how do you deal with the inevitable hecklings?

[Frankensteam]

Mr Frankensteam, i don't suppose you have any suitably witty retorts to the inevitable inquiry into how you get through airport security with your piercings that I might steal from you?

 The best I have come up with is 'I don't fly', which is quite weak, really.

Not so many sadly. I usually explain that surgical steel and titanium aren't picked up by the metal detectors at airports nor at the courthouse.

There are times that I tell them that I just smile when the security guards run the wand over the area below my belt and are puzzled as to why it's beeping so much.

[Pnakotus]

so, there is an inevitable risk to being steampunk and such, so how do you chaps and chappettes cope?

Politely, if I'm not able to see it coming and avoid it. I may look pirate-ish in my adventure gear, and may even sound like it in my speech sometimes, but I'm still a gentleman. Other than getting beat up in school, I've not had many violent confrontations with people. The first one was a jealous ex-boyfriend of a girl I was seeing and he attacked me at a restaurant while she and I were having dinner. Not much of a fight as he was on drugs at the time and was easy to overcome. Another was when some skin heads confronted me when I was spare changing at the mall. I was more of a hippy punk than steam at the time. I didn't have to do anything in this instance. There were many Rainbows in Boulder that summer and as the skin heads were standing there yelling at me trying to provoke me, they were quietly gathering around us. By the time one of them got the attention of these four skin heads and told them they were going to leave me alone there must have been like 25 to 30 people surrounding us. They changed their tune pretty quick, and that was a most satisfying "Have a nice day!" and wave I gave them as they retreated. They never bothered me again.

I think maybe I've been kinda luck in these regards. I tend to be invisible to most people, even when dressed up. In all the times I've gone out in public in my steamy adventure gear, the only time anyone has said anything was when I went to see Indiana Jones, and they thought it was pretty cool. Other than that, one of my neighbors in my apartments questioned me when I was spray painting designs onto my gas mask out back. Even then her reaction was just more thinking it was weird than giving me a hard time about it.

[Captain_MacNamara]

A *LONG* time ago... I was puttering around town in a Geo Metro, whilst wearing Pirate garb. I've never cared for "mainstream" fashion, so I've always worn what I felt like wearing. This was back in oh, '98 or so... I had a friend with me in the car, and we were looking for a couple of our other friends who were "cruising" around and hanging out on the local "strip". Well, a medium-sized cowboy wannabee with his glossy black boots and white ten gallon stetson came up to where we were sitting, and started talking random sh*t about how "faggish" we looked. He was obviously trying to impress the other cookie-cutter clone sh*tkickers he was hanging out with, and was trying to provoke a fight. I listened to his drivel for a couple minutes, then calmly opened my door and got out. I stood up to my full height, looked down at the little man, and he meekly backed off.  The top of his head came up to about the middle of my sternum.  When I got back in the car, my friend couldn't stop laughing.

Generally, no matter how I'm dressed, people don't try anything with me. I'm not the tallest person around, but I can be rather imposing of stature when the need arises.

[Pnakotus]

I listened to his drivel for a couple minutes, then calmly opened my door and got out. I stood up to my full height, looked down at the little man, and he meekly backed off.  The top of his head came up to about the middle of my sternum.  When I got back in the car, my friend couldn't stop laughing.

I love those situations that get turned around on the aggressors and make 'em back off without actually having to get into a fight

[Ancient Design]

I have found that my steampunk outfit tends to be so far different from anything else people just leave me alone. I've never had to reply to any taunts.

That aside, in case of violence, my faithful gentlemans cane would provide a decent immediate defensive weapon. The large wrench on my toolbelt would suffice in a more heated situation.

[Bunnie]

I live in a very small redneck town in Arkansas. So I think that I can answer this query.  The folks around here wear camouflage, jeans, khakis and polos. Not all together, but that is the general attire for a Redneckvillian.  I personally don't own anything that doesn't show cleavage and isn't a shade of black or red. I wear entirely too much black eyeliner and funky shoes. So when I go out I do get stared at a lot. But I just don't care.  I really think that anyone that is interested or lives this lifestyle, which it is pretty much a lifestyle. You have to have a certain amount of armor up. But for those unfortunate souls that decide to make loud, rude, or obnoxious comment I have something I do. I walk straight up to them and introduce myself. I am friendly and kind. 9 times out of 10 the person that made the rude remark feels like a heel finding out I am not a Satan worshiper, nor do I have the need to eat their small children.  And when all else fails... Cleavage. 

[SteamKit]

I can certainly see how cleavage could help a woman...I'd show cleavage but I don't think that'd help me much.

-Kit

P.S. For those who don't know me (Most) I'm a slightly pudgy man.

[Commander Obadiah]

When all else fails, cleavage. Amen.

Commander C. Obadiah

[Flynn MacCallister]

I listened to his drivel for a couple minutes, then calmly opened my door and got out. I stood up to my full height, looked down at the little man, and he meekly backed off.  The top of his head came up to about the middle of my sternum.  When I got back in the car, my friend couldn't stop laughing.

I love those situations that get turned around on the aggressors and make 'em back off without actually having to get into a fight

Completely irrelevant to the thread, but a great one happened to my uncle a couple of weeks ago. He was driving home, and got caught up at the wrong end of someone else's road rage. The bloke got out of his car when they stopped at some traffic lights, and started bashing on my uncle's window. My uncle opened the door and got out, and the guy was back in his car almost before he had straightened up completely. He was still in his tae kwon do gear, including black belt, as were another of my uncles and one of their friends who were in the car with him.

[femonky]

  And when all else fails... Cleavage. 

And, I think I love you.
Seriously, just yesterday I received a TON of ridicule from one of my workmates whenhe finally saw me out of work uniform for The Dark Knight. I replied with a sharp retort involving his own slapdash attire and asking him why he felt the psychological urge to put down others in order to make himself feel more manly... The aggressor answered by calling me a "faggot." So, now, I shall be ignoring this fellow for the rest of his natural life.
I entreat the heckler with an opportunity for intelligent discourse. Then, if ignoramity precedes, you move on. LOL.
We're a PUNK culture, which means we buck the system... we just do it very politely!

[EvilHippyEmperor]

I tend to assume that anyone who finds my appearance humorous clearly lacks my own impeccable taste, and can be safely ignored.

[Sir Nikolas Vendigroth]

I tend to assume that anyone who finds my appearance humorous clearly lacks my own impeccable taste, and can be safely ignored.
[/quote

What a wonderful opening line; Welcome to BG.

[Hikaro Takayama]

I tend to assume that anyone who finds my appearance humorous clearly lacks my own impeccable taste, and can be safely ignored.

I couldn't aggree more!

[EvilHippyEmperor]

I tend to assume that anyone who finds my appearance humorous clearly lacks my own impeccable taste, and can be safely ignored.

What a wonderful opening line; Welcome to BG.

Thanky you, Sir, it is a pleasure to be here.

[Captain_Minty_Gearhertz]

Make them laugh. That is another way to handle a situation that could go bad. Like when an imposing group wanders over in full "ready to beat" mode say "Have you seen my airship? I could have sworn I parked it here..." 

[Bunnie]

And, I think I love you.
Seriously, just yesterday I received a TON of ridicule from one of my workmates whenhe finally saw me out of work uniform for The Dark Knight. I replied with a sharp retort involving his own slapdash attire and asking him why he felt the psychological urge to put down others in order to make himself feel more manly... The aggressor answered by calling me a "faggot." So, now, I shall be ignoring this fellow

haha And I love you! I actually had a situation similar to this.  I was in Hobby Lobby one day with the hub. (Hobby lobby is like heaven to any steampunker) Anyway my ringtone was set to that Katy Perry song, I kissed a girl. Yes its a very pop song but I like it. My phone rings and this girl behind me gives me the most horrid look, starts to walk away and says "F**king Queers".  She was quite lucky I was in a calm mood that day. So I proceeded to follow her around the store playing the song over and over again. Then when I myself got tired of hearing the song, I caught her eye, gave her a little wink and blew her a kiss. I swear she nearly passed out. It was quite satisfying really. 

[Maillemann]

Quite often, the stranger you look, the more normal you are underneath.

Let us not forget as well, the reverse is also often true.

Often I have found myself in the company of those who seemingly need to make it clear to themselves and to those around them that they are "weird" somehow, by their manner, dress, or some combination thereof. While this may not be completely overt, it is implied, and moreso when in groups. Nevertheless, I find it quite irksome that often such persons, who expect and desire that others not judge them by their choice of apparel and adornment, should judge others by theirs.

Whether someone is clad in denim, leather, tweed, latex, or nothing at all, we should all be on-guard of our own prejudices, no matter how mild we believe them to be. Who is to say what that "corporate suit" does on his weekends, or how much of his body is inked? Remember, it is often the most "normal" looking ones who are strangest of all...

[Hyren von Henry]

alternatively, we could crush all opposition and FORCE them to dress steampunk.

nah, that be boring.

i think the few sarky comments are a fair price to be able to run around a high street in goggles and a top hat. (or a trilby with a feather in it, with a biohazard symbol, which is my latest acquisition)

[Commander Obadiah]

Quite often, the stranger you look, the more normal you are underneath.

Let us not forget as well, the reverse is also often true.

Often I have found myself in the company of those who seemingly need to make it clear to themselves and to those around them that they are "weird" somehow, by their manner, dress, or some combination thereof. While this may not be completely overt, it is implied, and moreso when in groups. Nevertheless, I find it quite irksome that often such persons, who expect and desire that others not judge them by their choice of apparel and adornment, should judge others by theirs.

Whether someone is clad in denim, leather, tweed, latex, or nothing at all, we should all be on-guard of our own prejudices, no matter how mild we believe them to be. Who is to say what that "corporate suit" does on his weekends, or how much of his body is inked? Remember, it is often the most "normal" looking ones who are strangest of all...

Quite, quite true Mr Maillemann. I can't begin to imagine the number of times I've been told by a teenage clone that s/he's bisexual/depressed/addicted to drugs, as if to provide a counterpoint to his/her otherwise mundane appearance.

Commander C. Obadiah

[Pnakotus]

alternatively, we could crush all opposition and FORCE them to dress steampunk.

nah, that be boring.

Not to mention a waste of perfectly good steamy clothing/accessories that WE could be wearing. 

To add to this line of thinking though, maybe a couple changes ...

We could crush all opposition by building an army of mutant rabbit bio-mechanoids to send out to dress them up as various vegetables. Any of the them who see the light will have the opportunity to repent by scavenging the bodies of any fallen rabbit soldiers for steamy parts to get them started down their new path. Then we implement the next phase by ordering the rabbit soldiers to eat their veggies, and any who didn't see the light will not be a problem any more.

Or alternatively we could all carry wormtooth grenades (a la Wormtooth Nation) to throw at hecklers, and when they wake up without their memories we re-educate them to think that they had been steampunks.

[Hyren von Henry]

chainsaws.

[Bunnie]

chainsaws.

Chainsaws and cleavage.

[Hikaro Takayama]

chainsaws.

Chainsaws and cleavage.

I think that belongs in the "What's your Kink" thread (nothing sexier than a woman with weaponry, IMO).

[Bunnie]

chainsaws.

Chainsaws and cleavage.

I think that belongs in the "What's your Kink" thread (nothing sexier than a woman with weaponry, IMO).

I refer you back to my first post about distracting with cleavage.  I think I have posted enough in the Kink thread. 

[Commander Obadiah]

While on the bus this morning (Curse motorcycle rebuilds!) and reading a collection of Oscar Wilde writings, I was the butt of several forced and barely amusing jokes from a pair of gangstas in the seat behind me. As I was reading his musings on the soul of man under Socialism, one of my would-be tormentors tapped me on the shoulder and told me, quite plainly and frankly, that reading was gay. I backtracked two paragraphs, and quoted Wilde: "The world hates Individualism. But that does not trouble the individual. They are to be calm and self-centred. If people abuse them, they are not to answer back. What does it signify? The things people say of a man do not alter a man. He is what he is. Public opinion is of no value whatsoever." An attractive young woman seated to my left laughed, and told the two behind me they couldn't really top that.

Quoting Wilde may be an utter cliché, but that doesn't lessen the effectiveness of his words.

Commander C. Obadiah