Problems with the community fire

[Captain Kilian]

Ok, I don't like this thread. It focuses on the negative part of camping, and well - that seems tragic enough. The fire circle could be run over with X popping, dope smoking, retards in clown costumes (and clowns are just creepy), and I would still camp at TRF. I miss the fire circle of years past, but as we've had reported here too, there were not all bad times this past weekend around the fire circle. There were incidents, yes, but this thread , as has been mentioned keeps coming up EVERY year - so it's not like we are uninformed over this fact. To stop camping, and visiting all your friends in their various camps just because the drum circle is not how we wish it were seems like never going to Disney land because they change the Swiss family Robinson tree to the jungle book tree (And they did...sick bastards!). It was one attraction, not THE ONLY attraction for me. Really if we who not partake of illicit activities, just avoid the areas that have now long been established as where those problems lay, then all should be well. Maybe some band together to try and recreate the drum circle they wish to have, and maybe not.

With all the negativity this thread has brought about camping, I wish to point out something, just to put perspective on it. TRF is how many acres of Camping, much of it having people who have partaken some amount or another of alcohol and ore 'other' - and I feel safer walking about there, sleeping in a fabric walled tent, stumbling back to find said tent - then I do walking to and from the bar across my street in a nicer area of San Antonio. I am more comfortable drinking out there with just a few cops on their gators then in a respected bar with its bouncer and a gaggle of cops outside the doors.

I so hope that while we try to find solutions to things we were were better, we do not loose sight of something that is still great - camping at TRF overall.

[LadyTrinn]

I'm with the Captain! Great Points Killian!

[Lady Kitara]

I agree with Captain Killian. True TRF's go for the ambiance, for the "Faire"mily, for the escape. You can find all those things in your own camp or in the McLotofus camp or any other camp you wander into. If the only thing you went to TRF for was the drum circle, you're as guilty as those who have over run it. A rennie at heart will always make the best of the situation because it is not one thing that makes Faire, it's everything that makes Faire.

[Rani Zemirah]

seems like never going to Disney land because they change the Swiss family Robinson tree to the jungle book tree (And they did...sick bastards!). It was one attraction, not THE ONLY attraction for me.

Doood... not the tree!!! I am NEVER... oh, well, maybe. Seriously, I would live in that tree if I could...

[Blue66669]

I'm on the agreement bus. I love the faire, not the fire. My clan is happy and healthy, and we will continue to patronize the campgrounds- no matter what must be done to keep our camp the way it is within OUR borders.

[Lady Laura]

Thank you Captain Kilian, for posting you observations.  I agree with them all.  Surround yourself at your camp with friends and family and make of it what you want it to be!  Oh, and bring ear plugs for the rest of it 

[PurpleDragon]

It's real simple people. There are police officers patrolling the campgrounds, but they cannot be everywhere at once. They cannot see all the goings on.  If you see something illegal, you need to take the initiative and report it to them so they can do their job.  Trust me, there are plenty of police officers out there that are NOT employed by TRF but are there camping right along side of you.  I happen to know most of them myself and they would be more than willing to do their job or get the on duty officers to the location to enforce the laws.

This "petition" will most likely end up in the circular file.  You figure the following. Number of campers 1,000. Number of people through the gate on opening day 26,500.  Do the math there and you will find out that the number of people camping versus the number of people that came through the gate on Saturday is much greater so that management is going to focus their attention to make that number grow even bigger each week. 

Those of you that are working a booth inside faire, but camping out in patrons would be told simply. "We provide you the option of having  your camp set up throughout the festival and camping in the backstage area, you should not be camping out in patrons." 

Essentially, this is not an argument that a petition is going to solve, but actions being taken in the campgrounds to ensure the law enforcement officers that are there know what is going on so they can do their jobs is a step in the right direction to get things moving.  Taking back the fire by a show of numbers and doing things right is another step in the right direction.  The Rennies can take back the campgrounds simply by doing that which they have always done, band together and work as a cohesive unit to get the job done.

[LadyElizabeth]

If you are ever looking for an officer or a fireman, go to Safe Haven.  I think their entire camp is full of them... I honestly don't think I've ever been over at their camping area when there wasn't at least one of each hanging about!!!  And they are true rennies who are in general very helpful and cool guys!

[Lord Dragonspyre]

Thats why we are called Safe Haven, should you need something, we are there and if we can not help we will get you to someone who can. However, our "officers" are officers in the mundane world and do come to the fair to escape their mundane lives just like the rest of us, but an officer is always on duty and I know they always have their badges.

This is true, but unless they are local officers inside of their jurisdiction, they really can't do anything other than request a cessation of activities and inform the local officers. Jurisdiction is very important to the boys in blue.

[ScoutColt]

Thats why we are called Safe Haven, should you need something, we are there and if we can not help we will get you to someone who can. However, our "officers" are officers in the mundane world and do come to the fair to escape their mundane lives just like the rest of us, but an officer is always on duty and I know they always have their badges.

This is true, but unless they are local officers inside of their jurisdiction, they really can't do anything other than request a cessation of activities and inform the local officers. Jurisdiction is very important to the boys in blue.

Do remember though, a cops judgement is held highly in courts etc. If one were to step in and have to do some or anything in the name of safety or the "good samaritan" angle, they have a 90% chance of not getting in trouble, whereas if one of us had to physically put someone to the ground because they might have hurt someone.... we'd be in jail. Not only is their badge powerful as a symbol AND a voucher for their credibility, their knowledge of the law etc is as well... so even out of their jurisdiction they can do many things that we can't safely do.

[ourevilone]

I have not even made it through half the topic and I am so upset and angry that I have to post this here and now.

WTF!!??

Why exactly is the guy who has a tag line of corrupting youth having an issue with shooters for hooters?
Isn't that hypocrisy? It's OK to whine about someone else having fun but yet brag about it yourself?

Have you talked to the people who have that RV? They are the nicest couple. If you have a problem with bare breasts then I suggest you don't harass King George about it(that is a fast way to end camping for everyone) but instead turn to lawmakers. IT IS NOT ILLEGAL FOR A WOMAN TO EXPOSE HER BREASTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS!!! Yes, I yelled it, I will always yell it! You can get Texas to change their laws, you could try Grimes county, but honestly, get over it. Personal pet peeve there men can show their breasts because women can control themselves but women can't show their breast because men have no self control.

Camp ground security works their paychecks off to protect even the idiots out there. You can spend all day whining like babies about how bad it is but by fussing, petitioning, and sending videos to George, all you will get is no camping or camping so restricted you might as well move to family camping right now. When you see the police officers you should meet them. They go way about the call of duty to help out at the camp grounds. They get calls like "there is a fight at the porta potties" and have to figure out which of the dozen or so privies it is at. They get woken up at all hours of the day and night to find keys, find people, stop fights, administer aid, and all kinds of things. Sure we could use another officer or so but honestly we could use some campers who are more proactive than crying about it on their computers. My camp doesn't put up with crap and isn't confrontational about it. We don't have problems really.

Get off your collective arses and meet the wonderful police officers that patrol out there. They are easy to contact and find when you need them. I know that several camp elders have both of their personal cell numbers. I don't think they should have to give out their personal numbers, maybe George will buy a phone for them. Meet some of the elders from the larger camps, they can help too.

If you don't like the big fire circle, don't go to it. Life is really that easy. There are several other large nice fire circles that have no problems, go to one of those. Eventually the idiots will go away or else they can have their own craptastic firecircle and we can all of our wonderful ones.

I think that Mike and Charlie should get a thanks for all the hard work, not get reamed on this forum by a bunch of people hiding behind their computers. Besides Mike and Charlie there are also local sheriffs, dea, tabc, and other officers that float through the camp grounds too. I have personally seen them.

[PurpleDragon]

IT IS NOT ILLEGAL FOR A WOMAN TO EXPOSE HER BREASTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS!!! Yes, I yelled it, I will always yell it! You can get Texas to change their laws, you could try Grimes county, but honestly, get over it. Personal pet peeve there men can show their breasts because women can control themselves but women can't show their breast because men have no self control.

Actually, it is illegal outside in a public place for a woman to be bare breasted.  Why do you think the ones in chain mail have something covering the breasts?  It is against the law for a womans nipples to show in public.  Why do you think that all the women at any public venue (other than a strip club which is "private") where they hold things like fetish balls are required to have something covering their nipples.  They must maintain what is called being "Texas Legal". 

[rumy]

WOW dude... i think u took some comments a little too personally!!  i think most rennies will never complain bout women's breast being exposed.... perhaps they were saying the age of those exposing themselves was a LITTLE young.  but who wouldn't complain bout that?  if u had a 16yr old, would u want her exposing her breasts to a bunch of drunk strangers??  not that i haven't done it a time or 2 for mardi gras.... ok, it is more like 500 x.  but who's counting?  rennies generally like debauchery... but not underage debauchery.... which it seems is the only thing u can see at the campfire these days...

they are complaining bout the lost of the good ol days

i think we all applaud the officers and what they do.  but it doens't seem like there's enuf of them out there to control the madness that has exploded over the last couple yrs.  

but there are some groups of people, few and far btwn, that are turning the fun debauchery into dangerous debauchery.  there are mass thefts, gang rapes, huge fights, and other scary activities.  a few yrs ago, we could leave all our beautiful stuff/jewlery in plain site in our unlocked car, now we have to walk all girls back to thier camp sites for fear of them being raped.  that's a HUGE downslide!!!

[tinkerbell]

the problem is not the security force they have in place but the people that are too stupid to control them selves...i have been coming out there for the last 12 years and there have always been problems...but the cops are doing their jobs...if people would take responsibility to call the cops when something happens instead of take it into their own hands, it would help...as for the noise if you don't like it, camp in quiet family camping where it won't bother you...that's what it's there for...i do believe in checking tickets at the gate, as for the fire...it's tradition a few extra cops just to watch the fire alone would help but keep in mind they will probably up the price of camping to cover it...and if they change a whole lot it will ruin everything...without the main fire they will invade the private older camps and we'll all hate that...think about it

[Blue66669]

ACK!!! Does anyone else feel a bit invaded?