Has anyone seen this horrible article?

[Taarna]

I am truly appalled and offended by this inacurate description of what TRF is... My 5 year old grandchild absolutely ADORES the Renaissance Festival (as did my children before him), and looks forward to it every year. Niether he, (nor we) find anything in the least offensive about how people dress, the garb they choose to wear or anything.

I think the writer of this article needs to do a bit a research before writing and publishing such trash in the future. My 2 cents..and believe me, I am holding off quite a bit cause I bet I got a whole 20.00 dollars worth I could spout off!! But I'll behave... 

http://houstonist.com/2008/10/27/chain_mail_and_turkey_legs_get_your.php

[*Teach*]

I read and reread that article several times...
I am not sure if they liked the faire or not lol
Most of it was good, but they took several cheap shots that could have been overlooked.
It is worth noting that they went on all-hallows-eve weekend and that is a tough one for a first timer. There is a bit of strangeness that goes on that weekend.
Honestly, I think it looks like a first-timers vision of faire and they just didn't know what to think of it all.
Notice in the end... they did recommend it still

*Never said anything about rum either... that was a good thing at least*

[brigaqueen1]

Now now...Us chain maille women do wear stuff under our outfits...it's just teeny tiny stuff. 

One person's closed minded view of the faire won't make me mad....it wasn't as bad as I thought...but not suggesting seeing the Mud show?? Shame on them! Or Ded Bob? Double shame!!

[Vexed Viscount]

I didn't think it was all that bad.

True, they overstated the danger to impressionable young minds but the rest was accurate enough, perhaps wincingly so. Having lived in the UK for nearly 6 years I agree with the writer's conclusion about, "horribly-mimicked English accents." On the other hand, when the writer commented, "We're talking women in chain mail with nothing underneath and men in loincloths with their cheeks swingin' in the breeze" I couldn't help but think, 'You say that as if it's a *bad* thing.'  

[MacLaren]

I didn't find it too bad, although some points were made that the critters shouldn't see. I saw two "ladies" pass the shop with chain maille tops, and nothing was underneath on either. Some things are off the hook, no doubt(what the hell was Darth Vader doing there anyway?), but I'm agreeing that knocking the faire isn't good either.

[Taarna]

Most first timers to the faire USUALLY , provided they are not "stick in the mud's" anyway, will enjoy themselves tremendously and let themselves go to enjoy and take it all in. Those folks, more oft then not, will become Rennies. Some sooner then others. My own mother is such a creature, having not visited TRF for 25 or more years, till this year she decided to go and see what I kept talking about all these years, with my garb, and costuming and such, and she was curious to see what fun I had...

She called me tonight and asked me, "we still going for Thanksgiving weekend, right?, We're still going to faire? I don't want to miss it!" LOL I have created a monster at the young age of 63.

As for the scantilly clad beauties... my own daughter was one, and if I still had the body I would be one still. If ya got it, flaunt it. If you don't like it, don't look. I hide nothing from my children, nor my grandchildren.  The child CAME from a woman that I can assure you was not covered in clothing at the time of conception nor at birth! So why hide it? No, I'm not saying TRF should be a nudist camp. What I am saying is not everyone in Medieval times was well dressed, or well covered. I am sure there were poor folks in nothing but torn rags, dirty and stinking. Should we try and be more period "accurate" for the writer of the article? More period accurate meaning the true stench of unwashed bodies, and the sores from disease. Would these things be less traumatizing to a child then seeing a chainmaille show atop Lord Randolph's shop? Pfftttt.... I think not.

My 5 year old was tramatized by a nasty storm that flooded our home and displaced us. It took him from everything he knows and loves.

TRF is just as much a needed mind escape for him as it is for us adults. Scantilly clad woman and men don't bother him. I definately do not agree with the writer's opinion.

[Macintyre]

what a belch.  yeah there are some aspects of the fair that are adult oriented, but she really should have gotten her facts straight before having her article published.  that kind of crap is what causes things like all the problems in the camp grounds and can bring in the retarded christian fundamentalists that like to parade at marylin manson concerts calling everyone a sinner and a whore of the devil.  so if anyone wants to share what i've said with anyone, ie..the person that wrote this article, by all means feel free to.

[SirRichardBear]

I wonder if this is the same person that write such a simular article about Scraby a couple of years ago.  That article writer also got an amazing number of facts wrong.  But there is not much point in talking to some as closed minded.  What I found amazing is for someone wearing such short shorts they seem to   Funny that someone who was wearing such short shorts would keep talking about the chainmilla ladies.  Maybe the problem was she wanted to wear chainmilla but doesn't have the courage.

[Taffy Saltwater]

Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be; of course, I read an article last year (before my very first visit to any faire) that said TRF was a freak show, so for me the journalist bar re TRF was already set on the ground.

[brigaqueen1]

Continuing speaking for the chain maille ladies.....yes, some of the outfits are spaced to where you can "see" things... mine however is not like that. If you own your own chain you don't have to wear liners...but if you are just dressing for the day (wearing a loaner outfit) liners in the tops are mandatory.

I've seen some pretty revealing outfits over the years, chain maille and otherwise. I'm not a mother but if I was, I really don't think I'd be covering my kids' eyes and shunning faire. There are areas in faire that are more kid oriented and a lot of G rated shows and characters geared towards children. Did the writer of that article roam the entire faire ground and take in the whole thing? Probably not.  Seems to me she focused more on the more adult aspect of the experience and not the faire as a whole. Pretty crappy journalism if you ask me.

I've had friends whose kids literally grew up at TRF and Scarby....and not a damned thing wrong with them that can be traced back to the evils of renaissance faires.

Closed minds should come with closed mouths.

[Taarna]

I've had friends whose kids literally grew up at TRF and Scarby....and not a damned thing wrong with them that can be traced back to the evils of renaissance faires.

Closed minds should come with closed mouths.

HERE HERE!!! I'd like to be the first to buy the lady a drink! HUZZAH!

[Lord Dragonspyre]

Meh... I ignore the media for the most part, as they tend to focus on the most sensationalist aspects of whatever story they're covering.

They won't interview the 35 year old chemical engineer who makes around $80,000 per year... They love to focus on the "white trash" fairegoers. Y'know, the ones where a couple have elaborate costumes and who make less than $20,000 per year combined...

[Alphonse]

I do not think that the article is particularly bad or very accurate either for that matter. I doubt it will keep most people away from faire, though it might possibly turn away a few. I don't think that such a bad thing when you have to wait in line for 45 minutes just to get a sandwich around lunch time 

[Emerald Shaunassey]

As a first time visitor to TRF (Pirates Adventure Weekend) and a 10 year performer of the circuit, I must say that I was wonderfully overwhelmed the first day ... and the second day ... and still to this day.  Two of the ladies who work for me travelled "down south" with me and we spent Saturday in mundanes gawking like tourists and madly snapping pictures.  Sunday felt 'more normal' (for us) as we donned our garb and headed out to mingle - still with cameras in hand ... and plastic cups of beer in hand ... and <gasp> cigarettes/cigars in hand!     Goddess but is it nice to be 'on vacation!' 

So there are folks there who enjoy wearing chainmaille and loincloths - big deal.  As Taarna stated, if you got it, flaunt it.  Personally, I don't much care for females in chainmaille - my ship doesn't float that way.  However, the lads in kilts, tights, and YES loincloths are definately up my alley.  But, to each his or her own.  Just don't expect me to trade in my boots and bodice for chainmaille anytime soon, I prefer being a pirate!

Will I go and enjoy all the sights, sounds, and ambiance of the Festival, you betcha!  Save some fried aligator for me (another first for this Okie girl)!  Regarding the Miss who wrote the article, I think she is in serious need of taking stock and she definately needs to not take herself oh so seriously!  She almost sounds as if she's frazzled and in need of attention from a loincloth wearing gent, tee hee.

Just my tuppence in defense of a faire that stole my imagination and heart.  Here's to seeing you all again.  Thank you all for giving me the recharge I needed; you reminded me why I got into faires 10 years ago.  And Taarna - THANK YOU for the wonderful pics you allowed me to capture of you - definately *love* the eyes!

My hat is off to all of you at TRF - cast, vendors, and stage shows - keep up the grand work and to hades with the nay-sayers!

Fair Winds,
Emerald

[MacLaren]

I think she is in serious need of taking stock and she definately needs to not take herself oh so seriously!  She almost sounds as if she's frazzled and in need of attention from a loincloth wearing gent, tee hee.

HUZZAH!!!