't about being a garb nazi. I'm not the least bit interested in the difference between hand stitched and machine stitched clothing, or whether or not my kilt should have pleats in it. If my pleats offend some, they can talk to the back of my head.

I am talking about a true Nazi SS Stormtrooper uniform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_uniform. Like the kind worn at Dachau and Auschwitz. You know, those same folks that hosted the death camps in WW2?

I'm sorry that chainmaile offends some people, but the next time I see an SS Stormtrooper in a chainmaile bikini, I'll give a little credence to their point.

At least the ninjas were real as well as a whole lot closer in the historical time line. And I'm sorry, but not a single one of the other objectionable characters made a near successful whole sale attempt at racial decimation.

There's a real difference in attitude between a Star Wars stormtooper in a kilt and an Auschwitz death camp guard. Just pause for a moment and mull it over, that's all I'm saying.

[Anna Iram]

Rapier, I'd say they accomplished their objective. They offended you and probably everyone else they came into contact with. No there is nothing remotly pleasant about seeing one, though I would love to visit a WWII event one day and I can't imagine why anyone would want to bring that to a ren faire any more than I really get the Star Wars thing, but then I wasn't there. Perhaps they meant it to be a dark joke on the garb nazi issue. If you should see them again walk up and ask them why they came as Nazi's. You might hear a good story, or you might be even more offended. Then, I suppose you'd have the option to speak with management. Your right as a paying customer.

Yeah, this has been an ongoing issue from day one. Just seems to be the way of it. I imagine had a pirate shown up to one of the original faires of the early 80's all hell would have broken out, but now they are accepted as ren. Things morph and change.

I *do* understand why you all would feel your faire is being invaded. I just don't see why it has to come to war. Besides, I'd kind of like to meet Yoda. Even thinking of a Elizabethan or Tudor Princess Leia gown, or has it been done? Then maybe a stormtrooper bikini....  

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

They do this all the time...It's called an SCA event.  I do not want to see "Fair" turn into the SCA with Garb Police at the gate.  But at the same time I do not want my fair to turn into a Comic-Con, and I will take some action in voicing my opinion to management if and when the "Storm-Troopers" return.  Sure, there is a "fuzzy" line between "period" and "not", but Spock ain't "period", period!  Keep the chain-mail, toss the Yoda.

I'm with you there, Dreg.  While I have no use for Garb Nazis, you won't find me joining hands and singing "Kumbayah" with the Furries, Startfleet away teams, Juddoon,  etc.

[Anna Iram]

The more you tighten your grip Jack, the more stormtroopers will slip through your fingers. 

[Rapier Half-Wit]

The more you tighten your grip Jack, the more stormtroopers will slip through your fingers. 

That was almost worthy of John's Inn, but it's probably just me...   

[angusmacinnes]

In reality I suppose we should be glad that anyone come to fair.  I know that the owners certainly are. So with that said I am off tae purchase yet another modern era kilt.  Have fun all.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

The more you tighten your grip Jack, the more stormtroopers will slip through your fingers. 

In your opinion.   

Not everyone is going to agree on this matter, which is good.  Ensures variety.

[Anna Iram]

LOL. Agreed.

* and on another note...what a dirty little mind you have Rapier... *

[Rapier Half-Wit]

You say that like it's a bad thing...