Ways to deal with non period camps around in the SCA

[Thomas Powers]

At least out here we can say that any screening is merely for wind and dust purposes.

Some of the most fun I've had in my 33 years in the SCA was in the making and using of period items and some of the most period cost the least---especially if you have someone to coach you so you don't need the long learning curve. Many folks doing great work are almost scarily happy to help others.

Wilelm the smith

[Diglach Mac Cein]

I'm not trying to be snarky, but I think that *you think* you're being matter of fact sometimes, when others think that you're being confrontational.

Maeryk confrontational?

No....way.


LOL!!

,

[Maeryk]

I'm not trying to be snarky, but I think that *you think* you're being matter of fact sometimes, when others think that you're being confrontational.

Maeryk confrontational?

No....way.


LOL!!

,

Meet me in person. Apparently I come across 1000% different in text.

[brewer]

Meet me in person. Apparently I come across 1000% different in text.

You do. Body language and all that visual stuff.

No, I do NOT want to see you via webcam. [shudder]

[Maeryk]

Meet me in person. Apparently I come across 1000% different in text.

You do. Body language and all that visual stuff.

No, I do NOT want to see you via webcam. [shudder]

Not even in my tights? FARB!

[Thomas Powers]

Damn! Wind a mind picture like that I'm going to have to explain to my wife why I keep waking up screaming!

[Halvgrimr]

Sure, that's entirely possible. Communicating what, and why you like to do things a certain way is subject to the all the pitfalls of communicating with strangers. But when you're just going about your daily camp chores and someone approaches you of their own volition and tells you that you're making the rest of the them look bad that's another thing.

Id typically say something like:

"Could you please move, your blocking my awesomeness"

Well, that or

"Don't like it? Have a seat with the rest of the whiny bitches waiting for me to give a damn"

People like that are there to ruin your calm, dont let them.

[Aaron]

I attempt to direct the conversation elsewhere, but most of the time when someone is asking me to downblend they really are not listening but making a statement. So I wait politely for them to stop, thank them for their view and leave. While they talk I scan the fights and see if ANYBODY is available to fight and then say, "Forgive me sir, but I have a fight to get to. Thank you for your views," and move on. Yes, I'd rather give them a quick kick in the testicles with my sabatons before I go fight, but that would be rude. But trust me, I'm thinking it.

Regarding the camp, armour, etc...my vision is 20/400 in my armour without my glasses (which make me look bad IMO....there are photos out there...) so with a little imagination EVERYBODY looks great. OK, knee fighting gets me but just try and imagine the fellow is being knighted badly by a blind king.

-Aaron

[brewer]

See signature!

[Halvgrimr]

YEAH!
My first sig line!

[brewer]

I may switch it out for the other one, because it's pretty sig-worthy, too.

Bob

[Seonac]

I may switch it out for the other one, because it's pretty sig-worthy, too.

Bob

Sorry, seat's taken.

[brewer]

Doh!

[Halvgrimr]

I am compelled to admit that the second one is not a Halv original.
Its based on this thing which is floating around Facebook



I just cleaned it up......a little:)

[Lemarchand]

Or you could do my dad's favorite manuver: "Hold on a second." Tucks index finger under armpit for second, pulls it out, holds it up and looks at it. "Yep, just as I thought. I'm about a quart low on my give-a-damn."

[Aaron]

When I've been rude, politics has come back to crush me. So even if the comments are rude, I attempt to be polite and drop down to that level. I'm not always successful.

[Halvgrimr]

When I've been rude, politics has come back to crush me. So even if the comments are rude, I attempt to be polite and drop down to that level. I'm not always successful.

Being rude while being cordial and smiling stuns most folks!
They dont quite know how to come back at you:)

[Aaron]

True. But while being rude and cordial can stun most folks, it makes them nervous. One time I smiled and in a calm and pleasant voice said, "It's been at least a month since I strangled someone with their own intestines. Let me know how this feels, for science." They never saw me again for some reason.

[Halvgrimr]

I look at it this way, I return the respect I am given.
I am gonna treat you the way you treat me.
If you (generic you) don't like that, see Seonac's tag line:)

[Swamp Stick]

I wonder what would happen if you simply asked "What do you want me to do?". I mean what exactly do they want? Do they expect you to throw away your stuff, go to wally-world, and buy a dome tent? I mean I know logic has nothing to do with that mentality, but what exactly are you supposed to do about it? It's like getting pissed because the guy beside you at a stop light is in a high end car and you have a beater. Is he supposed to key his car or maybe put a few dents in it? I mean I'm guilty as the next of thinking the guy is probably a prick just to make myself feel better (and that's wrong of me), but I'm not going to confront him about the fact he drives a nicer car than I do. I just don't get the mentality of dragging people down instead of raising myself up. I would be much more inclined to go over and say "You suck! I am soooo jealous!" with a big grin on my face and then asking questions about the gear. Guess I'm weird. Now if I'm looked down on because I have not yet acquired the cash/time/skill to have a nice kit, well that is a different story. They can bite me for that one.

My having a nice kit does not invite the world to show me it's hairy ass.

Bjorn

[Halvgrimr]

Agreed
If I am truly doing something that is harming your calm (being a dick, being loud at night, dumping graywater to close to your stuff) give me the business and I will probably be apologetic and try to make up for it.

But if your gripe is that my hardwork and effort is making your shitty camp look bad, don't expect alot of humility in my reply, especially if your a dick about it:)

[Andrea Ferrara]

This idea imho is the best

if you camp with a specific group offer this to the entire group

you work together to purchase an industrial sewing machine patterns and bulk heavy canvas and offer to work together a team to create simple to put up pavillions to build up that period feel

my suggestion is for ease of setup is a plastic pipe frame and a cover canvas that slips on and then simple guy lines to keep it down

[William de Faleston]

I regularly see this from the other perspective. I'm the guy with the ugly nylon. My situation determines it. My wife doesn't play and I have a 3-year old. I usually camp at one event per year. My standard setup is an hand-me-down easy-up with cloth side walls and a tiny land pimple under it. Everything stays under the tent unless it is periodish or covered with cloth.
I dont like it, but I as much as I would like a period pavilion, I can't justify dropping hundreds on a tent that will fill my car and be nearly impossible to set up alone once a year. The first thing I say when I arrive in the encampment is, "I have an ugly modern tent. Where can we hide it." I do this because I don't want my tent to harsh anyone else's medieval mellow or my own.

[Halvgrimr]

I regularly see this from the other perspective. I'm the guy with the ugly nylon. My situation determines it. My wife doesn't play and I have a 3-year old. I usually camp at one event per year. My standard setup is an hand-me-down easy-up with cloth side walls and a tiny land pimple under it. Everything stays under the tent unless it is periodish or covered with cloth.
I dont like it, but I as much as I would like a period pavilion, I can't justify dropping hundreds on a tent that will fill my car and be nearly impossible to set up alone once a year. The first thing I say when I arrive in the encampment is, "I have an ugly modern tent. Where can we hide it." I do this because I don't want my tent to harsh anyone else's medieval mellow or my own.

William
A small simple wedge is about the same price as a new land pimple and easy to set up
They are perfect for the single camper
http://fcsutler.com/fccanvas.asp

Also for one event a year, a canvas painters tarp and some sticks make a fine single person lean to




That said, there is nothing wrong with camping in a modern tent

[Thomas Powers]

Halvgrimr, thank-you; I was trying to figure out how to nicely say that that excuse is BS as you can do a medieval camp both cheaply and easily that will fit in a car. All it takes is the *will* to do so.

I, too, won't make a fuss if you show up with a modern camp---that's your call as to your focus/priorities. I do object to people saying "it's too expensive/trouble to go medieval---when you point out that a medieval set up might be cheaper and easier then they come up with another reason why they couldn't---so the first one wasn't the real one.

My most medieval set-up was for Real Viking I where my tent was a piece of canvas I bought used for $20, 4 saplings I cut in a High Tension line right of way---they coppice them for use nicely! and some natural fiber rope and wooden stakes. Very much in the meme of throwing a sail over a rope supported on the ends by an X of lashed poles. (My bedding for that event was a stack of thriftstore/fleamarket fleeces and flokatis and my woolen brats)

[Ceadda]

I regularly see this from the other perspective. I'm the guy with the ugly nylon. My situation determines it. My wife doesn't play and I have a 3-year old. I usually camp at one event per year. My standard setup is an hand-me-down easy-up with cloth side walls and a tiny land pimple under it. Everything stays under the tent unless it is periodish or covered with cloth.
I dont like it, but I as much as I would like a period pavilion, I can't justify dropping hundreds on a tent that will fill my car and be nearly impossible to set up alone once a year. The first thing I say when I arrive in the encampment is, "I have an ugly modern tent. Where can we hide it." I do this because I don't want my tent to harsh anyone else's medieval mellow or my own.

William
A small simple wedge is about the same price as a new land pimple and easy to set up
They are perfect for the single camper
http://fcsutler.com/fccanvas.asp

Also for one event a year, a canvas painters tarp and some sticks make a fine single person lean to




That said, there is nothing wrong with camping in a modern tent

I always camp alone and I drive a minicooper, so car space for transportation is at a minimum. I got the 9 foot tall by 7 foot long a frame from Fall Creek for under $150. The center pole I made in two pieces to fit in my car and I used some left over house paint to pretty it up. I can fit enough stuff to live like a saxon king for a week in my mini, to include a table for four, a norse rowing box, X Chair, standard army cot, futon mattrass and projects. The canvas of the tent itself folds down to a 15 x 20 square that I store in a small plastic box with the rope, tools and stakes.

[Ceadda]

Not bad right? Packs in a minicooper, period correct, more than amble space, for less than $200 counting wood and all. the double doors allow airflow and I've since added two more poles that allow the whole thing to be opened up as a day shade where 8 people can comfortably join me for relaxing. I keep all the modern containers under the cot or in the car.

[Gobae]

I keep all the modern containers under the cot or in the car.

+1 Yes, our group has discovered that the easiest way to keep all the little modern junk from messing up camp, is simply not to bring it into camp. For the most part this means removing it from modern packaging and stowing it in a bag, box, or basket.

The Little Stuff - 21st Century Junk

[Ceadda]

Yup, I keep a small personal cooler for any items that might be affected by the heat and to keep my drinks cool, as well as the container that holds the tent and tools in case something happens and I need them nearby.

[Aaron]

Well done Ceadda!

If you have a design blueprint or a basic "how to make this great portable tent" it would be cool. Nice work!

BTW, the new name rocks too. Much easier to pronounce!

-Aaron

[Ceadda]

nothing special. Only thing that had to be broken down to fit in my itty bitty car was the 9 foot long center pole, which I cut in half, added a metal sleeve from Home Depot, and bolt together when I raise the tent.
The two side poles are 7 feet and JUST fit in my car, from front-to-rear windshield, along the passenger side.
I really want to get a roof rack for that thing, make life easier.

[Ceadda]

The tent if from Fall Creek Sutlery and pretty popular. I know at least a dozen folk that have the same one, more often used for two people than one.

I'll have to get a pic of the day shade set up since I cant seem to find one at the moment.

[William de Faleston]

Now that, I like! I had looked at shelter halts and small wedges, but I'd never seen anything I could stand up in and get dressed. Ceadda's setup rocks. I might have just found my birthday present.

[Thomas Powers]

Great! and I wish you a *most* Happy Birthday when it occurs!

I lucked out once---I was checking out at a thrift store and one of the back folks brought out a small wooden barrel to the "boss" at the checkout to ask what it was and what it should be priced for. It was an old style tin lined cooler built into a wooden barrel. I said I'd take it and what was the price? The only problem I have is random people wanting to throw their trash in my cooler---grrrrrrrr.

[Maeryk]

Halvgrimr, thank-you; I was trying to figure out how to nicely say that that excuse is BS as you can do a medieval camp both cheaply and easily that will fit in a car. All it takes is the *will* to do so.

I, too, won't make a fuss if you show up with a modern camp---that's your call as to your focus/priorities. I do object to people saying "it's too expensive/trouble to go medieval---when you point out that a medieval set up might be cheaper and easier then they come up with another reason why they couldn't---so the first one wasn't the real one.

My most medieval set-up was for Real Viking I where my tent was a piece of canvas I bought used for $20, 4 saplings I cut in a High Tension line right of way---they coppice them for use nicely! and some natural fiber rope and wooden stakes. Very much in the meme of throwing a sail over a rope supported on the ends by an X of lashed poles. (My bedding for that event was a stack of thriftstore/fleamarket fleeces and flokatis and my woolen brats)

_initially_ the medieval setup is more expensive. There is NO WAY I can make, even for myself, period correct chairs (for my period.. for some periods that means "stump"), for what a bag chair costs at WalMart. However, having replaced probably a dozen bag chairs over the years, I can say that _my_ chairs will be LITERALLY handed down to my kids. Because they are REAL FURNITURE.

The canvas pavilion/ropes/poles/awning? Yeah. That cost a hell of a lot more than a nylon tent. But I know some that, with care, have done nearly an event a weekend during the camping season, for almost 20 years.. and while they are dirty, they are still fully functional. I have yet to see a nylon tent manage to pull that off.

So, it's a tradeoff. If you are in this for the long haul, scrimping and saving and then buying GOOD stuff ONCE instead of crap stuff half a dozen times is ALWAYS the financial smart choice. If you are only going to one event a year, and don't want to donate the space required at home to store a pavilion, real furniture, bed, etc? Then it's not worth it to you. My "camp kit" takes up most of a garage bay when not in use. Granted, I don't NEED half of it.. but for my portrayal, it's right, and I am a goldfish.. I will ALWAYS grow to the size of my container. We don't sell houses when they are too small, we sell them when they are too FULL.