Overdoing it?

[Will Gamwell]

I'm apparently one of the very few who didn't find his post offensive in the least, despite disagreeing with most of what he said. The way he worded it seemed amusing and lighthearted to me, not egotistical or as though he was trying to bash anyone. People have shared lots of varying opinions on here - fantasy, don't fantasy, Star Trek, don't Trek - so I don't see a reason to get all ruffled up about this one. It bothers me how, on the various forums I've been a part of, people only like it when opinions that follow the majority are expressed and people who disagree with them get pounced on (like the Twilight series. People say they like it, people disagree, and the ones who do act like they have personally been sliced to ribbons by the difference of opinion. It's not like they said they don't like you). Bashing him for his opinions as is bad as the other way around. He wasn't personally insulting any of you, or at least it didn't come across that way to me.

You keep saying, "Would you go up to someone and tell them their outfit was overdone?" but he didn't. He didn't call any of you out. It's like Stormtroopers or Star Trek characters at faire. Some of you have a problem with them, some of you don't, and there are threads on here dedicated to discussing such things, including fantasy in general, but you don't go up to them and say, "You should stay home or dress in period garb because you're ruining my faire experience." Those people love what they wear and have fun with it. You have said on this forum that you don't like it. You weren't out to get anyone, you were just expressing an opinion. There's not a big difference, in my eyes, between this and that, in the core of the matter.

I think you make a good point Manwariel.  Every year we get heards of people in the oddest costumes.  StormTroopers in kilts, people in animal costumes . . . etc.  And everytime they come, there is almost always some sort very entertaining interactions between the performers at faire and these paytrons.

The people in costume are happy for the attention and "good-sports", and the rest of the paytrons/playtrons get a good laugh out of it. 

[Drudonn]

I have a question--why was Doberman's question so fantastically inappropriate and offensive, while there is a thriving "brain bleach" thread, in the very same section (garbing) as this thread? That thread, in which many of the same posters as are in this thread, talk about when they saw someone wearing "too much" (or rather, as the case may be, not enough)... 

I thought Doberman's original post was humorous, and he was only expressing his opinion. I thought instantly of some pics I've seen posted on this site of people who had so much stuff on them that their beautifully crafted garb could barely be seen, and I laughed. I myself am minimalist by nature--it would drive me nuts to have all kinds of bobs and bits dangling off my body, but if that's what you like, then that's what you like.

[Zardoz]

(like the Twilight series. People say they like it, people disagree, and the ones who do act like they have personally been sliced to ribbons by the difference of opinion. It's not like they said they don't like you).

What... are you trying to say that you think sparkly vampires are lame?!?!? HOW DARE YOU COME HERE AND SAY THAT SORT OF THING ON A PUBLIC FORUM!!!!
*falls over laughing*

I gotta tell you, I'm normally pretty reserved, and don't care how people garb, but if I see a "sparkley vampire" at faire my wife and I will chase them around with stakes 

[Butch]

I gotta tell you, I'm normally pretty reserved, and don't care how people garb, but if I see a "sparkley vampire" at faire my wife and I will chase them around with stakes 

Zardoz, couldn't we just tell Blade, and let The Daywalker take care of them?

[robert of armstrong]

First, my opion on this, and I am not try to be insulting to Doberman, and I hope he doesn't take offense to this section

Do you really want your chest or hat to look like a 5-star general's dress uniform with row after row of favors & pins & doodads?
I didn't understand the pins adn stuff at first on a piece of fabric or leather that didn't go with the rest of the garb.  But I LEARNED what they were and how people came by these items.  I look at them now with a little envy, all the great friends they have made, and experiences they have come through.  In mocking them, perhaps you are showing your jelousy of those people.  Just my opinion, remember I asked you not to be offended, so you can't be.

Is everything (and the kitchen sink) hanging offa your belt actually adding to the effect of your outfit, or is much of it there because the combination of "That looks sorta neat" and "I've still got 2 inches of bare leather on my belt" is too powerful for you to resist?
I have found the same for this as the pins and stuff.  I don't have a brag rag (love that term) so I make up for it with the things on my belt.  Not including weapons, I have two potion bottles, a drinking horn, a leather pouch, a flask and a chain maille pouch.  All these things add to my character/persona.

It's a scientifically proven fact that there's a point where strapping as many weapons as possible onto your body stops being cool.  That point is age 14.
I am one of these people, and the statement tells me that I am not cool, and that I am (thankfully) immature.  Both of these qualify me to be insulted, as he could not know I would take being called immature as a compliment.  I regularly carry a war hammer on my right hip, a bearded axe on my left, and a 4ft long hand-and-a-half sword across my back.  Ever been to battle, regardless of the era?  Ever had a weapon malfunction or fail?  Sometimes in battle your life can depend on a backup weapon, and if I'm willing and able to carry it, more is better.  My character (I hope) should seem to be a travelling warrior/hero type visiting a town or village on the way from AND on the way to an adventure or battle or other exciting experience of some kind, without the luxury of having a hovel to store my property in.  They aren't making you tired, so why should you care what I carry?  I will revisit this below.

Are you comfortable with having more ornaments hanging from your walking staff than most people have on their Christmas trees?
Again, same vein as the first two.

Should you perhaps either buy stock in the Acme Jangly Bell Company, or just consider paring back the one-woman bells-only symphony caused by your every movement?
I don't wear bells, so this doesn't insult me, but I can see that could insult those who would wear them.  It would be hard to consider this question neutral, and I can't see it except being negative.  Bells help me to know when to turn and look and admire a lovely fae when they approach.  Usually.  Sometimes its a masculine character of some kind, and I get to admire his courage.


Now, to address the tone of the origional post.  It may have been meant to be funny, but by the resposes it garnered, it was not taken that way.  See my response the the weapons question.  He is telling me that I am not cool - I can take that at least as a put down, and he doesn't even know me to put me down.  That I could almost forgive, although I would ask him to tell me the same thing in person, and guage my reaction.  I said almost forgive, for when it was suggested that his post my have been insulting, a simple "sorry about that" would have been appropriate, and possibley some humility.  Instead he took a belittling shot at Gem.  Not just posting your opinion, or a loaded question, but dismissing her and nullifying her.  If, in a face to face conversation, you had done that to my sister, my wife, or my daughter, we would be having words, and you would not enjoy it.  I am not an elequent man when I am as angry as I am right now, and I don't come on these boards looking to get upset.

I consider many on these boards a huge extended family, and feel the need to both defend family member who are unfairly attacked, and correct those doing the attacking.  You, sir need correcting.

I'm not telling you that your opinion is wrong, but you need to rest assured that the manner in which you delivered it needs, at minimum, polish.  So much so that I too suspect a Troll.  I notice that in 5 pages since the very first, not a third post from the one that so many have been responding to.

[gypsylakat]

Kinda reminds me of You might be a Redneck jokes....
"You might be a redneck if you have ever taken a ride on a floor buffer" (fyi, 7 out of the 10 people watching the show RAISED THEIR HANDS at my house )
"You might be a Rennie if you see less than a yard of fabric and already have 16 ways you could use it in mind"
"... if you sound like you invested stock in the acme jingle company to keep up with your need for jingle jangles"

[Will Gamwell]

First, my opion on this, and I am not try to be insulting to Doberman, and I hope he doesn't take offense to this section

Is everything (and the kitchen sink) hanging offa your belt actually adding to the effect of your outfit, or is much of it there because the combination of "That looks sorta neat" and "I've still got 2 inches of bare leather on my belt" is too powerful for you to resist?
I have found the same for this as the pins and stuff.  I don't have a brag rag (love that term) so I make up for it with the things on my belt.  Not including weapons, I have two potion bottles, a drinking horn, a leather pouch, a flask and a chain maille pouch.  All these things add to my character/persona.

I love the too many weapons.  Reminds me of Porthos from the 1993 Three Musketeers, played by Oliver Platt.

[isabelladangelo]

(like the Twilight series. People say they like it, people disagree, and the ones who do act like they have personally been sliced to ribbons by the difference of opinion. It's not like they said they don't like you).

What... are you trying to say that you think sparkly vampires are lame?!?!? HOW DARE YOU COME HERE AND SAY THAT SORT OF THING ON A PUBLIC FORUM!!!!
*falls over laughing*

I gotta tell you, I'm normally pretty reserved, and don't care how people garb, but if I see a "sparkley vampire" at faire my wife and I will chase them around with stakes 

There is actually a lot of scientific research done in that series.  I'd be happy to explain the cellular structure that creates the diamond affect due to light refraction or you can crack open the series, read them, then crack open a biology book.   Either way, it's very off topic and probably doesn't belong here.

[Drudonn]

(like the Twilight series. People say they like it, people disagree, and the ones who do act like they have personally been sliced to ribbons by the difference of opinion. It's not like they said they don't like you).

What... are you trying to say that you think sparkly vampires are lame?!?!? HOW DARE YOU COME HERE AND SAY THAT SORT OF THING ON A PUBLIC FORUM!!!!
*falls over laughing*

I gotta tell you, I'm normally pretty reserved, and don't care how people garb, but if I see a "sparkley vampire" at faire my wife and I will chase them around with stakes 

There is actually a lot of scientific research done in that series.  I'd be happy to explain the cellular structure that creates the diamond affect due to light refraction or you can crack open the series, read them, then crack open a biology book.   Either way, it's very off topic and probably doesn't belong here.

I believe the underlying scientific principle is "SPARKLES ARE PRETTY!!!" LOL

[Blue66669]

Oh it totally belongs here. I mean, how awesome would it be for this lame weed puller thread to get hijacked by a discussion about Twilight???

[Rani Zemirah]

Guess that leaves me out, since I'd have to actually watch the thing first... 

[Kate]

Guess that leaves me out, since I'd have to actually watch the thing first... 

You mean READ it first since the movies are crap compared to the books!

[Drudonn]

Guess that leaves me out, since I'd have to actually watch the thing first... 

You mean READ it first since the movies are crap compared to the books!

That's usually how it goes...

[Blue66669]

HIJACK!!!!!

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, well, I doubt I'll be reading it, either...    heheh

Sorry, but sparkly, daywalking vampires are just a bit... well, just that partial sentence says it all, I think!