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Post by ellejones on Dec 17, 2007 11:36:44 GMT -5
Ages ago weapons were allowed, but because of "Drunken Danes" the weapon policy changed. I don't mind mot bringing a weapon with me to Festival. I've got enough other crap to tote in to worry about tying something else to my person. As far as the children brandishing wooden weapons I'm one of the Fest moms who has dragged a child back to his parents with the weapon in hand and told them that they needed to keep an eye on their minion and keep him from hitting the unarmed Festival children. All fear the mommy voice.
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Post by Fyreblaste on Jan 14, 2008 18:10:53 GMT -5
You know I read through this thread every time I visit this site. and the more I think about it I have come to the conclusion, after having so much fun at MDRF in 2007, Why fix something that isn't broke?
I was going to say something about some traffic control at the end of the day but I don't think I would be willing to stand in the middle of the lot trying to direct people of questionable sobriety which way to go, So why should I expect someone else to do it? Besides I'm content to wait outside the gate and talk to some people untill the rush for the road ends.
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Post by Fyreblaste on Jan 19, 2008 15:20:25 GMT -5
==All fear the Mommy voice== For some reason this has conjured an image of one of the Freelancer's moms dragging him off the tiltyard by the ear, saying "if you can't play nice..." Ages ago weapons were allowed, but because of "Drunken Danes" the weapon policy changed. I don't mind mot bringing a weapon with me to Festival. I've got enough other crap to tote in to worry about tying something else to my person. As far as the children brandishing wooden weapons I'm one of the Fest moms who has dragged a child back to his parents with the weapon in hand and told them that they needed to keep an eye on their minion and keep him from hitting the unarmed Festival children. All fear the mommy voice.
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Post by Fletcher on Nov 20, 2008 21:34:29 GMT -5
I have to add my two pence worth.. Being an armor bearing idiot I noticed two other knights dressed with swords on hip this year. I went to security and asked about the weapon policy. The response that I received was a very good answer for a change. I was informed by security that you may carry a pommel and hilt without a blade attached that is combined with a wooden scabbard to form a sword so long as there is no blade nor way to draw said weapon. Now.. how many of "us" would want to go to the trouble to get a sword or cutlass, tear it apart and then make a scabbard out of wood or leather or whatever material will be a small amount. I fear that the same thing would happen that happened to Tigerlily where you may not be able to carry them the following day. I would think that if you are willing to go to such lengths to carry a costume piece.. go ahead. Besides, what pirate out there would not like to have a non-firing flintlock on their sides with a nice cutlass on the other? I am not saying that everyone should carry a rapier and or great sword mounted upon their backs or hips.. but if it is not steel and cannot do any harm, I would say carry away. If your costume piece is mounted into a baldric or a sword frog and cannot be drawn because of the way it is secured that should be allowed. I know most of "us" that are on here and many other boards are respectable customers that would not get out of hand and even think to draw a fake weapon for whatever reason other than a picture that is taken by Black Fox, but sometimes a weapon does make the outfit. Just my two pence. Sorry to babble. It's just how I feel.
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Post by lordrich on Feb 6, 2009 18:26:24 GMT -5
OK I'm at two minds about this, One it's too dang (not the Lt.) hot and that sword is too dang (not the Lt.) heavy!Two A sword is a part of a gentleman's dress and would be worn! NOW lets look at at our neighbors up the road at the PARF. They have a micro brewery and the whole show is run by a winery! They have a piece bonding policy and I've NEVER seen any undue behavior! Heck they encourage you to drink I have hunt to find a soda booth! And personally I was a Civil War renactor and just done a ACW event the previous weekend and spent the WHOLE time handing a 3-band rifle-musket an extremely dangerous weapon even loaded with blanks! And being trusted with that weapon and trained to use it safely. Then to be told at the gate at MDRF sorry you can't bring your sword in here becuse we don't trust you. I understand why they do this but I do find it a bit insulting and maybe there's too many people there to have a piece bonding policy-MY two bits!
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anonnymouseNoMore
Ren Geek
HRH King Henry VIII
That's a really ugly skinny me in the avatar!
Posts: 71
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Post by anonnymouseNoMore on Feb 9, 2009 8:03:25 GMT -5
Not speaking officially on behalf of MDRF, etc. etc. ...
There are right now assorted policies at Fest that have been put into place solely because of circumstance. If you think back, you'll recall them. Someone gets hurt, and a policy is put in place to prevent it from happening again. Proper and smart behavior on MDRF's part.
However, all promises of peace and protests of innocence aside - a "no weapons" policy should be NOT something you put into place AFTER someone gets hurt!
Consider this: Bees, snake, steak stake, fire, heart attack, heat stroke. Anytime someone gets hurt (or worse) at Fest, it makes the news.
Can you imagine the amount of media interest if someone got hurt with a weapon?
Think the media would downplay it? Bypass it? Not print it?
You think they'll ignore the fact that alcohol is served on the premises, EVEN IF alcohol was not involved in this instance ... ? You think we would NOT end up as a story on Fark.com with a "Dumb@$$" tag next to our name?
Who here feels confident that they could stop the rumors from swirling in the mind of every parent who reads that news story? And every parent they tell about it?
Could you stop every single person who wanted to from forwarding the story as an email attachment? If so, speak up! MDRF may wish to hire you immediately.
Yes, of course it's worst-case scenario. But the very real consequences are too frightening to ignore. First, someone get hurt ... that's bad enough.
But in addition to that, it would be a MASSIVE BLOW to Fest's image. MDRF's quest to remain family-friendly would be dealt a major setback. Family attendance would noticeably plummet on the news.
And the first thing on everyone's mind would be --- why wasn't there a policy in place to prevent this from happening?
Bottom line - nobody here can guarantee that EVERY SINGLE PERSON who attends Fest - drunk or sober - can wear a weapon and not at some point get pissed off enough to draw it.
Not sucking up to the bosses here, guys. Speaking as a Dad, I wouldn't want my daughters coming here if there wasn't a weapons policy. And hell, they're college students!
I realize you guys want to be accurate in what a gentleman would wear, but there are certain areas of "accuracy" I can do without.
Living with the fear of plague is one. Walking amongst crowds of people who have the ability to draw a weapon is another.
MDRF has made the grownup decision ... us kids are gonna have to live with it. It's the right thing to do.
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Post by Sir Black Fox on Feb 9, 2009 9:34:18 GMT -5
Some folks can't even drive home safely after drinking at faire. . . I could only imagine the same folks with peace-tied weapons! The thought of some drunken fool being cut off by a pub and then reaching for a weapon in defiance is a dang (not the Lt.) scary thought.
I'm with HRH and MDRF on this (as I've stated before). . . the only reason folks carried weapons in that manner at that time period was for self-defense. Since that's not needed at Faire, there's no reason to wear them. . . IMHO.
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Post by masterjames on Feb 9, 2009 13:59:11 GMT -5
I'm on cast at VARF and attend a ton of faires where piece tied weapons are allowed and as far as I know, there haven't been any incidents as a result. That being said, if MDRF wants a no weapons policy then I'm just fine with that too. Yes I like to carry my sword but it doesn't mean I have any less a good time because I don't get to carry it. I have a fantastic time each and every time I come to MDRF even without my sword!
What I don't understand is with the no weapons policy, why do they allow people to buy and carry around swords, even if they are in boxes? They can still pull them out and wack someone if they are pissed off enough. Also the kids with their darn wooden swords are almost worse than the most drunk person with a real sword. The parents for the most part pay no attention to their little hellions and they run full tilt through the crowds swinging their wooden swords around. Those things, while they can't puncture skin as easily as a metal sword, sure as heck can break bones or at a minimum leave nasty bruises. And all the people that carry the walking sticks and staves are just as potentially dangerous as someone with a sword if they decide to be.
I guess the real question here is where do you draw the line? At this point, it looks like MDRF has chosen to draw the line at "traditional melee" weapons like swords, axes, hammers and the such. And do I think the weapons ban should be removed? If it works for MDRF then I have no problem with it. I just wish they would do something about those brats and their wooden swords as I've darn near been wacked a number of times throughout the years.
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Post by drube77 on Feb 22, 2009 18:36:14 GMT -5
i may get flamed but i dont even think the wooden weapons should be sold there and here is why. Last year when i was at the fair (Oct 4th to be exact) a little jerk was swinging the sword around my babies stroller while we were at a table eating. I asked him to move and he told me to F myself ( the kid was maybe 8 ) , so i TOLD him to move he told me to F my mother ..real nice kid. I approached his father who was drunk as a skunk and he told me to F off as well . The kid swung it again hitting the stroller almost smacking my then 8 month old daughter in the head . I took the sword from him and broke it over my knee yelling obscenities. His drunken hick father came over for a tussle. The shouting got the attention of a security guard and we were all removed from the fair . As we were leaving the guy threw a rock at my car breaking a side window. I got the cop at the entrance to the parking and the guy was arrested for DUI and assault , none of it would have occurred if the kid didnt have the wood sword ...and the father wasn't an asshat .
Also back in 2002 when i was a medic there every day we would treat injuries from kids with the fake weapons. The worst was a kid who was smashed on the side of the head with a wooden axe by his brother , he actually had a dilated pupil . I know a big chunk is on the parents and the crafts men wouldn't make the money but there are too many irresponsible people ther with kids who refuse to follow any kind of rule. Im no socialist but if we remove the instrument we can remove that particular problem
Thats just my 2 cents
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Post by Lady Lauren Juliette on Feb 22, 2009 22:46:10 GMT -5
i may get flamed but i dont even think the wooden weapons should be sold there and here is why. Last year when i was at the fair (Oct 4th to be exact) a little jerk was swinging the sword around my babies stroller while we were at a table eating. I asked him to move and he told me to F myself ( the kid was maybe 8 ) , so i TOLD him to move he told me to F my mother ..real nice kid. I approached his father who was drunk as a skunk and he told me to F off as well . The kid swung it again hitting the stroller almost smacking my then 8 month old daughter in the head . I took the sword from him and broke it over my knee yelling obscenities. His drunken hick father came over for a tussle. The shouting got the attention of a security guard and we were all removed from the fair . As we were leaving the guy threw a rock at my car breaking a side window. I got the cop at the entrance to the parking and the guy was arrested for DUI and assault , none of it would have occurred if the kid didnt have the wood sword ...and the father wasn't an asshat. I half-way agree with you. I think the vendors that sell the wooden weapons should be more diligent about holding their sold products until people leave the festival at the end of the day. Last year, I was letting my four-year-old daughter play by the pirate ship. There were two much older kids dueling it out in the middle of a crowded playground surrounded by little children. I finally went over to them and told them to move it along and not do it around the little ones. They rolled their eyes and me and continued dueling until I used my "pissed off dance teacher" voice. At that point their parents came to collect them very quickly. I will never buy my daughter one of those swords. She's a well-behaved kid, but I can't trust her not to hit someone by accident with one of those things. I don't need to deal with that...
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Post by bubblewright on Feb 18, 2010 17:23:26 GMT -5
I have no opinion pro or con about carrying weapons at Faire since I do not carry, even at my home Faire (PARF). I do agree that children's wooden swords should be subject to stricter control. That being said, perhaps there is a way to carry what looks like a weapon and use it too... ? Museum Replicas has come out with an impressive SWORD HILTED UMBRELLA. The question is would it still be permitted at MDRF? Considering the monsoons last year and the crazy weather we have had so far this year it might be a good investment. Check out link below: www.museumreplicas.com/p-1135-sword-hilted-umbrella.aspx
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Simon Porter
Mundane with Interest
(Doug from Arlington)
Posts: 1
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Post by Simon Porter on Aug 22, 2010 18:04:17 GMT -5
I would like to see weapons permitted at the MD RF. Other Faires around the country let you bring in weapons as long as they're zip stipped/peace tied.
I'm new here and love going to the fest.
In previous years I've dressed up as Tim the Enchanter (Monty Python and the Holy Grail), and Sir Bedevere (Monty Python and the Holy Grail).
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