Are Steampunks guilty of "Historectomy"?

[Modhail]

Lots of big words later and you're still saying the same thing.  And my problem is still the same, this is no place to be insulting people who choose to treat reenactment as more than fun dress ups.

Fine. Where the blazes did you get the notion I think reenactment should me no more than fun dress ups?!
If I wanted a fun dress up I'd go to a costume party. Apparently we seem to agree that reenactment is more than just dressing up, but our frame of reference seems to have gotten skewed.
Let me give you my frame of reference:
The reenactment group(s) I talked about have, some years ago, established a small late iron age village, which also serves as an open air museum. In recent years the grounds have been expanded with a medieval section and a Viking Longhouse. Most of the year the settlements are crewed by people in period dress, living in a period way, researching and practicing period crafts. Period crops are grown and experimental archeology performed. As the grounds are open to the public quite a bit of time is spent informing and educating the public, and trying to get them enthusiastic for the human history and heritage. Educational projects are undertaken, with special attention to the younger ages. Another group who engages in late medieval field battles and jousts maintains and trains their own stable of horses. Everything they do is researched, referenced and documented down to the last single detail.
THAT is what I'm thinking of when I use the words "one's best effort".
On the other hand, when I use the term "elitist" , I am talking about going beyond that level of attention to historical detail and going beyond basic social graces, a negative, "holier than thou" attitude. About people who, when confronted with a minuscule imperfection in someone's work, don't try to inform and educate, pointing said person to usefull information or giving advice, but instead prefer to attack, who feel justified to condemn and humiliate people, for the most minuscule trivia. Those that with their actions and attitude take away motivation and enthusiasm from both other reenactors and the general public, instead of trying to add to it.
Ugh, nevermind...
This is probably an exercise in futility anyway. Evidently you've formed some preconceived judgment of me no amount of discussion can dissuade you from.
I wash my hands of it, I will speak of this subject no more.

Erik

[Lurker]

Fine.

***Edited because you can read the posting above mine***

Erik

It's beginning too look like you're just against "Elitest Re-enactors" more than the base topic of "Are Steampunks guilty of Historectomy".

As I stated before Steampunk is now. We're actively doing it, so there isn't any agenda altering history taking place, but if you're just talking about those people who re-enact historical events with a little Steampunk Flair. Well thats different, but not any different then what takes place by anyother group in the world.

Steampunk's don't try and push any agenda with retelling a history that never was , as true to life facts. We do latch on to interesting details of history, create fictional artifacts as art, and dream of a "what if" world. We don't go setting Jack the Ripper as a member of the CSA army, nor do we push the idea that Dr Tesla could travel through time. Those "stories" are just that...stories, and are presented as such. Even when the more talented members here create those great works of art and present a back ground story to them, they aren't played off as "True to Facts".

In the end I think that being critical about any group of people without trying to understand their point of view, only leads to discrimination, hate, and needless hurt feelings. Instead of complaining about "Elitist Re-enactors", why not try and see things from their point of view?