Faire no place for the easily offended

[Will Gamwell]

Now this is very interesting.  I know that our Faire Participants are always being told that it is a family show, but we hear the same thing from the nut roll & pickle sellers.  Various acts are very suggestive, not to mention Villification Tennis. 

However, on the topic of silly things, several runs ago the bellydancers were not allowed to show their stomachs unless on stage.  Now several of them perform on street...isn't that their stage?  That rule was quickly forgotten.

Sean
MNRF

[maelstrom0370]

Ain't it always the way!!??  The douche nozzle probably found himself the butt of a few jokes from his friends after the nut guy made his comment.  So, to save his testosterony manliness, he lodged a complaint.

I'd like the contact info, as well...maybe if enough of US complain, "they'll" lay off before MiRF becomes Ren-sney World

~It's a world of bodices, a world of pickles
it's a world of joust and a world of garb~

[Lord Virgil]

I'd like the contact info, as well...maybe if enough of US complain, "they'll" lay off before MiRF becomes Ren-sney World
~It's a world of bodices, a world of pickles
it's a world of joust and a world of garb~

Now that is the nickname of the day right there, awesomely put Maelstrom!!!

[maelstrom0370]

I'd like the contact info, as well...maybe if enough of US complain, "they'll" lay off before MiRF becomes Ren-sney World
~It's a world of bodices, a world of pickles
it's a world of joust and a world of garb~

Now that is the nickname of the day right there, awesomely put Maelstrom!!!

Awww gosh! Thanks! 

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

Faires always been two levels. One level for the kids, and a second level that the adults laugh at. To remove that second level because one person complained... well, there goes our freedom of speech.

[Lady Sara]

BOOOOO!!! I love the innuendos at Faire even though they turn my face scarlet red all the time. But it's part of the fun. I can't imagine faire without them. The fact that this man got fired/suspended for such is lame. And I'm a little outraged by it. The managers at Ren Faire must know that this goes on every five seconds in Faire from the nut sellers to the Court. Geeze, people that are easily offended need to stay home.

[Lord Virgil]

It's nice to see that female fairegoers also like the innuendo/adult humor.  I agree that is all a part of the fun and we need to address this issue with faire management.  Our Faire's management are very nice and reasonable people, and hopefully it was only a one day ban to appease the over sensitive butt-monkey that's trying to ruin it for all of us.  If not, we need to push them to reinstate him, as the voices of the many should far outweigh the voice of one!  This is something that we cannot allow to become the norm.

[sealion]

I sincerely hope that management comes to their senses and realize that the idiot who lodged the complaint isn't likely to return to MIRF while the new rules would serve only to piss off those of us who spend as much time (AND MONEY) at faire as we can.

[Madge Estes]

OK, I'm going to probably get blasted here, but I am going to step in as a voice of calm.

The initial post here stated it correctly... "The rumor mill".  And when a rumor mill starts grinding, all kinds of stuff comes out, some of it true, some of it false, and some of it half of either.

Festival management is indeed aware that innuendo and play occurs, and they are fine with that except when it crosses the line.  As performers, we are told to be aware of our audience.  It is not our purpose to deliberately embarass someone.  If a patron is looking to be harrassed, embarassed, or humiliated, they can hire Christophe the Insultor or go by the Veggie Vengeance booth.  But to have it done to you, loudly, in the middle of the lanes without provocation is not the way to win over newcomers to faire.

If you want to protest, fine, it is indeed your right to do so.  But please listen and gather ALL the facts before rushing to judgement in this (or any) churning of the rumor mill.

[Lord Virgil]

There will be no blasting, as all discussions have two sides.  We all appreciate your input, and you raise a good point.  I started this thread to get to the details, hoping members would have the "whole story".

From what I know so far, I understand that management was trying to diffuse a situation.  However, I still think they overreacted and banned the seller to try to save a little face in a knee-jerk reaction . 

[Madge Estes]

None of the postings I have read thus far have all of or correct details.  The story has even changed throughout the postings: it was a woman, it was a man; this was said, no, this was said.  Thus the danger of rumor mills.

The GM of MiRF is a fair and thoughtful person, not prone to over- or knee-jerk reactions.

[Whistler Fred]

OK, I'm going to probably get blasted here, but I am going to step in as a voice of calm.

The initial post here stated it correctly... "The rumor mill".  And when a rumor mill starts grinding, all kinds of stuff comes out, some of it true, some of it false, and some of it half of either.

Festival management is indeed aware that innuendo and play occurs, and they are fine with that except when it crosses the line.  As performers, we are told to be aware of our audience.  It is not our purpose to deliberately embarrass someone.  If a patron is looking to be harassed, embarrassed, or humiliated, they can hire Christophe the Insultor or go by the Veggie Vengeance booth.  But to have it done to you, loudly, in the middle of the lanes without provocation is not the way to win over newcomers to faire.

If you want to protest, fine, it is indeed your right to do so.  But please listen and gather ALL the facts before rushing to judgement in this (or any) churning of the rumor mill.

We had an issue at Bristol where an overzealous hawker frequently crossed the line between salemanship and humiliating the fairgoers.  This was resolved backstage to everyone's satisfaction.  

Say what you will, no paytron should leave the Faire feeling like they had been singled out and publicly embarrassed.  We may sneer at their prudishness, but if they refuse to return for fear of being humiliated it's the Faire that looses in the end.

[Madge Estes]

Well said, Whistler Fred.  You put it exactly as I tried so poorly to do.

[maelstrom0370]

Oh sure!  Someone's always gotta be the "voice of reason"!
And here I just sharpened my pitchfork and lit my torch!

[Will Gamwell]

There is definately a line that should not be crossed.  A paytron should not feel like they are being attacked, singled out..etc.  We had an issue where a paytron actually took it too far at Veggie Justice last year and had to be escorted out.

Telling someone that you are going to follow them home and kill them...even in jest, is not acceptable.